Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in United States
United States: Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita was 126.98 million ton-km per person in 2023. ▲ Rising
Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in United States, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in million ton-km per person.
Analysis
In 2023, tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in United States stood at 126.98 million ton-km per person.
That represents a change of down 7.7% on the previous year and up 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in United States peaked at 138.53 million ton-km per person in 2021 and was at its lowest, 25.12 million ton-km per person, in 1970.
That places United States 19th out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in United States, year by year
| Year | million ton-km per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 25.12 million ton-km per person | — |
| 1971 | 26.68 million ton-km per person | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 29.93 million ton-km per person | +12.2% |
| 1973 | 33.32 million ton-km per person | +11.3% |
| 1974 | 33.93 million ton-km per person | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 32.41 million ton-km per person | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 34.11 million ton-km per person | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 35.96 million ton-km per person | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 37.77 million ton-km per person | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 38.47 million ton-km per person | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 37.92 million ton-km per person | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 37.51 million ton-km per person | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 35.81 million ton-km per person | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 39.71 million ton-km per person | +10.9% |
| 1984 | 43.65 million ton-km per person | +9.9% |
| 1985 | 40.65 million ton-km per person | -6.9% |
| 1986 | 44.22 million ton-km per person | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 49.62 million ton-km per person | +12.2% |
| 1988 | 56.75 million ton-km per person | +14.4% |
| 1989 | 59.36 million ton-km per person | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 59.26 million ton-km per person | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 57.26 million ton-km per person | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 60.88 million ton-km per person | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 62.88 million ton-km per person | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 72.53 million ton-km per person | +15.3% |
| 1995 | 73.69 million ton-km per person | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 80.46 million ton-km per person | +9.2% |
| 1997 | 93.45 million ton-km per person | +16.1% |
| 1998 | 93.38 million ton-km per person | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 97.81 million ton-km per person | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 106.93 million ton-km per person | +9.3% |
| 2001 | 97.99 million ton-km per person | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 102.75 million ton-km per person | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 117.91 million ton-km per person | +14.7% |
| 2004 | 127.9 million ton-km per person | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 126.41 million ton-km per person | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 133.66 million ton-km per person | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 134.84 million ton-km per person | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 129.28 million ton-km per person | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 114.41 million ton-km per person | -11.5% |
| 2010 | 127.2 million ton-km per person | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 127.06 million ton-km per person | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 124.42 million ton-km per person | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 117.18 million ton-km per person | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 119.73 million ton-km per person | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 117.66 million ton-km per person | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 119.19 million ton-km per person | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 127.34 million ton-km per person | +6.8% |
| 2018 | 130.84 million ton-km per person | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 128.69 million ton-km per person | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 123.03 million ton-km per person | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 138.53 million ton-km per person | +12.6% |
| 2022 | 137.65 million ton-km per person | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 126.98 million ton-km per person | -7.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 126.98 million ton-km per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 32.91 million ton-km per person, 3.9× the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.77 million ton-km per person | 25.12 million ton-km per person | 38.47 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.52 million ton-km per person | 35.81 million ton-km per person | 59.36 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 75.16 million ton-km per person | 57.26 million ton-km per person | 97.81 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 119.21 million ton-km per person | 97.99 million ton-km per person | 134.84 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 123.93 million ton-km per person | 117.18 million ton-km per person | 130.84 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 131.55 million ton-km per person | 123.03 million ton-km per person | 138.53 million ton-km per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 16 Switzerland 141.47 million ton-km per person compare
- 17 Azerbaijan 141.27 million ton-km per person compare
- 18 Mauritius 136.31 million ton-km per person compare
- 20 Oman 107.41 million ton-km per person compare
- 21 Brunei 100.03 million ton-km per person compare
- 22 Turkey 98.06 million ton-km per person 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 tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in United States?
- Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in United States was 126.98 million ton-km per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 138.53 million ton-km per person in 2021.
- What is the lowest tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.12 million ton-km per person in 1970.
- How does United States rank for tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita?
- United States ranks 19th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.
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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.