The 2025 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard provides a comprehensive look at how people, goods, and services moved across global road networks this year. Covering over 900 cities, the report highlights where congestion worsened, where it improved, and what trends shaped mobility in 2025.
Below is a breakdown of the key findings, regional insights, and policy implications for planners, commuters, and decision-makers.
Global Overview: Congestion on the Rise
The data shows a clear upward trend in traffic delays compared to last year. Traffic delays are increasing worldwide. According to the Scorecard:
- 62% of the world’s urban areas saw increased traffic delay compared to 2024.
- 26% saw reductions, and 12% saw no significant change.
- Istanbul tops the global list again with 118 hours lost, a 12% jump over last year.
The top five most congested cities globally by Impact Rank are:
- Istanbul, Turkey – 118 hours lost
- Mexico City, Mexico – 108 hours
- Chicago, USA – 112 hours
- New York City, USA – 102 hours
- Philadelphia, USA – 101 hours
While Istanbul retained its top spot, Mexico City and Philadelphia saw notable jumps, signaling worsening gridlock in major economic centers.
In the U.S., Chicago Takes the #1 Spot
The U.S. saw significant congestion growth in 2025. American drivers lost 49 hours, up six hours from last year, costing the nation $85.8 billion in lost time. Chicago overtook New York as the most congested U.S. city.
Top 5 U.S. Urban Areas by Hours Lost
- Chicago – 112 hours
- New York City – 102 hours
- Philadelphia – 101 hours
- Los Angeles – 87 hours
- Boston – 83 hours
Quick Facts:
- Traffic delays remained similar to 2024 in New York and Los Angeles, the two densest metro areas in the country.
- Philadelphia and Baltimore saw the largest year-over-year increases at 31%.
- Transit ridership increased modestly (3%) but remains 20% below pre-COVID levels, indicating lingering remote-work habits.
- The busiest U.S. corridor is in Stamford, CT on I-95 Southbound commuters lost 133 hours annually. Other significant bottlenecks include the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and major congestion points in Orlando, San Francisco, and Chicago.
United Kingdom: A Rare Reprieve
Unlike the U.S., the United Kingdom saw a meaningful reduction in congestion. The average driver lost 59 hours, three fewer than in 2024, lowering national losses to £11.0 billion.
Top U.K. Urban Areas by Hours Lost
- London – 91 hours (down 10%)
- Bristol – 64 hours
- Manchester – 62 hours
- Leeds – 59 hours
- Birmingham – 57 hours
Quick Facts:
- London remains the U.K.’s most congested city despite improvement.
- The busiest U.K. corridor is the A414 Westbound between Thieves Lane and Stanstead Road with 68 hours lost during the evening peak.
- These reductions suggest that targeted transport policies and travel-behavior changes are beginning to deliver results in the U.K.
In Germany Congestion Intensifies
Germany moved in the opposite direction, experiencing widespread increases in delay. Drivers lost 47 hours, up four from last year, costing the nation 5.3 billion €.
Top German Urban Areas by Hours Lost
- Cologne – 67 hours (up 20%)
- Berlin – 60 hours
- Düsseldorf – 63 hours
- Munich – 57 hours
- Stuttgart – 60 hours
Quick Facts:
- Cologne saw a 20% rise, pushing it ahead of Berlin as the nation’s most congested city.
- The busiest corridor in Germany is the A52 Eastbound in Essen with 42 hours lost, still far below U.S. and U.K. corridor delays.
- Germany’s consistently strong road design and maintenance help contain congestion severity.
Global Traffic Safety: Fatalities Recede to Pre-COVID Levels
Despite worsening congestion in many regions, road safety improved in 2025. Fatalities declined, and rates returned to pre-pandemic norms.
United States
- 17,140 fatalities (H1 2025)
- Fatality rate dropped to 1.06 per 100M VMT (2014 levels)
U.K. and Germany
- U.K. fatalities: 1,602 (down 8.5% from 2019)
- U.K. fatality rate: 0.47 per 100M VMT
- Germany’s rate: 0.64 per 100M VMT
Speed enforcement through lowered limits and automated cameras continues to play a major role in safety improvements. These results show how policy interventions can meaningfully reduce roadway fatalities even amid increased mobility.
Emerging Research & Case Studies
The Scorecard includes several real-world studies showing how traffic data supports emergency response and infrastructure planning:
1. Automated Speed Enforcement in San Francisco
- Speeding dropped significantly on Michigan Avenue
- High levels of detouring suggest behavioral adaptation
- Post-camera speeding resumed after leaving enforcement zones
2. Palisades Wildfire Evacuation Analysis
- Sunset Boulevard bottlenecks created major evacuation delays
- Lessons highlight key chokepoints for future wildfire events
3. Tsunami Advisory Traffic Patterns in Hawaii
- Speeds dropped 20% statewide and 25% on coastal roads
- Road incidents jumped 79% post-warning
- Mainland U.S. response showed little behavioral change
4. Trade Policy Impacts on Truck Traffic
- U.S.–Canada truck crossings dropped 4.5% amid 2025 tariff escalation
- Significant jump in crossings occurred just before tariffs took effect
Collectively, these studies highlight how traffic data can inform emergency planning, infrastructure design, and policy decisions.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard highlights how congestion patterns were reshaped by demographic shifts, economic forces, and evolving transportation policies. Population growth and renewed urban migration increased strain on major corridors, while stable work-from-home trends softened—but did not eliminate—traditional peak travel. Policy shifts, including new U.S. tolling programs and strengthened European enforcement, further influenced driver behavior. Uneven transit ridership recovery also affected commuters’ choices between public transport and private cars. Although congestion has intensified in many regions, cities like London and Paris demonstrate that targeted infrastructure investments and thoughtful mobility policies can reduce delays. Looking ahead to 2026, the Scorecard’s insights on congestion, freight movement, safety, and emergency response will help planners design more resilient, efficient transportation systems.
Learn more by downloading the INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard.