Top 10 Most Traffic-Congested Cities in the World

We’ve all experienced it before and dred it. Traffic is a pain. Whether you’re going to work, going on a long vacation, or visiting your friends, traffic is a daily struggle. But out of the big cities around the world, which one has the biggest traffic issues? Is there a way to tell how much traffic is in a city?

We looked at the 10 most populated cities in the world and ranked them according to their average time spent in traffic. To put the below list into perspective, Lagos in Nigeria takes top spot with 74% of its commuters spending an average of 70 minutes in traffic a day. And if you’re one of the unfortunate commuters in Los Angeles, you may be stuck out there for up to 6 hours. Finally arriving back at your destination, seeing that automated gate open as you drive in would mark quite the achievement in human endurance.

1. Lagos, Nigeria

The city of Lagos is located on the west coast of Nigeria in the southern part of the country. Known officially as the Federal Capital Territory, its metropolitan area is one of Nigeria’s largest with an immense population of more than 20 million people. At its current rate of growth, Lagos is projected to reach an unfathomable 88 million residents by 2100. The city contains several large highways which are used by residents to travel around the greater area. These highways are also used by many commuters who are working outside Lagos to commute to their destination, so they can get back to their families before evening rush-hour begins which causes traffic to build up. As expected, Lagos is also home to the largest traffic congestion in the world, with over 35 million daily commuters using this 40 km stretch of road.

2. Los Angeles, CA, United States

Los Angeles is one of the most populous cities in America. It is located in central California on the Pacific Ocean. The city is best known for its entertainment, film industry and many other industries located in Los Angeles. The city also has some of the best weather conditions you can find in the United States. This makes it a very popular place to live, especially for expatriates working in Hollywood who are looking to have at least one vacation home near their workplace. LA traffic is notorious for its long commutes which can take two to six hours. This is due to the fact that the city is very spread out and it accumulates large amounts of traffic during peak hours.

3. San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose is the largest city in Costa Rica and the capital city of San Jose province. It is located in the central-western part of Costa Rica and is known for its good weather, enough so that it ranks as the best city to live in Central America. Traffic is heavily dependent on the usage of private vehicles, the roads are extensive but are not well maintained meaning that they are often jammed with lots of traffic.

4. Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka and its population has been increasing rapidly over the past few years. It is located on Sri Lanka’s western coast. The city is located on an island which is divided into several districts. The city has several large highways which make it easier for commuters to commute throughout the city without having to traverse through congested neighborhoods and back streets.

5. Delhi, India

Delhi is the capital of India and the second most populous city in India. It was founded by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. It has always been an important historical center for India, since it was established. Today, Delhi also serves as a cultural, bureaucratic, entertainment and commercial hub of India. Traffic here is mainly dependent on the usage of private vehicles. However, there are few public transport options available.

6. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Sharjah is an emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sharjah is located on the Persian Gulf coast of the Arabian Peninsula, near Dubai. It has a population of over 1 million people. The city is famous for its history, culture and architecturally designed houses. Sharjah has a highly developed infrastructure which includes a large number of amenities. The traffic in this city is dependent almost entirely on the usage of private vehicles.

7. Kolkata, India

Kolkata (pronounced ‘Coalta’) is the capital of West Bengal and the third largest city in India. It is located on the eastern coast of India. The city grew from a small village to one of the most important cities in South Asia because it was at this point that trade routes began to connect East and West. The city today serves as an industrial, cultural and financial center in eastern India. The city’s roadways are heavily dependent on the usage of private vehicles.

8. Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city has a population of over three million people and is located in the heart of the African Great Lakes region. The Nairobi National Park, is one of Kenya’s most popular tourist attractions as it contains wildlife such as giraffes, zebras, elephants and buffaloes. The city depends on private modes of transportation such as cars and public transport to move around the city.

9. Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka is a city in North-East Bangladesh. It is the capital of Bangladesh. The city has a population of over 12 million people and has grown rapidly over the past few years due to its large population. Dhaka has always been an important historic center for trade and commerce, making it a highly populated area with a great deal of traffic on its highways and roads.

10. Manila, Philippines

Manila is the capital city of the Philippines. It is the most densely populated city in the world with a population of more than 1,600,000 people. Traffic in Manila is heavily dependent on the usage of private vehicles. Because of this, roadways are very congested and make it difficult for commuters to travel to their offices or workplaces within the city.