Passenger cars per 1 000 inhabitants reached 560 in 2022

In 2022, the average number of passenger cars per 1 000 inhabitants in the EU was 560. During the decade 2012-2022, the average number increased by 14.3% (from 490 to 560 passenger cars per 1 000 inhabitants).  

Italy had the highest number with 684 passenger cars per 1 000 inhabitants and it was followed by Luxembourg (678), Finland (661), and Cyprus (658). Meanwhile, Latvia had the lowest rate with 414 passenger cars per 1 000 inhabitants, followed by Romania (417), and Hungary (424).  

Data show that central and eastern EU countries recorded high growth rates between 2012 and 2022. Among the EU countries, Romania registered the highest growth of passenger cars per 1 000 inhabitants (+86.2%; +193), followed by Croatia (+44.8%; +152), Hungary (+40.9%; +123), Slovakia (+40.1%; +135) and Estonia (+39.7%; +181).  

This information comes from data on transport statistics published by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on transport equipment statistics. 

Source dataset: road_eqs_carhab 

Road tractors increased by 45.2% from 2012 to 2022 

In 2022, the average number of road tractors (to which semi-trailers are attached) per 1 000 inhabitants in the EU was 4.8, which was an increase of 45.2% from 2012 to 2022 (from 3.3 to 4.8), reflecting a high growth of freight road transportation. 

When looking at the number of road tractors per 1 000 inhabitants, the Baltic and some central and eastern EU members dominated in 2022. The highest rates were registered in Lithuania (an average of 17.3 road tractors per 1000 inhabitants), followed by Poland (12.9), Estonia (9.5), Hungary (9.3) and Romania (8.8). At the other end of the spectrum were Czechia (0.3), Sweden (0.9), Austria and Malta (both 2.2), Cyprus and Greece (both 2.3). The low motorisation rates in Cyprus and Malta may be explained by their island geography and the subsequent limitations for long distance road transport. 

Source datasets: road_eqs_lorroa_h, road_eqs_lorroa and demo_pjan 

From 2012 to 2022, 3 countries more than doubled their road tractor motorisation rate: Romania (+127.4%), Croatia (+121.5%) and, with a comparatively high rate already in 2012, Lithuania (+101.8%). Further high growth rates were registered for Poland (91.2%) and Slovenia (82.9%). 

A notable decrease in the road tractor motorisation rate between 2012 and 2022 was registered in Czechia (-61.9%). The decrease was less prominent in Luxembourg (-15.4%) and Malta (-13.0%).