The United States leads in global rail line length with 148.55 thousand route-kilometers, followed by China at 109.77 thousand route-kilometers. Key emerging trends over the last five years reflect China's aggressive expansion with a substantial 3.89% year-on-year growth in 2023. Russia and India, significant rail networks, saw minimal changes, with variations of 0.03% and -0.13%, respectively. European countries like Germany and France show minor declines in rail length, while Eastern Europe and Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan and Iran experienced modest growth. Notably, Norway faced a significant reduction of 1.77%
Future trends to watch include continued expansion in China and developing nations investing in their rail infrastructure. Technological innovations and green initiatives may drive further changes in developed countries, while geopolitical and economic factors could impact rail line development in emerging markets.
Top countries in Length of Rail Lines by Country
| # | 10 Countries | Route-Kilometers | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 United States | 148,550 | 2023 | -0.27% | -0.36% | View data |
| 2 | 2 China | 109,770 | 2023 | +3.11% | +3.89% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Russia | 85,540 | 2023 | +0.07% | +0.03% | View data |
| 4 | 4 India | 68,100 | 2023 | +0.39% | -0.13% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Canada | 48,150 | 2023 | +0.073% | +0.25% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Germany | 33,400 | 2023 | -0.025% | -0.034% | View data |
| 7 | 7 France | 27,720 | 2023 | -0.83% | -0.72% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Ukraine | 21,590 | 2023 | +0.11% | +0.01% | View data |
| 9 | 9 South Africa | 20,950 | 2021 | 0% | View data | |
| 10 | 10 Poland | 18,620 | 2023 | -0.27% | -0.025% | View data |