Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in United States
United States: Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road was 21.20 billion passenger-kilometers in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
21.20 billion passenger-kilometers
Change on year
up 39.8%
World rank
11th
of 63 countries
All-time high
36.46 billion passenger-kilometers
in 2014
All-time low
12.45 billion passenger-kilometers
in 2020
Years of data
44
1979–2022
Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in United States, 1979–2022
Source: OECD (2023); OECD (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in passenger-kilometers.
Analysis
United States recorded 21.20 billion passenger-kilometers for relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 39.8% on the previous year and down 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in United States peaked at 36.46 billion passenger-kilometers in 2014 and was at its lowest, 12.45 billion passenger-kilometers, in 2020.
That places United States 11th out of 63 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in United States, year by year
| Year | passenger-kilometers | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 18.77 billion passenger-kilometers | — |
| 1980 | 22.08 billion passenger-kilometers | +17.6% |
| 1981 | 21.87 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 22.75 billion passenger-kilometers | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 23.49 billion passenger-kilometers | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 23.91 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 25.98 billion passenger-kilometers | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 25.20 billion passenger-kilometers | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 24.41 billion passenger-kilometers | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 25.04 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 24.78 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 21.99 billion passenger-kilometers | -11.2% |
| 1991 | 22.54 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 22.15 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 22.17 billion passenger-kilometers | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 22.61 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 22.08 billion passenger-kilometers | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 21.87 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 22.75 billion passenger-kilometers | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 23.49 billion passenger-kilometers | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 23.91 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 25.98 billion passenger-kilometers | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 25.20 billion passenger-kilometers | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 24.41 billion passenger-kilometers | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 25.04 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 24.78 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 25.39 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 27.30 billion passenger-kilometers | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 30.36 billion passenger-kilometers | +11.2% |
| 2008 | 32.14 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 30.91 billion passenger-kilometers | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 31.87 billion passenger-kilometers | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 32.58 billion passenger-kilometers | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 34.13 billion passenger-kilometers | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 36.05 billion passenger-kilometers | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 36.46 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 36.11 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 35.96 billion passenger-kilometers | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 33.32 billion passenger-kilometers | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 32.73 billion passenger-kilometers | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 33.15 billion passenger-kilometers | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 12.45 billion passenger-kilometers | -62.5% |
| 2021 | 15.16 billion passenger-kilometers | +21.8% |
| 2022 | 21.20 billion passenger-kilometers | +39.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18.77 billion passenger-kilometers | 18.77 billion passenger-kilometers | 18.77 billion passenger-kilometers | 1 |
| 1980s | 23.95 billion passenger-kilometers | 21.87 billion passenger-kilometers | 25.98 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.55 billion passenger-kilometers | 21.87 billion passenger-kilometers | 23.91 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.15 billion passenger-kilometers | 24.41 billion passenger-kilometers | 32.14 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.24 billion passenger-kilometers | 31.87 billion passenger-kilometers | 36.46 billion passenger-kilometers | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.27 billion passenger-kilometers | 12.45 billion passenger-kilometers | 21.20 billion passenger-kilometers | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 8 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 51.15 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 9 Italy 46.50 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 10 Poland 23.83 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 12 Turkey 19.79 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 13 Switzerland 19.34 billion passenger-kilometers compare
- 14 Spain 17.48 billion passenger-kilometers compare
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in United States?
- Relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road in United States was 21.20 billion passenger-kilometers in 2022, 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 36.46 billion passenger-kilometers in 2014.
- What is the lowest relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.45 billion passenger-kilometers in 2020.
- How does United States rank for relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road?
- United States ranks 11th out of 63 countries with data for 2022.
- Is relative share of passenger kilometers travelled by rail and road rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.