1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
e-mail contact: ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
25 April 20252.2. Metadata last posted
25 April 20252.3. Metadata last update
25 April 2025The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 9 on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation which is embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under 'A new era for European defence and security'.
SDG 9 calls for building resilient and sustainable infrastructure and promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialisation. It also recognises the importance of research and innovation for finding lasting solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges.
Indicator can be considered as similar to the global SDG indicator 9.1.2 "Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport".
While the free movement of goods is an essential component of the EU internal market and important for maintaining the competitiveness of European industry and services, transport should be organised in an environment-friendly way.
This strategy lays the foundation for how the EU transport system can achieve its green and digital transformation and become more resilient to future crises. As outlined in the European Green Deal, the result will be a 90% cut in emissions by 2050, delivered by a smart, competitive, safe, accessible and affordable transport system.
4.1. Data description
This indicator measures the share of rail and inland waterways in inland freight transport, expressed in tonne-kilometres (tkm).
Inland freight transport includes road, rail and inland waterways. All data are based on movements on national territory; rail and inland waterways transport are collected based on movements on national territory, regardless of the nationality of the train or vessel.
Road transport activity is collected according to the country of registration of the vehicle, regardless of the territory where the activity is performed. The activity is redistributed to the territory where the activity is actually performed by modelling the likely journey itinerary on the European road network. Neither sea nor air freight transport are currently included.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of freight tonne-km.
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to the quality standards of European Statistics. Data collections on freight transport performance are based on legal acts. Transport data are compiled by the competent national authorities in each country according to the existing legal acts on transport statistics. Any estimates, done by Eurostat or by the national statistical institutes and international organisations, are flagged as estimates. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: European Statistical System (ESS) (TRAN_HV_FRMOD)
Data provider: Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), based on data reported by the countries.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+2 years5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within two years after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Norway and Switzerland.
"Railways" does not apply to Cyprus and Malta.
"Inland waterways" does not apply to Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States and the other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2005.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological breaks is longer than 4 data points.
Comparability over time is moderately restricted by a number of breaks that have occurred as a result of the effort to improve accuracy and comparability between countries or the implementation of a new legal act. In order to avoid break in series several estimates have been introduced by Eurostat.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in an EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_09_60
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
