Air transport, freight (million ton-km) in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: Air transport, freight (million ton-km) was 4,485 million ton-km in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
4,485 million ton-km
Change on year
down 10.4%
Rank
32nd
of 47 groups
All-time high
5,007 million ton-km
in 2022
All-time low
158.3 million ton-km
in 1973
Years of data
51
1973–2023

Air transport, freight in Least developed countries, 1973–2023

01.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k5.0k197319982023

Source: Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Measured in million ton-km.

Analysis

In 2023, air transport, freight in Least developed countries stood at 4,485 million ton-km.

The figure is down 10.4% on the previous year and up 221.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, air transport, freight in Least developed countries peaked at 5,007 million ton-km in 2022 and was at its lowest, 158.3 million ton-km, in 1973.

Least developed countries ranks 32nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Air transport, freight (million ton-km) in Least developed countries, year by year

Annual values for Air transport, freight (million ton-km) in Least developed countries, 1973 to 2023.
Year million ton-km Change
1973 158.3 million ton-km —
1974 209.3 million ton-km +32.2%
1975 230.2 million ton-km +10.0%
1976 276.2 million ton-km +20.0%
1977 282.1 million ton-km +2.1%
1978 298.6 million ton-km +5.8%
1979 388.5 million ton-km +30.1%
1980 375.2 million ton-km -3.4%
1981 395 million ton-km +5.3%
1982 395.1 million ton-km +0.0%
1983 400.5 million ton-km +1.4%
1984 425.3 million ton-km +6.2%
1985 478 million ton-km +12.4%
1986 466.7 million ton-km -2.4%
1987 522.7 million ton-km +12.0%
1988 537 million ton-km +2.7%
1989 589.1 million ton-km +9.7%
1990 531.4 million ton-km -9.8%
1991 499.9 million ton-km -5.9%
1992 479.5 million ton-km -4.1%
1993 423 million ton-km -11.8%
1994 611.4 million ton-km +44.5%
1995 582.5 million ton-km -4.7%
1996 562.1 million ton-km -3.5%
1997 633.5 million ton-km +12.7%
1998 519.2 million ton-km -18.0%
1999 541.3 million ton-km +4.3%
2000 584.53 million ton-km +8.0%
2001 491.44 million ton-km -15.9%
2002 439.13 million ton-km -10.6%
2003 473.52 million ton-km +7.8%
2004 532.7 million ton-km +12.5%
2005 568.49 million ton-km +6.7%
2006 631.58 million ton-km +11.1%
2007 496.6 million ton-km -21.4%
2008 536.86 million ton-km +8.1%
2009 626.8 million ton-km +16.8%
2010 850.87 million ton-km +35.7%
2011 968.72 million ton-km +13.8%
2012 1,199 million ton-km +23.8%
2013 1,397 million ton-km +16.5%
2014 1,476 million ton-km +5.7%
2015 1,511 million ton-km +2.4%
2016 1,755 million ton-km +16.1%
2017 2,357 million ton-km +34.4%
2018 2,379 million ton-km +0.9%
2019 2,843 million ton-km +19.5%
2020 3,173 million ton-km +11.6%
2021 4,016 million ton-km +26.6%
2022 5,007 million ton-km +24.7%
2023 4,485 million ton-km -10.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 263.31 million ton-km 158.3 million ton-km 388.5 million ton-km 7
1980s 458.46 million ton-km 375.2 million ton-km 589.1 million ton-km 10
1990s 538.38 million ton-km 423 million ton-km 633.5 million ton-km 10
2000s 538.17 million ton-km 439.13 million ton-km 631.58 million ton-km 10
2010s 1,674 million ton-km 850.87 million ton-km 2,843 million ton-km 10
2020s 4,170 million ton-km 3,173 million ton-km 5,007 million ton-km 4

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 29 Italy 1,121 million ton-km compare
  2. 30 Mexico 1,091 million ton-km compare
  3. 31 Saudi Arabia 1,037 million ton-km compare
  4. 32 Vietnam 927.89 million ton-km compare
  5. 33 Bahrain 895.44 million ton-km compare
  6. 34 Indonesia 870.51 million ton-km compare
  7. 35 Finland 816.39 million ton-km compare

See the full ranking of 227 places →

More infrastructure data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is air transport, freight in Least developed countries?
Air transport, freight in Least developed countries was 4,485 million ton-km in 2023, according to Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
What is the highest air transport, freight recorded in Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 5,007 million ton-km in 2022.
What is the lowest air transport, freight recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was 158.3 million ton-km in 1973.
How does Least developed countries rank for air transport, freight?
Least developed countries ranks 32nd out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
Is air transport, freight rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is up 221.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
The figures come from Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), published as part of Air transport, freight (million ton-km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Air transport, freight in Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Retrieved 11 October 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/air-transport-freight-million-ton-km/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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About this data

Indicator
Air transport, freight (million ton-km)
Unit
million ton-km
Source
Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
227 places, 9,773 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Air freight is the volume of freight, express, and diplomatic bags carried on each flight stage (operation of an aircraft from takeoff to its next landing), measured in metric tons times kilometers traveled.