This is how the world commutes to work, research shows

Jul 6, 2021

With the collaboration of Statista.

Few people in the US cycle to work, like these commuters in New York. Image: REUTERS/Seth Wenig

Martin Armstrong

Data Journalist, Statista

Driving your own car is the resounding way to commute to either work, home, school or university.
According to Statista's Global Consumer Survey, the U.S. has the lowest share of respondents saying they take the bike, at just 6 percent.
It's important to note that the commuting methods are driven by the extent and state of infrastructure for cycling and public transport.

The latest results from Statista's Global Consumer Survey have revealed how people around the world commute to work, school or uni. As this infographic shows, there are substantial differences between the countries selected when it comes to the use of cars, bicycles and public transport. The Netherlands' reputation as bike enthusiasts is confirmed, with 38 percent - by far the largest proportion - saying they complete their commute with their own bicycle.

The U.S. has the lowest share of respondents saying they take the bike, at just 6 percent, with the vast majority, 82 percent choosing or having to drive with their car. Of course, to some extent the commuting methods are driven by the extent and state of infrastructure for cycling and public transport. India's low figure for car usage is made up for in the two-wheeled category. Here, 31 percent and 16 percent said they use their motorcycle or motor scooter, respectively.

Your own car is the resounding way to commute to work, school or university. Image: Statista

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.