The connectivity network

Connectivity is a critical element of transport infrastructure. It directly impacts the efficiency and costs of moving freight and passengers between locations. The degree of connectivity can be assessed using network-specific attributes, like infrastructure density. See more in a recent ITF study here (PDF).

ITF data reveal that rail and road infrastructure density is positively correlated to population density.

For example, rail density is notably higher in smaller, densely populated countries like Luxembourg (24 km per km2), Belgium (21 km per km2), and Germany (20 km per km2). Larger, sparsely populated nations show much lower densities like Canada (0.7 km per km2), Kazakhstan (0.6 km per km2), and Australia (0.4 km per km2).

Spatial analysis reveals the best-connected

Rail infrastructure density (track kilometres per sq. kilometre)

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Similarly, countries like Malta (888 km per km2), Belgium (503 km per km2), and the Netherlands (422 km per km2) have the highest road infrastructure density, while Canada (13 km per km2), Australia (11 km per km2) and Kazakhstan (4 km per km2) rank the lowest for road infrastructure.

Spatial analysis reveals the best-connected

Road infrastructure density (road kilometres per sq. kilometre)

Go to dataset

Go to the ITF Statistics Brief: Passenger and freight transport trends compared around the world