CLICK TO ENLARGE: This graphic shows how many cars there are in the world, grouping the 1.446 billion cars by world region.
If you want to know how many cars are there on Earth here you go: There are about 1.446 billion vehicles on Earth in 2022. About 19% of those vehicles are in the United States. Let’s dig into more detail on how many cars are there in the world and other global automotive stats, including cars per capita.
Most of the cars in the world are in Asia. It has over a third of all vehicles on this planet. Many people think of North America as obsessed with cars, but North America is in third place with total vehicles, behind Europe, which has 28% of the world’s vehicles. North America only has 24%.
Need to know how many cars there are on Earth in 2023? Here is how many cars there are in the world, including trucks, broken down by world region.
1). Asia: 531 million vehicles on the road
2). Europe: 405.3 million vehicles (282 million in EU plus 123 million in non-EU countries)1
3). North America: 351 million vehicles
4). South America: 83 million vehicles
5). Middle East: 49 million vehicles
6). Africa: 26 million vehicles
7). Antarctica: about 50 vehicles
Table of Contents hide
How many cars in the world, by world region
Cars per capita by country
A nation with more than one car per person
Motorcycles per capita
Countries with the least number of cars per capita
Are there more houses or cars in the world?
If you want to dig deeper than how many cars are there in the world, then here’s a link if you want to know how many cars there are in the US and here’s a link if you want to know how old are cars?
How many cars in the world, by world region
Here is a breakdown of vehicles per capita by world region.
1). North America: 0.71 vehicles per capita/710 vehicles per thousand people
2). Europe: 0.52 vehicles per capita/520 vehicles per thousand people
3). South America: 0.22 vehicles per capita/220 vehicles per thousand people
4). Middle East: 0.18 vehicles per capita/180 vehicles per thousand people
5). Asia/Pacific: 0.14 vehicles per capita/140 vehicles per thousand people
6). Africa: 0.05 vehicles per capita/50 vehicles per thousand people
7). Antarctica: 0.05 vehicles per capita/50 vehicles per thousand people
Cars per capita by country
Two major countries are virtually tied for the most vehicles per capita in the world: The car-crazy United States and New Zealand. In both countries there are about 0.9 vehicles for every person.
There are 1.446 billion cars in the world in 2022. Most are in Asia, followed by Europe and North America. 19% of all vehicles are in the United States. #carindustryanalysis #automotiveindustry #autoindustry Click To Tweet On the other end of the scale are Pakistan, Vietnam, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Kenya. The countries have 0.03 vehicles per capita, or less.
Here are the top countries for vehicles per capita and GDP per capita, revised for 2022:
1). United States: 0.89 vehicles per capita/890 vehicles per thousand people/$59,900 GDP per capita
2). New Zealand: 0.88 vehicles per capita/884 vehicles per thousand people/$40,700 GDP per capita2
3). Canada: 0.79 vehicles per capita/790 vehicles per thousand people/$46,500 GDP per capita
4). Cyprus: 0.79 vehicles per capita/785 vehicles per thousand people/$26,624 GDP per capita1
5). Luxembourg: 0.78 vehicles per capita/784 vehicles per thousand people/$115,873 GDP per capita1
6). Australia: 0.78 vehicles per capita/782 vehicles per thousand people/$49,300 GDP per capita2
7). Poland: 0.77 vehicles per capita/771 vehicles per thousand people/$29,900 GDP per capita1
8). Italy: 0.76 vehicles per capita/755 vehicles per thousand people/$40,900 GDP per capita1
9). Iceland: 0.72 vehicles per capita/720 vehicles per thousand people/$55,300 GDP per capita1
10). Estonia: 0.71 vehicles per capita/715 vehicles per thousand people/$33,500 GDP per capita1
11). France: 0.69 vehicles per capita/668 vehicles per thousand people/$38,625 GDP per capita1
1Source: ACEA 2022 report
2Source: OICA data projected through 2022
There’s a lot of confusing sources of information on the internet for this type of search. There’s one web page that shows the most cars in the world per country, per capita, but totally omits the United States. If you’re citing data, just be aware of which website you use as a source. By the way, in Europe and Asia, cars per capita is called the “motorisation rate” (UK English) or “motorization rate” (American English).
A nation with more than one car per person
The only nation in the world that averages more than 1 car per person: Republic of San Marino. Click To Tweet If you want to include very small countries, then these two countries would also be on this list of cars per capita.
One country, the Republic of San Marino, is a tiny nation with more than one car per person with 1.3 vehicles per person. Here’s the answer the next time you’re in a trivia contest and get asked, “What is the only nation in the world that averages more than one car per person?” San Marino is only 23.6 square miles. Many of the cars registered in San Marino aren’t physically in San Marino, however. San Marino does not have VAT tax and instead taxes vehicles at either 3.5% or 7%. It’s much less expensive to buy and register a vehicle in San Marino than in surrounding Italy or in the rest of Europe.
• The Republic of San Marino with a population of about 34,000 has around 1,300 vehicles per thousand people and a GPD per capita of $63,500
• The Principality of Monaco with a population of about 39,000 has around 910 vehicles per thousand people and a GDP per capita of $165,000
What about Andorra, a principality on the border between Spain and France? With a population of 77,625 and its status as a tax haven, it sometimes shows up on the list of nations with more than one car per person. We haven’t been able to verify that up to this point so we don’t have those stats. Vehicle registration data from Andorra is very difficult to get.
Motorcycles per capita
Note that this analysis covers cars, vans and trucks, not motorcycles. Countries with a huge number of motorcycles, like Taiwan for example, are not factored into this. Taiwan has a population of 23.57 million and 14 million motorcycles. They only have 0.30 vehicles per capita/300 vehicles per thousand people, but have 0.67 motorcycles per capita/670 motorcycles per thousand people.
Countries with the least number of cars per capita
Here are the bottom countries for cars per capita and per thousand people:
1). Democratic Republic of Congo: 0.004 vehicles per capita/about 4 vehicles per thousand people/$5,500 GDP per capita
2). Pakistan: 0.02 vehicles per capita/20 vehicles per thousand people/$5,500 GDP per capita
3). Vietnam: 0.03 vehicles per capita/25 vehicles per thousand people/$6,800 GDP per capita
4). Kenya: 0.03 vehicles per capita/30 vehicles per thousand people/$3,300 GDP per capita
5). Ghana: 0.04 vehicles per capita/40 vehicles per thousand people/$4,500 GDP per capita
6). Nigeria: 0.05 vehicles per capita/50 vehicles per thousand people/$5,900 GDP per capita
7). India: 0.05 vehicles per capita/50 vehicles per thousand people/$7,100 GDP per capita
8). Philippines: 0.05 vehicles per capita/50 vehicles per thousand people/$8,400 GDP per capita
9). Iraq: 0.05 vehicles per capita/50 vehicles per thousand people/$16,900 GDP per capita
10). Egypt: 0.08 vehicles per capita/75 vehicles per thousand people/$11,600 GDP per capita
We estimate there are about 0.05 vehicles per capita/50 vehicles per thousand people in Antarctica. We’re using the year-round population for that estimate.
Since Russia is in the news so much right now, Russia has 0.37 vehicles per capita/370 vehicles per thousand people (2020).
Are there more houses or cars in the world?
According to the Architecture & Design website, there are 2.3 billion houses in the world. Since there are 1.446 billion vehicles in the world, there are more houses than there are cars.
You can find more information on how many cars there are in the world or in specific countries here and here.
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FAQs
How many cars are there in the world statistics? ›
CLICK TO ENLARGE: This graphic shows how many cars there are in the world, grouping the 1.446 billion cars by world region. If you want to know how many cars are there on Earth here you go: There are about 1.446 billion vehicles on Earth in 2022.
How many cars are in the world as of 2022? ›As of 2022, there are about 1.446 billion cars that call planet Earth home. That's 17.7% of people who have a car.
Which country has most cars 2022? ›China has the largest fleet of motor vehicles in the world in 2022, with 307 million motor vehicles, excluding two-wheelers and in 2009 became the world's largest new car market as well.
What cars will be gone in 2023? ›- Acura ILX. Acura. The arrival of the 2023 Acura Integra marked the final nail in the aging Acura ILX sedan's coffin. ...
- Acura NSX. Greg PajoCar and Driver. ...
- Buick Encore. Buick. ...
- Chevrolet Spark. Chevrolet. ...
- Chevrolet Trax. Car and Driver. ...
- Ford EcoSport. Car and Driver. ...
- Ford GT. Ford. ...
- Honda Insight. Honda.
| Name | Top Speed | 0-100 kmh |
|---|---|---|
| Ford GT | 348 kmh/216 mph | 3.3 seconds |
| Lamborghini Aventador SVJ | 350 kmh/217 mph | 2.8 seconds |
| Aston Martin Valhalla | 354 kmh/220 mph | 2.5 seconds |
| Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ | 482.80 kmh/300 mph | 2.4 seconds |
| Rank | Country | % of total world production |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 33.9% |
| 2 | Japan | 10.9% |
| 3 | Germany | 8.0% |
| 4 | USA | 5.5% |
The EIA estimates that today's global LDV fleet (gas and electric) is about 1.31 billion vehicles strong, and that this number should grow to roughly 2.21 billion vehicles by 2050 due to increasing economic activity, population growth, and the expansion of private mobility options.
What will the number of cars be like in 2050? ›By 2050, there will be about 3 billion light-duty vehicles on the road worldwide, up from 1 billion now. At least half of them will be powered by internal combustion engines (ICE), using petroleum-based fuels.
How many cars exist right now? ›According to the Hedges Company, there were 286.9 million registered cars in the US in 2020. That's 0.84% more than 2019's 284.5 million units.
How many cars per 1,000 in China? ›In China, there are currently fewer than 200 vehicles per 1,000 people, compared to about 600 in the European Union and over 800 in the United States (Figure 1).
How many Indians own a car? ›
| State | Percentage of people owning a car |
|---|---|
| Kerala | 24.4 |
| Karnataka | 9.1 |
| Tamil Nadu | 6.5 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 2.8 |
By 2025, 25% of cars sold will have electric engines, up from 5% today. But most of those will be hybrids, and 95% of cars will still rely on fossil fuels for at least part of their power. That means automakers will need to make internal combustion engines more efficient to comply with new standards.
Are 2024 cars out? ›Most 2024 cars and trucks will likely go on sale in 2023, though dealers may begin taking reservations a lot sooner. An inventory shortage has forced many automakers to limit production, and some brands have already started giving early signs of when their 2024 cars will come out.
What will happen to cars in 2040? ›Every new passenger car sold in the world will be electric by 2040, says Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods. Even Exxon Mobil thinks electric vehicles are the future. The oil giant is predicting that by 2040, every new passenger car sold in the world will be electric, CEO Darren Woods told CNBC's David Faber in an interview.
What are the 5 top cars? ›- Ford F-Series.
- Chevrolet Silverado.
- Ram 1500/2500/3500.
- Toyota RAV4.
- Honda CR-V.
- Toyota Tacoma.
- Honda Civic.
- Toyota Corolla.
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+
The Chiron Super Sport 300+ is a special version of the already pretty special Chiron Super Sport, built to commemorate a modified Chiron becoming the first hypercar to crack 300mph.
According to Edmonds, the best-selling cars in America, listed in order of popularity, are the Ford F-Series, the Chevrolet Silverado, and the Ram 1500/2500/3500. America's long love affair with trucks does not appear to be letting up.
Which country has no vehicle? ›| Country | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Croatia | Kornat | |
| Dubrovnik | Old walled city nearly car-free | |
| Rovinj | The old town is reported to be largely or entirely car-free | |
| Split | Diocletian's Palace and adjoining areas to the west are free of cars. |
In 2020 there were an estimated 152,971 passenger cars produced every day around the world. That's quite an amazing statistic, especially when you look at Toyota in particular, which managed to create 23,814 brand new cars each day around the world. That's around 15% of all passenger cars created each day!
Which country people drive the most? ›Americans drive a whole lot more than most other people in the world.
What happens to cars after 2030? ›
The petrol and diesel car ban only affects sales of new vehicles, so yes, you'll still be able to buy and sell used cars that are powered by combustion engines after 2030, and you'll also be able to buy and sell used hybrids after 2035.
Will car prices drop in 2023 India? ›As 2023 is coming in, vehicles in India will get expensive. Leading auto manufacturers in India have announced price hikes on a range of models starting next month. The decision is aimed to offset the increasing input cost and also comply with stricter emission norms, coming into effect April 2023.
What will happen in 2030 with cars? ›The government has stated that only hybrids that can drive “a significant distance when no carbon is coming out of the tailpipe” will be able to be sold between 2030 and 2035. That means that mild hybrids are off the table, and that manufacturers will have to increase the range of their plug-in hybrid models by 2030.
What will replace cars? ›Eventually, one could envision most daily travel needs being met by cheap battery-powered vehicles like Segway-style walkers, electric bikes or scooters, or one- or two-person urban pod cars, with long-distance travel reserved for specialized vehicles.
What will be the future in 2040? ›The average person in 2040 could have: A highly-detailed and realistic 3d avatar with several pre-set outfits along with hundreds or thousands of individual clothing items to choose from. Decorated 3d home space containing doorways to their bookmarked metaverse worlds.
Will cars get cheaper 2023? ›Used car prices have likely peaked, but new car prices are set to remain elevated through end-2022. In 2023, prices are expected to decline by 2.5% to 5% for new cars and by 10% to 20% for used cars.
How many cars are in the ocean? ›All 3,965 cars are now at the bottom of the ocean, more than 3,000 metres underwater. It was carrying Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley and Volkswagen models, including ID.
How many cars are destroyed each year? ›Global figures are hard to come by, but it's estimated some 12 million cars are destroyed each year in America, while around eight million cars are scrapped in Europe. In the USA alone, that means five million more cars are sold than destroyed each year.
How many people drive in the world? ›Number of drivers in the world
It is estimated there are about 1.4 billion drivers in the world, but the number may be higher and closer to 2 billion.
- United States of America - 8.94/10. ...
- France - 7.91/10. ...
- United Kingdom - 7.91/10. ...
- Spain - 7.67/10. ...
- Australia - 7.57/10.
Where is the cheapest country to buy a car? ›
| Country | % of average yearly salary required to buy and run a car |
|---|---|
| 1. Australia | 49.48% |
| 2. United States of America | 54.87% |
| 3. Denmark | 60.34% |
| 4. Canada | 64.40% |
- Maruti Suzuki Swift. The Maruti Suzuki Swift is hard to ignore if you are looking for the best cars for beginners in India. ...
- Hyundai Grand i10. Hyundai Grand i10 debuted in September 2013. ...
- Tata Tiago. ...
- Maruti Suzuki WagonR.
1. Raleigh, North Carolina. Raleigh, North Carolina's capital, has the highest percentage of households with access to a car in the country. About 82% of the city's workforce commutes to their jobs by car, with 75% traveling alone rather than carpooling.
How many Tesla are sold in China? ›...
Over 83,000 units might not be Tesla's last word in Shanghai.
After that, there's daylight between the rest of the world, which includes: South America: 83 million vehicles. Middle East: 49 million vehicles. Africa: 26 million vehicles.
How many percent of Indians have a car? ›Only 8% Indian families own cars, NFHS finds. Over 50% still use bicycles, bikes & scooters.
Can a car have 2 owners in India? ›It is possible to have joint owners of vehicles, atleast new vehicles. But, As far as you are concerned, you need to add your name to an existing vehicle which in my opinion should be possible but a massive hassle.
Will all cars go electric by 2030? ›Just over half of passenger cars sold in the US will be electric vehicles by 2030, according to a report from BloombergNEF, thanks in part to consumer incentives included in the $374 billion in new climate spending enacted by President Joe Biden.
What's next after electric cars? ›The next link in the chain of automobile evolution is with hydrogen fuel cell technology. It still needs a few more years of development and infrastructure before it will be ready for the public, but I believe it's the next best move in producing environmentally friendly vehicles.
Will there be gas cars in 2040? ›No new gas cars by 2040
But there are others that have either set no target or that have set later targets, like China's and Japan's 2035 targets that still allow gas cars, and the US, which currently has no target but the earliest nationwide proposal is for 2045.
Why are cars so big now? ›
01 Safety needs space
In the old days, cars were quite literally metal boxes with wheels. Now though, they're full of things to make them safer than, well, thin metal boxes. Cars are bigger because safety cells, airbags, crumple zones and more all need plenty of space in order to fit them.
When it comes to future car design, technology is the biggest driver behind new car models. Major trends show that cars of the future will be electric, autonomous, connected and sleek. In just a few years' time, vehicles on the road could look nothing like they do today.
Will we have self driving cars in 2040? ›Self-driving
Many experts agree that by the time 2040 comes around, we'll have autonomous vehicles. Self-driving cars are already in the first stages, but questions still remain around their safety.
You will still be able to drive a petrol or diesel car following the ban in 2040. The restriction only affects new cars registered after that date. Cars registered after 2040 will have to be 0 emissions vehicles.
Will gas cars ever go away? ›Cars last around 15 years, so it will take us to 2050 before we get rid of most of the gasoline-powered cars. “Drivers will be willing to wait 10 to 15 minutes to charge their cars so they can drive 200 more miles. But if they have to wait much longer, they will not be happy.”
Will all cars be electric by 2050? ›By 2035, about 45% of new car sales could be electric according to industry analysis IHS Markit. At this rate, about half of the cars on the road would be electric by 2050.
Do cars outnumber humans? ›The Department of Transportation said this week that since 1969, the vehicle population of the United States had grown six times faster than the human population. The number of cars increased two and a half times as fast as the number of households, and twice as fast as the number of drivers.
How many cars are there in the world in 2050? ›The Fuel Freedom Foundation predicts that there will be 3 billion cars on the world's roads by 2050, about half of them powered by internal-combustion engines. The group hopes we'll conclude from the projection that substantial use of carbon-neutral biofuels is required to reduce transportation-related emissions.
How many cars are there in the world each year? ›| Characteristic | Automobile production in million vehicles |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 78 |
| 2019 | 92 |
| 2018 | 97 |
| 2017 | 97 |
Projections indicate there will be two billion motor vehicles on the roads by 2030, most of them still powered by fossil fuels.
Is a car like a human? ›
Just like the human body, your car is a complex system of metal and moving parts. There are equally critical fluids that help to keep these parts moving as they should while also maintaining your vehicle's general health.
Do most families have 2 cars? ›Increase in multi-vehicle households.
The number of households with two or more cars has increased substantially, from 22% in 1960 to 59% in 2020.
| Rank | Vehicle | Potential Lifespan (mileage) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Sequoia | 296,509 |
| 2 | Toyota Land Cruiser | 280,236 |
| 3 | Chevrolet Suburban | 265,732 |
| 4 | Toyota Tundra | 256,022 |
There is an estimated 1.4 billion cars on the road, putting the vehicle saturation at around 18 per cent.
How many electric cars are there in the world in 2025? ›The fleet of EVs on the road hits 77 million by 2025 and 229 million by 2030, based on BNEF's Economic Transition Scenario. That's up from 16 million at the end of 2021, and reflective of the remarkable success story of EVs in the energy transition to date.