Site overview

Statistics On-Line Database presents information on transportation and transportation-related activities among Canada, the United States and Mexico, both within individual countries and between the countries.  This database, presented in French, English, and Spanish is, accessible in table and time series formats, and covers twelve thematic areas, including transportation and the economy, transportation safety, transportation's impact on energy and the environment, passenger and freight activity, and transportation and trade.

This On-Line Database currently contains 39 tables. Data in table or time series format can be printed or downloaded for further processing and analysis. For most tables, data are available for 1990 and 1995 to 2015.

The On-Line Database updates a subset of tables and figures from the North American Transportation in Figures report published in 2000.

North American Transportation in Figures examines transportation and transportation-related passenger, freight, economic, safety, energy, environmental and demographic statistics relating to Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The On-Line Database and the Figures report are products of the North American Transportation Statistics working group within the North American Transportation Statistics Interchange, a trilateral initiative among the transportation and statistical agencies of Canada, the United States and Mexico.  Underway since 1991, the Interchange provides a forum for the exchange of information and for the discussion of topics and issues related to transportation statistics among the participating countries.

Who are we?

The primary participating agencies include Statistics Canada and Transport Canada from Canada; the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) (Ministry of Communications and Transportation), the Instituto Mexicano del Transporte (IMT) (Mexican Institute of Transportation) and the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) (National Institute of Statistics and Geography) from Mexico; and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and the U.S. Census Bureau from the United States. Other agencies throughout the three countries participate and provide data and expertise.

Major objectives of the North American Transportation Statistics working group are to:

1. identify key information that will help provide a comprehensive view of transportation in North America,
2. characterize transportation activity and impacts across and between Canada, Mexico and the United States,
3. reveal specific data comparability differences among countries,
4. identify data and information gaps and
5. begin discussions for reducing comparability differences and data gaps through cooperative activities.

Why a database on North American Transportation Statistics?

The need for North American Transportation Statistics reflects the increase in global economic growth and greater integration of trade, finance and manufacturing in recent decades. Transportation is vital in the changing global economy, linking people and places, businesses and consumers, facilitating trade and tourism, and contributing to economic development. The North American experience mirrors these worldwide trends. Reduced trade barriers and increased personal mobility have created a heightened need for information on transportation infrastructure and services among Canada, the United States, and Mexico. While the positive contributions of transportation to the national economies and to the daily life of people everywhere are important, transportation also has adverse impacts. Transportation accidents are a major cause of death and injury every year in North America. Transportation consumes significant amounts of energy, mainly derived from petroleum and also contributes to environmental problems.

The On-Line Database provides for the first time a central web based source for North American transportation statistics for all three countries on common subjects. The working group members evaluate each table for data comparability and note all definitional differences among the three countries.  Accurate data, comparable across modes and countries, is important to understand changes in dynamic transportation markets; to evaluate transportation benefits and impacts; and to support critical decision-making in the public and private sectors.