A robust road network is integral for the economy of a country and for the movement of its people. A good road network can help link markets and deliver substantial economic benefits to the people.
In this post, we look at the world’s ten largest road networks, including countries like the US, India and China.
The United States has the biggest road network in the world. It has a road network of 68,03,479 km, out of which 63 percent is paved and 37 percent is unpaved. The US road network received a boost after the Federal-Aid Highway Act was passed in 1956.
India has the second largest road network in the world at 63,72,613 km. Out of this, 70 percent of the roads are paved and 30 percent of the roads are unpaved. India has received a huge boost to its road network, which was at 54,00,000 km in FY 2015.
China is next on the list, with a road network of 51,98,000 km, allowing it to capture the third spot. Out of the total road network, 95 percent of the roads are paved and the remaining 5 percent of the roads are unpaved.
Brazil has the fourth biggest road network in the world, at 20,00,000 km of roads. Out of this, just 12 percent of the roads are paved and 88 percent of the roads are unpaved.
Russia takes the fifth spot, with a road network of 15,29,373 km in total. Out of this, 61 percent of roads are paved and 39 percent of the roads are unpaved.
France has the sixth largest road network in the world at 10,53,215 km. Interestingly, 100 percent of the roads in France are paved.
Canada is a close seventh, with a road network of 10,42,300 km. Out of this, only 40 percent of the road network is paved and the remaining 60 percent of the road network is unpaved.
Australia has the eighth biggest road network at 8,73,573 km. Only 17 percent of the country’s road networks are paved and the remaining 83 percent roads are unpaved.
Mexico is next on the list with a road network of 8,17,596 km, putting it in the ninth spot. Out of the total road network, just 21 percent of the roads are paved and the remaining 79 percent of the roads are unpaved.
The tenth spot is occupied by South Africa, which has a road network of 7,50,000 km. Out of this, just 21 percent of the roads are paved and the remaining 79 percent of the roads are unpaved.
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