Escapes from capitals
October
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
No congestion
Heavy congestion
TomTom Traffic Index
The world has changed,
traffic has changed.
2020
Overview
The TomTom Traffic Index has been providing detailed insights on traffic congestion levels in over 400 cities around the world for the past 10 years. The report ranks cities from the most to the least congested. It’s powered by real traffic data and reflects all the changes on our roads in 2020, so it’s no surprise that this year’s ranking is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.See full ranking
416
cities
57
countries
What has changed?
This year we observed a huge drop in urban congestion levels around the world
Decrease in congestion
No change in congestion
Increase in congestion
…unlike anything we've seen before
387
cities where traffic decreased since 2019
13
cities where traffic increased since 2019
How different was the traffic in 2020?
Monthly changes in average congestion levels in all cities in 2020 compared to the same month in 2019. Each dot represents one city.
Decrease in congestion
No change in congestion
Increase in congestion
Cities in April 2020
In April, we observed a substantial drop in traffic congestion in cities around the world. Some cities even had as much as 30 days with low traffic – where congestion levels were at least 50% lower than the same day in 2019.
In April, 276 cities had at least 20 days with low traffic
Number of days with low traffic in April 2020 in selected cities
Show more cities
Tracking the impact of COVID-19 through traffic
Compare weekly congestion levels in corresponding weeks of 2019 and 2020. The congestion levels are weighted averages. Each week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday.
Selected
No congestion
Heavy congestion
Wuhan
Shanghai
Kuwait City
Milan
Riyadh
Rome
Madrid
Barcelona
Lisbon
Paris
Amsterdam
Copenhagen
Budapest
Zurich
Geneva
Brussels
Oslo
Stockholm
Helsinki
Tallinn
Reykjavik
Prague
Vienna
Riga
Vilnius
Luxembourg
Bratislava
Ljubljana
Athens
Sofia
Warsaw
Manila
Tel Aviv
New York
Los Angeles
Miami
Houston
Toronto
Ottawa
Lima
Bucharest
Sao Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Santiago
Dublin
Mexico City
Istanbul
Cairo
Cape Town
London
Berlin
Kyiv
Mumbai
Bengaluru
Jakarta
Bogota
Buenos Aires
Melbourne
Sydney
Auckland
Wellington
Moscow region (oblast)
Tokyo
No congestion
Heavy congestion
Week 15
Second week of April
The week with the biggest drop in congestion levels, compared to 2019.
414 cities | 57 countries
2020 was unpredictable — and so was traffic
Changes in mobility patterns
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coronavirus restrictions upended normal driving routines. In 2020, roads in many cities were less congested during the week and busier at weekends compared to 2019 — as more people worked from home and took the opportunity to get out on days off.
Differences between cities
Minneapolis had the highest number of days with low traffic: 219 days where congestion levels were at least 50% lower than the same days in 2019. In contrast, the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung had zero days with low traffic in all of 2020.
Mother's day in Poland
Poland, May 26
On Mother's Day, we observed heavy evening traffic in many Polish cities as people visited their moms after work. Congestion levels in some cities were up to 75% higher than the preceding and following weeks.
May 26
19 May, 2 June
Traffic after COVID-19: A new beginning?
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way we live, work and move. Lockdowns, remote working and other restrictions on movement have transformed patterns of movement and reduced traffic congestion in most cities.
Cities' average congestion levels during morning and evening rush hours throughout 2020, compared to 2019.
AM rush
PM rush
What does the future have in store for traffic?
COVID-19 could change traffic forever. Will we embrace the shift in mobility and take a new path towards a safer, cleaner, congestion-free future?
No more traffic jams
We'll no longer waste hours stuck in traffic as working from home will became the norm for most jobs. Rush hour traffic will all but disappear, making journeys faster and less stressful.
Mindful travel choices
With flexible working hours, we're free to choose when we move. If the roads are busy, we just make plans to travel at a quieter time. We're more open to eco-friendly modes of travel, like cycling, and we carefully consider if we really need to take the car to drop by the local store.
Cleaner planet
Once we experienced roads with less traffic, clearer skies and cleaner air, we never looked back. Governments, businesses and individuals all worked together to cut emissions, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and make more sustainable choices — protecting the planet for future generations to enjoy.
Together, we can improve how the world moves. Will you join us in making the roads safer, the drive better and the air cleaner?
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