Istanbul claimed the title of the world's traffic jam capital for the first time in 2024, with drivers losing an average of 105 hours per year to congestion, ccording to an analysis by the traffic service provider Inrix.

New York and Chicago are tied for second place globally, each experiencing an average time loss of 102 hours per year due to traffic jams. London ranks first among European cities and fourth worldwide, with an average time loss of 101 hours. Paris ranks sixth globally, with drivers spending an average of 97 hours in traffic jams. Cape Town is the most congested city in Africa, with a delay of 94 hours per year.

Düsseldorf overtook Berlin to become Germany's most congested city in 2024, with drivers experiencing an average time loss of 60 hours per year and a 22 percent increase in congestion. The surge in traffic delays in Düsseldorf is attributed to "numerous construction sites on heavily trafficked highway sections around Düsseldorf, such as the A46 and the A59."

"The results for 2024 clarify that traffic growth worldwide is unabated, while the infrastructure of many cities is reaching its limits," said Bob Pishue from Inrix. He emphasized that efficient traffic management and innovative mobility strategies are crucial in the long term.

The increase in car trips to city centers "indicates that employees are returning to the office and the city centers have almost recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic."

"Traffic jams are therefore preprogrammed, especially in metropolitan areas," according to the report.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq