IBRD only: Air transport, freight (million ton-km)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, IBRD only's air transport, freight (million ton-km) rose 16.1% on 2022 (from 46,124 to 53,554).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1993 to 2022), the average change was +6.2% and a typical year strayed about 9.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 24.7% in 2010 and the biggest yearly fall was 25.4% in 2020. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 14% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

See how every economy compares in the full ranking.

What this measures

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.

Limitations: While ICAO aviation data provide a globally standardized and comprehensive view of air transport activity, several limitations affect their accuracy and comparability. Data quality depends on the completeness and consistency of country reporting, which can vary due to differences in national statistical capacity, regulatory environments, and adherence to ICAO definitions. Some countries may not report all relevant data, leading ICAO to estimate missing values using historical submissions and published schedules, which can introduce uncertainty. Changes in airline registration, mergers, or operational practices may also affect the attribution of traffic statistics.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 50 values

Air transport, freight (million ton-km) in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 0.79 (2023)
• Algeria — 8.58 (2023)
• Bahrain — 895.44 (2023)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 492.66 (2023)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 136.93 (2023)
• Iraq — 0 (2023)
• Israel — 609.66 (2023)
• Jordan — 110.06 (2023)
• Kuwait — 331.17 (2023)
• Lebanon — 34.4 (2023)
• Libya

More infrastructure data for IBRD only

• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 5.82 billion (2025)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 115.9 (2025)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 420 million (2025)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 8.4 (2025)
• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 13.45 million (2023)
• Air transport, passengers carried — 1.75 billion (2023)
• ICT service exports (% of service exports, BoP) — 20.7% (2025)
• ICT service exports (BoP, current US$) — US$394.54 billion (2025)
• Scientific and technical journal articles — 1.73 million (2023)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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Questions people ask

What is IBRD only's air transport, freight (million ton-km)?

53,554 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1974?

It is up 2,598% from 1,985 in 1974 (6.96% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 57,457 in 2019 and the lowest 1,985 in 1974.

Is the latest change in air transport, freight (million ton-km) unusual for IBRD only?

In 2023, IBRD only's air transport, freight (million ton-km) rose 16.1% on 2022 (from 46,124 to 53,554). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1993 to 2022), the average change was +6.2% and a typical year strayed about 9.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Where does this data come from?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IS.AIR.GOOD.MT.K1, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Civil Aviation Statistics of the World, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), uri: https://data.icao.int/newdataplus/#:~:text=ICAO%20data%20is%20comprised%20of,information%20about%20commercial%20air%20carriers; ICAO Staff estimates, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), uri:… Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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