Top 10 countries with the most cars per 1,000 people in the world
10. Malta
Total population: 525,300
Car ownership: 419,000
Owned per thousand people: 786
Known for its historic architecture and beautiful scenery, Malta has a land area of 316 square kilometers, which is much smaller than some of the other island nations mentioned earlier. With a population of about 525,300, the country is also one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world, with a population density of 1,410 people per square kilometer. One thing is for sure, drivers in Malta must have a hard time finding a parking space considering how much land area the country has after buildings and other structures!
9. Finland
Total population: 5.531 million
Car ownership: 4.369 million
Per thousand people: 790
Since the late 1990s, annual sales in the Finnish car market have fluctuated between 95.000 and 165.000. The market fell back from a peak sales of over 163.000 units in 2005 to below 100.000 units in 2009. After that, the market bounced back above 135.000 units in two years, but fell again in the following two years. The five-year winning streak from 2014 to 2018 was broken in 2019, and car sales have returned to the average of the past 20 years.
8. Iceland
Total population: 376,000
Car ownership: 315,000
Per thousand people: 840
Owning the most cars in the world seems to be a trend - and the island nation of Iceland is no exception. The vehicle-to-population ratio is 840 vehicles per 1,000 people. Iceland is located between the two waters of the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. It covers an area of 103 square kilometers and has a population of about 370,000 - currently the country with the lowest population density in Europe. Iceland is known for its volcanoes, mountains and glaciers, and taxes in Iceland are relatively low compared to other countries. New car sales in Iceland jumped 48 percent last year, according to recent statistics; the Skoda Octavia is the best-selling car in the country.
7. Poland
Total population: 38.1 million
Car ownership: 32.28 million
Owned per thousand people: 847
The number of registered vehicles in Poland in December 2021 was 32,280,570. This is an increase from the previous December 2020 number of 31,321,945 units. The Polish automobile industry accounts for a considerable proportion of the Polish economy, accounting for about 11% of Polish industrial production. Poland is one of the largest light vehicle (passenger car) producers in Central and Eastern Europe. As of 2013, Poland was the 23rd largest car manufacturer in the world.
6. America
Total population: 332.4 million
Car ownership: 290.8 million
Owned per thousand people: 874
About 24 percent of U.S. households own three or more cars or other light-duty vehicles. This includes 3.4% with more than 5 vehicles. 33.5% own 1 car, 33.1% own 2 cars, and nearly 9% of households don't even own a car. In households without a car, most members are elderly citizens who do not form part of the current workforce. Only 3% of working households in the United States do not own a car.
5. New Zealand
Total population: 5.084 million
Car ownership: 4.559 million
Owned per thousand people: 897
With a vehicle-to-people ratio of 897 to 1,000 people, New Zealand is made up of two main islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, bordering the Tasmanian Sea. The English-speaking country covers an area of about 270,000 square kilometers and has a population of 4.7 million. Known for its beautiful scenery, there is no doubt that many citizens of the country enjoy driving on the streets. In 2015, the best-selling car in New Zealand was the Ford Ranger, with the Toyota Corolla a close second in the car market.
4. Monaco
Total population: 38,900
Car ownership: 35,500
Owned per thousand people: 912
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Monaco is located in the western region of Europe and has 912 cars per 1,000 people. At just 2 square kilometers, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world (after Vatican City). However, despite its small size, it has a staggering population of 38,900 - effectively making it the most densely populated country in the world. Monaco is famous for the world-famous Monte Carlo and Larvotto districts and is also home to many rich people, which may be related to the large number of passenger cars in the country!
3. Liechtenstein
Total population: 38,300
Car ownership: 36,400
Per thousand people: 950 vehicles
The German-speaking country of Liechtenstein, located between Switzerland and Austria, currently ranks third on our list with 950 cars per thousand people. Covering over 160 square kilometers, Liechtenstein is a fairly small country, with an estimated population of more than 38,000 within its borders compared to San Marino. As a highly prosperous country, Liechtenstein is home to some of the richest people in the world, a fact that seems plausible given the number of passenger cars in the country. As the economy has grown, the automotive market in Liechtenstein has also grown over the past few years.
2. Andorra
Total population: 77,500
Car ownership: 81,000
Owned per thousand people: 1045 vehicles
Andorra's image seems destined to be forever associated with the car. The Pyrenean country is only accessible by road, at least for now, and the Andorran hobby is in high-end cars. Andorra has no highways. Andorra la Vella has two main roads, the CG-1 to the Spanish border and the CG-2 to the French border through the Envalira tunnel.
1. San Marino
Total population: 34,100
Car ownership: 44,300
Owned per thousand people: 1299
Located in the northeastern part of the Apennine Mountains, San Marino is a landlocked country adjacent to Italy and has the world's largest vehicle-to-population ratio at 1,299 cars per 1,000 people — a lot for such a small micro-nation. An amazing feat! To put it another way, San Marino has an area of just over 61 square kilometers, more than ten times smaller than the city of Chicago. San Marino has a population of about 34,100 people, here, every citizen owns a car, the country seems to be a car country.
