Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in China
China: Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road was 1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
1st
of 63 countries
All-time high
1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers
in 2019
All-time low
109.32 billion passenger-kilometers
in 1978
Years of data
33
1978–2019
Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in China, 1978–2019
Source: OECD (2023); OECD (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in passenger-kilometers.
Analysis
The most recent figure for relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in China is 1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 86.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in China peaked at 1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers in 2019 and was at its lowest, 109.32 billion passenger-kilometers, in 1978.
China ranks 1st of 63 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in China, year by year
| Year | passenger-kilometers | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 109.32 billion passenger-kilometers | — |
| 1980 | 138.32 billion passenger-kilometers | +26.5% |
| 1985 | 241.61 billion passenger-kilometers | +74.7% |
| 1990 | 261.26 billion passenger-kilometers | +8.1% |
| 1991 | 282.81 billion passenger-kilometers | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 315.22 billion passenger-kilometers | +11.5% |
| 1993 | 348.33 billion passenger-kilometers | +10.5% |
| 1994 | 363.60 billion passenger-kilometers | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 354.57 billion passenger-kilometers | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 334.76 billion passenger-kilometers | -5.6% |
| 1997 | 358.49 billion passenger-kilometers | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 377.34 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 413.59 billion passenger-kilometers | +9.6% |
| 2000 | 453.26 billion passenger-kilometers | +9.6% |
| 2001 | 476.68 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 496.94 billion passenger-kilometers | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 478.86 billion passenger-kilometers | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 571.22 billion passenger-kilometers | +19.3% |
| 2005 | 606.20 billion passenger-kilometers | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 662.21 billion passenger-kilometers | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 721.63 billion passenger-kilometers | +9.0% |
| 2008 | 777.86 billion passenger-kilometers | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 787.89 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 876.22 billion passenger-kilometers | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 961.23 billion passenger-kilometers | +9.7% |
| 2012 | 981.23 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 1.06 trillion passenger-kilometers | +8.0% |
| 2014 | 1.12 trillion passenger-kilometers | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 1.20 trillion passenger-kilometers | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 1.26 trillion passenger-kilometers | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 1.35 trillion passenger-kilometers | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 1.41 trillion passenger-kilometers | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 109.32 billion passenger-kilometers | 109.32 billion passenger-kilometers | 109.32 billion passenger-kilometers | 1 |
| 1980s | 189.97 billion passenger-kilometers | 138.32 billion passenger-kilometers | 241.61 billion passenger-kilometers | 2 |
| 1990s | 341.00 billion passenger-kilometers | 261.26 billion passenger-kilometers | 413.59 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 2000s | 603.27 billion passenger-kilometers | 453.26 billion passenger-kilometers | 787.89 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.17 trillion passenger-kilometers | 876.22 billion passenger-kilometers | 1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in China?
- Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in China was 1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers in 2019, according to OECD (2023); OECD (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.47 trillion passenger-kilometers in 2019.
- What is the lowest relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 109.32 billion passenger-kilometers in 1978.
- How does China rank for relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road?
- China ranks 1st out of 63 countries with data for 2019.
- Is relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2023); OECD (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of kilometers traveled by passengers by rail.