Annual Loss Hits 118 Hours: Istanbul Traffic World Number One Title Retained; Congestion Increased By 12 Percent
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Inrix, an organization specializing in transportation technology and data analysis, released its 2025 Global Traffic Report, scrutinizing over 900 cities across 36 countries. According to the 2025 Inrix report, Istanbul once again ranked first globally for traffic congestion. The city retained the title of having the “world’s most congested traffic.” Furthermore, traffic intensity in the city increased by 12 percent compared to last year.
📝 Section 1: Driver Loss And Global Ranking
Inrix data starkly reveals the dramatic scale of time loss experienced by drivers living in Istanbul due to traffic.
- Time Loss: The average Istanbul driver’s annual time loss, spent in stop-and-go traffic, reached a full 118 hours. This equates to approximately 5 full days.
- Congestion Increase: Traffic congestion in the city increased by 12 percent compared to 2024.
- Global List: Following Istanbul, the top spots were held by:
- 2nd: Chicago (112 hours annual loss),
- 3rd: Mexico City (108 hours annual loss).
- European Shift: A notable change occurred in Europe; London, which had been the continent’s most congested city for years, gave way to Dublin, the capital of Ireland, this year.
💡 Section 2: Expert Opinion: Strategic Solutions Are Essential
Bob Pishue, Transportation Analyst at Inrix, evaluated the structural reasons behind Istanbul’s chronic traffic problem.
- Unique Location: Speaking to Zag Daily, Pishue summarized the situation: “Istanbul is a large metropolis surrounded by water, with a unique position connecting two continents.” Therefore, this geographical structure naturally complicates traffic flow.
- Superficial Solutions Insufficient: The expert highlighted the pressure from rapid urbanization and a population exceeding 16 million. Consequently, Pishue emphasized that superficial fixes, such as traffic light timing or smart parking systems, will be inadequate to solve the Istanbul Traffic World Number One problem.
- Strategic Solution: Pishue suggests that the lasting solution lies in strategically increasing road capacity and long-term planning to eliminate the “bottlenecks” where traffic gridlocks occur.
