Art, obsession, and identity
Throughout the world, cars are, of course, a mode of transportation, but they can also symbolize a number of things like someone’s status, financial means, and other indicators.
Income level is clearly a factor that determines the quantity of cars in relation to the number of people, but public transportation networks, cultural norms, and infrastructure also play a big role.
In this gallery, we list the 25 countries with the highest density of cars. Does yours make the cut? Click on to find out.
Global auto sales are on the rise, accompanying growing middle classes in developing countries around the world.
The 2025 auto sales forecast is set to hit 89.6 million new automobile units, up from 88.2 million units in 2024; a rise of nearly 2% this year.
There are a number of factors that impact car distribution. According to the World Population Review, factors such as income, consumer behavior, and cultural norms, for example, impact automobile sales.
Therefore, there are some countries that have a higher density of cars than others. Does yours make the list?
In 25th place, you may be surprised to know that Norway registered 665 per 1,000 people. That’s a total of 3.6 million cars.
Japan sits at 24th place. The Pacific nation has 670 cars per 1,000 people, for a total of 82.9 million cars in the country.
In Poland, the country with the 23rd highest density of cars, there are 671 cars per 1,000 people. This is a total of 25.8 million cars in the country.
In France, a country with a larger population than Poland, they also have 671 cars per 1,000 people. The total number of cars is registered at 44.4 million, making it the country with the 22nd highest density of cars.
In 21st place, there’s Canada. The North American nation has 677 cars per 1,000 people for a total of 26.3 million cars.
Portugal ends up in 20th place with a total of 691 cars per 1,000 people. The Western European country has a total of 7.2 million cars.
Estonia has 740 cars per 1,000 people. The small European nation has a total of one million cars, landing it in 19th place.
The nation with the 18th highest car density in the world is Italy. Italy has 753 cars per 1,000 people, for a total of 44.9 million cars.
Guam registers in 17th place. Guam has 775 cars per 1,000 people for a total of 125,500 cars.
The Pacific island of Australia is registered with the sixteenth highest car density in the world, with 776 cars per 1,000 people. There are 20.1 million cars in the country.
The Northern European country of Iceland lands at number 15 with 779 cars per 1,000 people. This means there’s a total of 306,600 cars in the country.
Can you guess number 14? It’s the Isle of Man. The self-governing British nation has 782 cars per 1,000 people for a total of 65,800 cars.
The tiny nation of Luxembourg packs vehicles in, leaving it in 13th place. There are 818 cars per 1,000 people in the country, for a total of 550,600 cars.
Another tiny hitter is Malta, which is registered as the nation with the 12th highest car density. The island registers 823 cars per 1,000 people for a total of 438,600 cars.
In the United States, where everything is bigger, car density is no exception. In 11th place, there are 850 cars per 1,000 people, for a total of 285.4 million cars.
In Monaco, there are 910 cars per 1,000 people. The tiny nation has just 35,500 cars in the country, leaving it in 10th place.
On the other side of the world, in ninth place, is New Zealand. With 934 cars per 1,000 people, the nation has a total of 4.8 million cars.
In eighth place are the Finnish, who own a total of 5.3 million cars, with 950 cars per 1,000 people.
Brunei, a tiny Southeast Asian nation, has more cars than people! It registers in seventh place with 1,012 cars per 1,000 people. The nation has a total of 452,600 cars.
Liechtenstein follows a similar trend with 1,068 cars per 1,000 people and a total of 42,600 cars in the country, making it the country with the sixth-highest car density in the world.
The nation of Andorra is registered in fifth place with 1,214 cars per 1,000 people. The nation has 98,200 cars.
Another British island, Jersey makes it to fourth place with one of the highest car density ratios in the world. With 1,234 cars per 1,000 people, Jersey has 127,900 cars.
Gibraltar has the third-highest car density in the world. The small nation has 1,293 cars per 1,000 people, for a total of 48,600 cars.
In second place is Guernsey, which is also the second-largest island in the English Channel. The nation has 1,389 cars per 1,000 people, for a total of 88,500 cars.
The nation with the highest car density in the world is San Marino, one of the world’s smallest republics. The nation has a whopping 1,606 cars per 1,000 people, for a total of 53,900 cars.
Sources: (S&P Global) (World Population Review)
See also: The most iconic cars in cinematic and television history
Countries with the highest density of cars in the world
What’s the distribution of cars in your country?
LIFESTYLE Automobiles
Throughout the world, cars are, of course, a mode of transportation, but they can also symbolize a number of things like someone’s status, financial means, and other indicators.
Income level is clearly a factor that determines the quantity of cars in relation to the number of people, but public transportation networks, cultural norms, and infrastructure also play a big role.
In this gallery, we list the 25 countries with the highest density of cars. Does yours make the cut? Click on to find out.