Commuters in New York City, Los Angeles, Paris and other major Western cities are often heard grumbling about the congestion in their cities. But things are a lot worse in many other cities. Here we take a look at the top 10 cities with the worst traffic in the world. Only one US city made it to this list and it’s not New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco.
These cities have the worst traffic in the world
Transportation analytics company INRIX has released its 2018 Global Traffic Scorecard. It analyzes traffic and mobility trends in more than 200 cities across 38 countries. The 2018 report used a new methodology to allow for cross-national rankings. It offers in-depth insights to help policy-makers and drivers make better decisions. New forms of transportation such as ride-hailing and car-sharing are also changing the way we commute. The list below is dominated by European and South American cities.
10- Rome, Italy
Rome is one of the most populous cities in the European Union. Its roads and infrastructure were developed long before the arrival of automobiles. According to INRIX, it’s the 10th most congested city in the world. Drivers in Rome spent an average of 254 hours in congestion in 2018.
9- Saint Petersburg, Russia
Founded in 1703, the second-largest city in Russia has a population of 6.2 million. Saint Petersburg has an extensive network of public transport, but it still ranks among the top 10 cities with the worst traffic due to the large volumes of daily commuter traffic.
8- Boston, United States
Boston is home to some of the world’s most prestigious educational institutions. According to the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard, drivers in Boston lose 164 hours a year to congestion. By comparison, drivers in New York lost 133 hours to traffic in 2018.
7- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Founded in 1565, Rio de Janeiro is the second-most populated city in Brazil. It has the seventh worst traffic in the world. Drivers in the city lost an average of 199 hours to congestion in 2018. To reduce the stress on roads, Rio de Janeiro is shifting its transportation policy towards trains and subway.
6- London, United Kingdom
London is one of the wealthiest cities in the world but it’s notorious for traffic. It is the most congested city in Europe. Despite having one of the largest bus networks in the world, London has the 6th worst traffic, according to INRIX. Drivers in the city lost 227 hours to congestion in 2018.
5- Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sao Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil. Traffic jams are common in the main avenues as well as on the highways. Sao Paulo has more than 7 million registered vehicles on roads. Drivers lost 154 hours to traffic in 2018.
4- Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City is the fourth most congested city in the world, according to INRIX. It’s the most populous city in North America with a population of 20.9 million. Drivers in Mexico City lost 218 hours to congestion in 2018.
3- Bogota, Colombia
Bogota is one of the most congested cities on the planet. On average, commuters spend 97 minutes to and from work on a weekday. An average driver lost 272 hours to congestion in 2018. The city’s railway transit infrastructure is almost non-existent.
2- Istanbul, Turkey
The most populous city of Turkey has a well-developed road infrastructure and public transportation system. However, the city still struggles with congestion. According to INRIX, drivers lost an average of 157 hours to congestion in 2018.
1- Moscow, Russia
Most of Moscow’s streets and avenues were designed long before the advent of automobiles. Commuters often spend hours every working day going to and from work. INRIX estimates that drivers in Moscow lost 210 hours to congestion in 2018.
