Which country has the longest commute?

Nigeria has some of the longest average commutes at 59 minutes one-way, followed by India (52 minutes).

Has remote work reduced commute times?

Yes, the rise of remote and hybrid work has reduced average commutes in many developed nations, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global Average Commute Time

Last updated: January 30, 2026

36 min

minutes

The global average one-way commute time is approximately 36 minutes. Nigeria has some of the longest commutes at 59 minutes, while Canada averages just 26 minutes. Remote work has reduced commute burden in many developed nations.

Historical Trend

Source: Moovit

Global Average Commute Time by Country

Country	Value (minutes) ↓	Source
Nigeria	59	NBS
India	52	TomTom
Brazil	48	IBGE
China	46	NBS
Pakistan	45	PBS
Russia	42	Rosstat
Japan	40	MLIT
South Korea	38	KOSIS
United Kingdom	31	ONS
Australia	30	ABS
France	30	INSEE
United Arab Emirates	30	RTA
Germany	29	Destatis
United States	28	Census
Netherlands	28	CBS
Canada	26	StatCan
Saudi Arabia	25	TomTom

Why This Average Exists

Commute time directly affects quality of life, productivity, and health. Long commutes are linked to higher stress, less sleep, and reduced physical activity.

Factors That Affect Global Average Commute Time

Urban sprawl
Public transit quality
Traffic congestion
Remote work policies
Housing costs near workplaces
Infrastructure investment

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology & Data Sources

The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.

Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2024–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.

All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.