GASTAT Reports Significant Growth In Public Transport Bus Passengers With 176% Increase In 2023

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has released the 2023 Road Transport Statistics Report for Saudi Arabia. The report highlights a significant rise in public transport bus usage, with a 176% increase in passengers compared to 2022. Over 117.6 million people used buses within and between cities this year.

In 2023, the number of passengers using buses within cities surged by 195%, reaching over 113.5 million. Intercity bus travel also saw growth, with around 4.1 million passengers recorded during the same period. Additionally, there were approximately 3.7 million bus trips within and between cities.

The Kingdom's road network expanded to a total length of 316,900 kilometers in 2023, marking a 2.2% increase from the previous year. Roads within cities accounted for 194,400 kilometers, reflecting a slight rise of 0.8% from 2022. Intercity roads extended to 74,200 kilometers, showing a growth of 0.9% compared to last year.

Traffic movement between cities was substantial, with an annual total of 390.4 million vehicles and a monthly average of 33.2 million vehicles recorded. Vehicles arriving through land ports increased by 28.9%, totaling 11.8 million in 2023, while departing vehicles reached 11.9 million, up by 26% from the previous year.

The report also noted improvements in traffic safety, with severe traffic accidents decreasing by 2.5% in comparison to the previous year. Fatalities from these accidents dropped by 2.9%, and injuries declined by 1.8%. The age group most affected by traffic accident fatalities was those aged between 18-30 years, representing 35% of the total fatalities.

The next highest percentage of traffic accident fatalities occurred among individuals aged between 31-40 years, accounting for about 22%. These statistics highlight ongoing efforts to enhance road safety across the Kingdom.

With inputs from SPA