Small states: Air transport, passengers carried

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2022, Small states' air transport, passengers carried rose 165% on 2021 (from 5.84 million to 15.49 million).

Across the 26 yearly changes before that (1985 to 2021), the average change was +0.4% and a typical year strayed about 15.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 10.4 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 165% in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 69.8% 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 2013 to 2022 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 18% of the movement over 8 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 carrier data per country refers to passengers carried by airlines registered in that country regardless of the origin or destination of the passengers.

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 31 values

Air transport, passengers carried in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 1.03 million (2023)
• Algeria — 7.16 million (2023)
• Bahrain — 5.73 million (2023)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 16.67 million (2023)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 18.07 million (2023)
• Iraq — 3.76 million (2023)
• Israel — 7.38 million (2023)
• Jordan — 3.73 million (2023)
• Kuwait — 9.5 million (2023)
• Lebanon — 2.69 million (2023)
• Libya

More infrastructure data for Small states

• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 32 million (2025)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 161.6 (2025)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 3 million (2025)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 13.5 (2025)
• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 316,785 (2022)
• Scientific and technical journal articles — 6,759 (2023)
• ICT goods imports (% total goods imports) — 5.46% (2024)
• ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) — 3.82% (2024)
• Fixed broadband subscriptions — 3 million (2025)

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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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Small states's air transport, passengers carried?

15.49 million in 2022, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1984?

It is up 171.33% from 5.71 million in 1984 (2.66% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 26.13 million in 2018 and the lowest 5.71 million in 1984.

Is the latest change in air transport, passengers carried unusual for Small states?

In 2022, Small states' air transport, passengers carried rose 165% on 2021 (from 5.84 million to 15.49 million). Across the 26 yearly changes before that (1985 to 2021), the average change was +0.4% and a typical year strayed about 15.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 10.4 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Where does this data come from?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IS.AIR.PSGR, 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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