Driving a car is second nature in the United States, where to get anywhere with ease or speed, you have to take four wheels. This is especially true in rural areas, where you might not see another human for miles, on the highway or otherwise. But transportation methods vary widely across the largest countries in the world.
Some countries rely on networks of public transport to get people from point A to point B, whereas others are similar to the US in building roadway infrastructure. Here’s what to know about how people get around in the biggest countries—by area—in the world.
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8 Argentina
Argentinians prefer the bus
Aerial view of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina has fewer roads than other large countries, but that doesn’t mean road travel is less used there. In fact, bus travel is the most popular in Argentina, though there are many cars, too. Less than half the population owned a car as of 2018, however, according to Statista. Argentina has many sights to see—like some of the tallest volcanoes on the planet—but it will take some planning to get around.
- Country size: 1,073,500 square miles
- Miles of roads: 240,000
- Percentage of people that own a car: 43.02%
7 India
India uses motorbikes and scooters
Street in Bhopal India
Very few people in India actually own a car, despite the country measuring over a million square miles and the fact that it has more than 6 million miles of roads. Various forms of transportation are popular in India, but one of the most noticeable is motorbikes and scooters. While trains, buses, taxis, and rickshaws are also commonly used, around half of households own a bicycle, while fewer have a motorbike, scooter, or car.
- Country size: 1,269,219 square miles
- Miles of roads: 6,700,000
- Percentage of people that own a car: 8%
6 Australia
Australians mostly drive cars
The Main Street of the old gold mining town of Maldon, Central Victoria, Australia
Australia is massive, but it doesn’t have as many miles of roads as you might expect. With only a few hundred thousand miles of roads spread over almost 3 million square miles, it’s not surprising that 91% of Australians own a car. Interestingly, the average commute length is around 25 miles round trip—which might be unheard of in other parts of the world. Australia also has a reputation as the friendliest country in the world, so traveling here might also mean making new friends.
- Country size: 2,988,900 square miles
- Miles of roads: 607,752
- Percentage of people that own a car: 91%
5 Brazil
Brazilians rely on buses to get around
Ouro Preto is a city located in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Though many people in Brazil own a car, the majority of people use buses to get around, according to Statista. Buses were the leading method of transportation in 2020 and were popular with four out of ten respondents in Statista’s survey. Bicycles were the second-most popular, while cars were third.
- Country size: 3,285,862 square miles
- Miles of roads: 1,243,008
- Percentage of people that own a car: 79%
4 United States
Americans use cars
Traffic on Sawtelle Blvd., in Los Angeles, CA
It’s probably not surprising to anyone that Americans tend to drive versus use any other method of transport, especially given how large the country is. While public transportation is generally available in tightly-packed metro areas, the loneliest states in the US definitely require a car to get around. Densely populated places like NYC are better for walking and the subway, but it could take an hours-long bus ride to get anywhere if you travel to Wyoming.
- Country size: 3,677,647 square miles
- ​​​​​​​Miles of roads: 4,378,155
- Percentage of people that own a car: 91.7%
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3 China
China has many cars
San Francisco’s ChinatownÂ
Nearly three-quarters of Chinese people own a car, and Statista reported that about 70% of respondents in their survey stated they commuted using their car. That said, China also has an intricate public transportation system, but people in China drive nearly as much as people in the United States do. Of course, they also apparently like to live on the edge, with the most dangerous hike in the world attractiong visitors with a daredevil streak.
- Country size: 3,705,410 square miles
- ​​​​​​​Miles of roads: 3,325,046
- Percentage of people that own a car: 71.4%
2 Canada
Canadians mostly drive
The town of Banff in Alberta, Canada
Many Canadians drive, but Statista reported a lower percentage of Canadians commuting via car than you might expect—fewer Canadians commute via car than Chinese do. That said, Canadians aren’t always able to drive their cars in all seasons.
- Country size: 3,855,100 square miles
- ​​​​​​​Miles of roads: 647,793
- Percentage of people that own a car: 83%
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1 Russia
Russians mostly use public transportation
Aviapark exterior, Moscow, Russia
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Less than half of people in Russia own a car, with public transportation being the most popular method of getting around. Given how massive Russia is, it makes sense that there’s a well-planned public transportation system. Roads are still the most popular way to get around, as railroads only span around 53,000 miles of the country. Russia is also the most populated country in Europe, and transporting 144 million people probably isn’t doable with anything other than buses and subways.
- Country size: 6,601,667 square miles
- ​​​​​​​Miles of roads: 956,417
- Percentage of people that own a car: 47%
References: CIA, Statista, Canada Newswire, AutoInsurance.com, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Newgeography.com,