Portugal vs South Africa: Railways, passengers carried

Portugal
2,912 million passenger-km
in 2021
South Africa
3,502 million passenger-km
in 2020
Portugal rank
40th
South Africa rank
38th

Railways, passengers carried over time

  • Portugal
  • South Africa
05.0k10.0k15.0k199520082021

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 3,502 million passenger-km against 2,912 million passenger-km in Portugal, a difference of 590 million passenger-km.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Portugal's.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 20 shared years of data; in 1995 it was South Africa ahead.

Portugal ranks 40th and South Africa ranks 38th of 101 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Portugal South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 4,583 million passenger-km 11,613 million passenger-km 7,029 million passenger-km South Africa
2000s 3,802 million passenger-km 6,127 million passenger-km 2,325 million passenger-km South Africa
2010s 4,207 million passenger-km 8,972 million passenger-km 4,765 million passenger-km South Africa
2020s 2,552 million passenger-km 3,502 million passenger-km 949.96 million passenger-km South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher railways, passengers carried, Portugal or South Africa?
South Africa, at 3,502 million passenger-km against 2,912 million passenger-km in Portugal as of 2020.
What is the difference in railways, passengers carried between Portugal and South Africa?
590 million passenger-km, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Portugal and South Africa?
20 years are reported by both, from 1995 to 2020.
How do Portugal and South Africa rank globally for railways, passengers carried?
Portugal ranks 40th and South Africa ranks 38th of 101 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Railisa Database (UIC), International Union of Railways (UIC), published as Railways, passengers carried (million passenger-km). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Portugal vs South Africa: Railways, passengers carried. Statizoid, drawing on Railisa Database (UIC), International Union of Railways (UIC). Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/compare/railways-passengers-carried-million-passenger-km/portugal/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Railways, passengers carried (million passenger-km)
Unit
million passenger-km
Source
Railisa Database (UIC), International Union of Railways (UIC)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
128 places, 2,650 data points, 1995–2021
Last refreshed

Passengers carried by railway are the number of passengers transported by rail multiplied by kilometers traveled.