China vs European Union: Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide

China
4.91 million
in 2023
European Union
5.08 million
in 2023
China rank
2nd
European Union rank
17th

Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide over time

  • China
  • European Union
02.0M4.0M6.0M197019962023

How they compare

European Union currently reports 5.08 million against 4.91 million in China, a difference of 175,470.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 50 shared years of data; in 1974 it was European Union ahead.

China ranks 2nd and European Union ranks 17th of 183 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 1 and European Union in 5.

Head to head by decade

Decade China European Union Difference Ahead
1970s 33,550 1.45 million 1.41 million European Union
1980s 107,050 1.66 million 1.55 million European Union
1990s 359,320 2.92 million 2.56 million European Union
2000s 1.31 million 4.46 million 3.15 million European Union
2010s 3.57 million 5.40 million 1.83 million European Union
2020s 3.75 million 3.72 million 29,632 China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide, China or European Union?
European Union, at 5.08 million against 4.91 million in China as of 2023.
What is the difference in air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide between China and European Union?
175,470, with European Union ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and European Union?
50 years are reported by both, from 1974 to 2023.
How do China and European Union rank globally for air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide?
China ranks 2nd and European Union ranks 17th of 183 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), published as Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs European Union: Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide. Statizoid, drawing on Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/compare/air-transport-registered-carrier-departures-worldwide/china/european-union/

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About this data

Indicator
Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide
Source
Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
230 places, 10,236 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Registered carrier departures worldwide are domestic takeoffs and takeoffs abroad of air carriers registered in the country.