Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in China
China: Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita was 18.55 million ton-km per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in China, 1974–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in million ton-km per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in China is 18.55 million ton-km per person, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 38.1% on the previous year and up 57.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in China peaked at 18.55 million ton-km per person in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.0324 million ton-km per person, in 1974.
China ranks 50th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in China, year by year
| Year | million ton-km per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 0.0324 million ton-km per person | — |
| 1975 | 0.0504 million ton-km per person | +55.4% |
| 1976 | 0.0526 million ton-km per person | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 0.0636 million ton-km per person | +20.8% |
| 1978 | 0.0899 million ton-km per person | +41.4% |
| 1979 | 0.1269 million ton-km per person | +41.1% |
| 1980 | 0.1232 million ton-km per person | -2.9% |
| 1981 | 0.1564 million ton-km per person | +26.9% |
| 1982 | 0.1826 million ton-km per person | +16.8% |
| 1983 | 0.2111 million ton-km per person | +15.6% |
| 1984 | 0.2913 million ton-km per person | +38.0% |
| 1985 | 0.3834 million ton-km per person | +31.6% |
| 1986 | 0.4382 million ton-km per person | +14.3% |
| 1987 | 0.5973 million ton-km per person | +36.3% |
| 1988 | 0.6643 million ton-km per person | +11.2% |
| 1989 | 0.6106 million ton-km per person | -8.1% |
| 1990 | 0.7208 million ton-km per person | +18.0% |
| 1991 | 0.8772 million ton-km per person | +21.7% |
| 1992 | 1.13 million ton-km per person | +28.8% |
| 1993 | 1.31 million ton-km per person | +16.2% |
| 1994 | 1.44 million ton-km per person | +9.8% |
| 1995 | 1.25 million ton-km per person | -13.5% |
| 1996 | 1.39 million ton-km per person | +11.3% |
| 1997 | 1.69 million ton-km per person | +22.1% |
| 1998 | 1.99 million ton-km per person | +17.6% |
| 1999 | 2.63 million ton-km per person | +32.0% |
| 2000 | 3.09 million ton-km per person | +17.4% |
| 2001 | 3.33 million ton-km per person | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 3.92 million ton-km per person | +17.7% |
| 2003 | 4.39 million ton-km per person | +12.0% |
| 2004 | 5.42 million ton-km per person | +23.6% |
| 2005 | 5.81 million ton-km per person | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 5.87 million ton-km per person | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 8.49 million ton-km per person | +44.7% |
| 2008 | 8.6 million ton-km per person | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 9 million ton-km per person | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 12.85 million ton-km per person | +42.9% |
| 2011 | 12.46 million ton-km per person | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 11.5 million ton-km per person | -7.8% |
| 2013 | 11.78 million ton-km per person | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 12.99 million ton-km per person | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 14.35 million ton-km per person | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 15.35 million ton-km per person | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 16.7 million ton-km per person | +8.8% |
| 2018 | 18 million ton-km per person | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 18.04 million ton-km per person | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 13.65 million ton-km per person | -24.3% |
| 2021 | 14.84 million ton-km per person | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 13.43 million ton-km per person | -9.5% |
| 2023 | 18.55 million ton-km per person | +38.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 18.55 million ton-km per person is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.05 million ton-km per person, 6.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 18.55 million ton-km per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.43 million ton-km per person, 1.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0693 million ton-km per person | 0.0324 million ton-km per person | 0.1269 million ton-km per person | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.3658 million ton-km per person | 0.1232 million ton-km per person | 0.6643 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.44 million ton-km per person | 0.7208 million ton-km per person | 2.63 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.79 million ton-km per person | 3.09 million ton-km per person | 9 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.4 million ton-km per person | 11.5 million ton-km per person | 18.04 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.12 million ton-km per person | 13.43 million ton-km per person | 18.55 million ton-km per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 47 Thailand 23.01 million ton-km per person compare
- 48 Austria 22.76 million ton-km per person compare
- 49 Italy 19 million ton-km per person compare
- 51 Hungary 15.12 million ton-km per person compare
- 52 Tajikistan 12.68 million ton-km per person compare
- 53 Sri Lanka 12.64 million ton-km per person compare
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 tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in China?
- Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in China was 18.55 million ton-km per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 18.55 million ton-km per person in 2023.
- What is the lowest tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0324 million ton-km per person in 1974.
- How does China rank for tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita?
- China ranks 50th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Tonne-kilometers of air freight divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Tonne-kilometers of air freight ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Tonne-kilometers of air freight International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Tonne-kilometers of air freight divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.