Railways, passengers carried in South Africa

South Africa: Railways, passengers carried was 3,502 million passenger-km in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
3,502 million passenger-km
Change on year
down 36.4%
World rank
38th
of 101 countries
All-time high
14,270 million passenger-km
in 2014
All-time low
550.15 million passenger-km
in 2013
Years of data
20
1995–2020

Railways, passengers carried in South Africa, 1995–2020

05.0k10.0k15.0k1995200720201995: 10.2k million passenger-km1996: 11.0k million passenger-km1997: 12.6k million passenger-km1998: 12.7k million passenger-km1999: 11.6k million passenger-km2000: 11.9k million passenger-km2001: 13.0k million passenger-km2002: 1.1k million passenger-km2003: 996 million passenger-km2004: 1.0k million passenger-km2005: 991 million passenger-km2007: 13.9k million passenger-km2013: 550.1 million passenger-km2014: 14.3k million passenger-km2015: 13.7k million passenger-km2016: 11.8k million passenger-km2017: 9.8k million passenger-km2018: 7.1k million passenger-km2019: 5.5k million passenger-km2020: 3.5k million passenger-km

Source: Railisa Database (UIC), International Union of Railways (UIC). Measured in million passenger-km.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 3,502 million passenger-km for railways, passengers carried in 2020.

The figure is down 36.4% on the previous year and down 74.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, railways, passengers carried in South Africa peaked at 14,270 million passenger-km in 2014 and was at its lowest, 550.15 million passenger-km, in 2013.

South Africa ranks 38th of 101 countries 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.

Railways, passengers carried in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Railways, passengers carried (million passenger-km) in South Africa, 1995 to 2020.
Year million passenger-km Change
1995 10,243 million passenger-km
1996 10,978 million passenger-km +7.2%
1997 12,551 million passenger-km +14.3%
1998 12,728 million passenger-km +1.4%
1999 11,564 million passenger-km -9.1%
2000 11,890 million passenger-km +2.8%
2001 13,023 million passenger-km +9.5%
2002 1,126 million passenger-km -91.4%
2003 996 million passenger-km -11.5%
2004 1,001 million passenger-km +0.5%
2005 991 million passenger-km -1.0%
2007 13,865 million passenger-km +1299.1%
2013 550.15 million passenger-km -96.0%
2014 14,270 million passenger-km +2493.8%
2015 13,704 million passenger-km -4.0%
2016 11,837 million passenger-km -13.6%
2017 9,821 million passenger-km -17.0%
2018 7,114 million passenger-km -27.6%
2019 5,504 million passenger-km -22.6%
2020 3,502 million passenger-km -36.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 11,613 million passenger-km 10,243 million passenger-km 12,728 million passenger-km 5
2000s 6,127 million passenger-km 991 million passenger-km 13,865 million passenger-km 7
2010s 8,972 million passenger-km 550.15 million passenger-km 14,270 million passenger-km 7
2020s 3,502 million passenger-km 3,502 million passenger-km 3,502 million passenger-km 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 35 Belarus 4,486 million passenger-km compare
  2. 36 Morocco 4,464 million passenger-km compare
  3. 37 Myanmar 4,163 million passenger-km compare
  4. 39 Uzbekistan 3,130 million passenger-km compare
  5. 40 Portugal 2,912 million passenger-km compare
  6. 41 Finland 2,903 million passenger-km compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More infrastructure data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is railways, passengers carried in South Africa?
Railways, passengers carried in South Africa was 3,502 million passenger-km in 2020, according to Railisa Database (UIC), International Union of Railways (UIC).
What is the highest railways, passengers carried recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 14,270 million passenger-km in 2014.
What is the lowest railways, passengers carried recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 550.15 million passenger-km in 2013.
How does South Africa rank for railways, passengers carried?
South Africa ranks 38th out of 101 countries with data for 2020.
Is railways, passengers carried rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 74.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Railisa Database (UIC), International Union of Railways (UIC), published as part of Railways, passengers carried (million passenger-km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Railways, passengers carried in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Railisa Database (UIC), International Union of Railways (UIC). Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/railways-passengers-carried-million-passenger-km/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.