Low-income countries account for just 1.7% of the world’s road networks, exposing deep global infrastructure inequalities that limit connectivity, accessibility and economic growth.
A reliable and extensive road network is vital for any economy, especially for low-income countries. Well-developed roads move people and goods efficiently, open access to markets and services and enable sustainable growth. By bringing communities closer and shortening the distance between people, markets and opportunities, roads foster inclusion and integration within and across regions.
The International Road Federation’s World Road Statistics (WRS) 2025 Edition presents total road network length (in kilometres) for countries worldwide, disaggregated by road class – from motorways and highways to main or national, secondary or other roads. It also classifies countries by geographic region and income level, enabling comparative analysis across different development contexts.
WRS data shows that global road networks are unevenly distributed, with the majority of total road length concentrated in higher-income countries. Countries classified as high–income account for the largest share of the world’s road network (44.8%), followed by upper middle-income (29.7%) and lower middle-income (23.8%) countries (Figure 1). In stark contrast, low-income countries account for only 1.7% of the global total.
This limited share is primarily the result of constrained public investment capacity and insufficient maintenance of existing networks. Such deficits in road infrastructure compound broader structural and economic challenges, restricting low-income countries’ ability to accelerate development, attract investment and progress toward higher income status.
A regional breakdown of road networks shows persistent disparities in infrastructure development. East Asia and the Pacific hold the largest share of the global road network (26.5%), followed by Europe and Central Asia (19.7%), North America (18.8%), and South Asia (18.3%) (Figure 2). Together, these regions account for 83.3% of the global road infrastructure, reflecting their stronger economic bases and institutional capacities for sustained infrastructure investment.
In contrast, Latin America and the Caribbean (8.1%), the Middle East and North Africa (3%), and Sub-Saharan Africa (5.6%) together make up only 16.7% of the global road network. This imbalance becomes even clearer when comparing each region’s share of the global road network with its share of total land area (Figure 3).
Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 18.4% of the world’s land area but only 5.6% of the global road network, and Latin America and the Caribbean, with 15.4% of land area and 8.1% of the global road network, together show the widest disparities between vast territories and limited infrastructure coverage.
This imbalance highlights how much of the developing world’s territory remains underserved by road infrastructure. These regions with smaller network shares continue to face structural barriers such as limited financing, challenging geography and weak asset management systems, all of which constrain connectivity and economic competitiveness.
By contrast, South Asia stands out at the opposite end of the spectrum, accounting for nearly 20% of the world’s road networks while covering only about 3% of global land area — evidence of high infrastructure density and the intensity of transport demand in this populous region.
Overall, WRS data demonstrates that disparities in global road infrastructure stem not only from differences in economic capacity but also from geographic realities and institutional readiness. Regions with vast land areas and difficult terrain face compounded challenges in building and managing road networks. Bridging this divide calls for targeted investment strategies, improved maintenance planning and innovative financing models that can adapt to local contexts. Strengthening road infrastructure where it is most lacking is not only a matter of connectivity. It is a prerequisite for inclusive growth, regional integration and long-term economic resilience.
The new IRF World Road Statistics (WRS) 2025 edition features updated data for over 200 countries and territories and more than 200 indicators covering key topics such as road networks, traffic volumes, multimodal transport comparisons, vehicles in use, road accidents, expenditures and revenues and many others.
The IRF Data Warehouse offers free, intuitive, interactive tools that allow users to perform in-depth analyses, compare multiple metrics and generate customised time-series charts.
For more detailed information on key statistical indicators in the road and transport sector – whether for a specific country or a global overview, please visit the IRF World Road Statistics website or email us at stats@irfofficial.org.
This article is part of the WRS Road Data Snapshot Series developed by IRF, with support of TotalEnergies Foundation and Michelin Corporate Foundation.
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