List of countries by rail transport network size

This is a sortable list of countries by rail transport network size based on length of rail lines. For the purposes of this page, railway has been defined as a fixed route laid with rails along which wagons can be transported. Wagons may be powered by various means and may be used to transport people or goods.

Temporary lines laid for specific purposes are not considered unless specified. Countries include the nations listed in the List of sovereign states along with reference ISO 3166 codes which list ISO 3166-1 numeric three-digit country codes which are maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division.

Countries with largest railway networks

Country/Territory Length (km)% of the totalelectrified (per route km) Historical peaklength (km)Nationalized or private Data yearReferencesISO 3166-1 Total Electrified Area (km2) Population 220,044 2,150 0.97%44.691,522 428,180 (1917) Track ownership and freight mostly private, passenger mostly public 2019 840 165,000 122,000 74.40% 60.61 8,865 165,000 (2025) Nationalized, with a number of industrial lines owned by private companies 2025156 92,000 48,000 53% 98,000 (1991) Mostly nationalised, with some private industrial lines 2023 643 70,271 70,002 99.6% 47.93 21,038 70,271 (2026) Nationalized, with some private freight operators. 2026 356 49,422129 0.20% 69,636 (1940) Freight - private Passenger - public 2017 124 39,773 21,100 53.1% 61,498 (1910) Nationalized with private operators 2021 276 35,95329,212 81.13% Nationalized 2017 710 32,924 3,448 10.47% 41,843 (1962) Both 2022 036 29,817 432 1.6% 299.6 7,225 38,000 (1957) Both 2014 076 27,483 16,067 58.46% 63,000 (1923) Nationalized 2019 250 27,311 20,534 75.19% 13.84 4,647 Both 2015 39224,567 12,205 49.68% Infrastructure nationalized with private operators. 2023 23,389 802 3.43% 26,914Majority of infrastructure nationalized. Private and public operators 2020 484 19,787 9,319 47.1% Nationalized 201980419,663 12,250 62.3% 27,000 (1954) Nationalized with private operators 2024 616 17,866 190 0.51% 77.45 1,117 47,500 (1957) Both 2019 032 16,998 2,200 12.94% 148.41 6,816 Nationalized 2014 The figure includes passenger, commercial and industrial railroads; More information can be found at Islamic Republic of Iran Railways 364 16,636 4,500 27.05% 1641,232 Nationalized 2026 398 16,355 11,127 68.03% 18,000+ (in 1950s) Nationalized with private operators 2017 724 16,1796,200 38.32% 15.104,17834,075 (1929) State-owned infrastructure with passenger operations mainly now publicly run with a handful of open access and contracted operators in Great Britain and publicly run in Northern Ireland. 2023 82613,919 7,274 52.3% Nationalized 2024 792 11,025 0 0.00% 171.07 12,127 Nationalized 200610410,912 8,186 75.02% 16,900 (around 1938)Nationalized with private operatorsMost services subject to franchising. 2021 75210,611 4,032 32.87% 23,955 Nationalized with private operators 2024 6429,567 3,237 33.84% Nationalized with private operators 2017 203 8,260 621 7.51% 219.31 32,712 8,260 Nationalized 2023 360 8,193 117 1.4% 21.84 2,215 14,152 Nationalized 2010 1927,945 2,889 36.36% Nationalized with private operators 2017 348 7,540 0 0.00% 117.74 32,433 9,629 (1947) Nationalized, some trains are outsourced 2015 586 7,024 62 0.88% Nationalized 2017 818 6,634 700 10.55% 128.2 2,931 8,930 (1930) Nationalized 2018 152 6,084 0 0.00% 339.81 5,640 Nationalized 2006 7295,926 3,270 55.18% Nationalized 2017 246 5,735 3,894 67.9% 23.03 4,595 Nationalized 2006 408 5,590 453 8.10% 384.56 6,254 Nationalized 2019 682 5,459 874 16.01% Nationalized 2016 112 5,317 5,317 100.00% 5,868 (1930) Both, but majority is nationalized 2020 756 5,080 0 0.00% 153.44 1,585 Nationalized 2014 7954,859 3,650 75.12% 7,166 (1930)Nationalized with private operators 2022 0404,845 107 2.18% 126.04 16,084 Nationalized with private operators 2025 7644,8373,787 78.29% 20.76 10,716 Nationalized 2020 4104,669 2,500 53.54% 94.8 6,969 6,950 Nationalized 2020 8604,560480 10.53% 4,815 (1930) Nationalized 2022 0124,458 20 0.45% 33.30 39,1784,458 Nationalized 2021, 2022 Annual Report 2022-23(Page 52) - Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh0504,240 2,895 68.3% 4,471 (1950) Nationalized with private operators 2023 5784,128 506 12.26% 64.64 1,070 5,681 (1950) Nationalized 2018 5544,096 852 20.80% 585.19 16,463 2008 1804,029 3,005 74.58% 6507 Nationalized 2023 1003,764 1,279 33.98% Nationalized 2017 6883,626 1,587 43.77% Nationalized 2017 7033,785 3,333 88.05% 5,081 (1940) Nationalized 2025 056 3,600 0 0.00% 261.84 44,904 Nationalized 2006 5663,315 0 0.00% 141.12 27,765 Nationalized 2023 7043,249 0 0.00% 256.54 6,604 2008 5083,1360 0.00% 130.25 4,190 Nationalized 2010 7163,055 2,314 75.74% 3,407 (1920) Nationalized with private operatorsRural lines subject to franchising. 2017 5282,944 1,278 43.41% Nationalized 2015 031 2,761 0 0.00% 451.54 6,911 2,764 Nationalized 2006 024 2,750 0 0.00% 86.57 11,078 Nationalized 2010 7602,600440 15.40% 348.02 15,866 Nationalized 2006 8342,610 964 36.93% 5,290 (1931)Nationalized, rural lines franchised 2017 208 2,604 985 37.83% Nationalized 2017 191 2,541 0 0.00% Nationalized 2013 404 2,527 1,791 70.87% 3,622 Nationalized 2023 6202,400 53 3.15% 41.833,065 4,354 (1921 - this included Northern Ireland) Nationalized 2025 372 2,382 0 0.00% 346.05 877 Nationalized 2006 516 2,240 764 34.11% 2,632 (1940) Semi-Privatized 2017 3002,185 1,401 64.12% 1,675.72 150,935 Nationalized 2016 231 2,165 0 0.00% 2,173 (1950) Nationalized 2018 7882,109 1,022 48.46% Nationalized 2017 5042,0411,028 50.37% 162.06 15,383 Nationalized 2021 4582,032 0 0.00% 215.71 15,587 2,029(1985) Nationalized 2006 3682,020 0 0.00% 636.25 14,585 4,205 (1930) Private 2008 6041,954 0 0.00% 383.32 3,638 3,692 (1997) Nationalized 2011 0681,910 156 8.17% 2,147 (1950) Nationalized 2021 4401,860 257 13.82% 2,763 (1920) Nationalized 2017 4281,810 0 0.00% 864.15 1,560 Nationalized 2008 4961,791 0 0.00% 58.88 1,121 2,961 Nationalized 2006 858 1,771 1,630 92.0% 20.44 13,156 5,000 Nationalized (Conventional network)Private (High-Speed network) 2025 1581,663 0 0.00% 648.85 27,770 Private 2007 1701,576 1,288 81.73% Nationalized 2016 2681,561 0 0.00% 43.51 13,696 1,530 (1930–1940) Nationalized 2024 144 1,511 700 46.32% 14.61 6,487 Nationalized 2024 excludes urban rail3761,244 0 0.00% 930.65 122,780 Nationalized 2002 8001,237 0 0.00% 608.42 10,547 2006 8941,209 503 41.60% Nationalized 2017 7051,161 132 11.37% 3,000 Both 2017 2331,151 0 0.00% Nationalized 2017 4981,018 565 55.50% Nationalized 2017 070977 0 0.00% 1,104 2015 120966 0 0.00% 293.54 14,810 1,131 (1930) 2006 Services ceased 2020 218953 0 0.00% 250.30 25,429 2006 288906 36 4.0% 2015 686900 0 0.00% 92.812,252 900 Nationalized 2023 784888 0 0.00% 2014 072848 0 0.00% 2015 450837 0 0.00% 293.74 11,926 2006 324810 0 0.00% 330.45 1,858 2007 266797 0 0.00% 148.66 18,696 2007 454795 0 0.00% 430.19 5086 Nationalized 2006 178758 0 0.00% 148.58 11,581 2006 204729 0 0.00% 2013 466728 0 0.00% 1,415.80 4,753 Nationalized 2008 478703 703 100.00% Nationalized 2016 05167 0 0.00% 160.36 11,753 785 (1993) 2006 340 683 313 45.83% Nationalized 2017 807650 0 0.00% Nationalized 2018 116 639 0 0.00% 504.64 30,889 2007 384622 0 0.00% 440.84 25,291 2006 854616 0 0.00% 232.31 11,167 Nationalized 2007 762597 0 0.00% 30.61 1,442 2006 242568 0 0.00% 100 10,613 2006 768562 0 0.00% 37.44 10,221 2007 222 532 53 10.01% 560.15 211,8001,352 (1940)Nationalized 2021 608517 0 0.00% 94.14 18,141 2006 214490 0 0.00% 227.28 8,151 Private 2006 430 424 414 97.64% 561.2 17,587 Nationalized (operated by China) 2021 418417 0 0.00% 2012 417355 0 0.00% 212.45 9,594 2006 591336 0 0.00% 2,714.43 87,458 1020 (1950) 2006 862334 0 0.00% Nationalized with private operators 2016 008 306 0 0.00% 384.31 17,170 Nationalized 2006 232 301 0 0.00% 57.69 3,940 2008 748 285 284 99.7% 2.56 20,892 State owned infrastructure with passenger operations contracted out 2026 702 278 0 0.00% 183.81 16,416 2007 188 275 275 100.00% 534 (1920–1940) Nationalized 2017 442 268 268 100.00% Nationalized (de facto) 2014 344 250 225 90.00% Nationalized 2017 499248 0 0.00% 2,598.10 48,864 728 166 0 0.00% 986.87 3,163 2001 activity ceased 1980's740 143 0 0.00%8,860.14 171,220 Private 562 127 0 0.00% 1,149.57 4,197 166 (1920) 2001 est. activity ceased around 2007328 93 81 86.9% 252.17 9,203 80 2016 262 84 0 0.00% 854.05 69,857 544 (1920) 2001 69482 82 100.00% 141.1134,091 634 75 0 0.00% 8,696.40 418,827 Nationalized (operated by neighbouring countries) 2011 004 65 0 0.00% 40.41 9,948 348 (1950) 2003 388 58 0 0.00% 5.22 1,040 2006 659 57 0 0.00% 146 2017 524 38 0 0.00% 11,298.67 173,056 376 2006 600 30 30 100.00% 68 42,182 206 (1904–1928). Nationalized 2024 LRT480 17 17 100.00% 143.65 38,810 370 2006 630 13 0 0.00% 443.46 30,692 2001 est. see next table 096 13 13 100.00% 9.83 6,200 13 (since 2023) Nationalized 2023 LRT446 9 9 100.00% 17.78 4,017 9 (since 1872) Nationalized (operated by Austria) 2024 438 3.9 0 0.00% 4.20 2,000 2001 520 1.7 1.7 100.00% 1.18 20,588 3.5 (1868–1958) Nationalized (operated by France) 2024 492 1.6 0 0.00% 123.04 16,228 799.8Private 2004 Cross-border line from Mexico, otherwise ceased 2007320 1.6 0 0.00% 10,118.33 723,667 1995 426 0.3 0 0.00% 1.47 3,333 0.3 (since 1934) Nationalized (operated by Italy)2024 336202,100115,220 56.98% 20.33 Both2024World1,384,091448,31332.73%107.95372.124,8142021 Notes

Active network size by region

Region Continent Length (km)% of the totalelectrified (per route km) Total Electrified Area (km2) Population Africa 85,476.6 4,600 355.30 16,304 Asia 380,583 233,331.1 117.13 12,335 Asia 31,375 2,493 144.14 21,778 Europe 376,924 207,070.7 27.02 1,977 Europe 211,430 118,363 20.33 2,113 North America 302,968.6 2,959.7 815.56 1,955 Oceania 37,652.9 3,954 239.02 1,181 South America 82,478 9,915 216.30 5,265

Countries without active network Former operators