By Dorothy Neufeld
In 2020, there were 289 million vehicles in use in America, or about 18% of the global total.
With one of the largest car ownership rates worldwide, the number of U.S. cars on the road have more than doubled since the 1960s. But how does ownership compare to other countries, and who is seeing the fastest growth rates amid a rising global middle class?
Highest Car Ownership Rates Worldwide
Below, we rank countries based on the number of registered vehicles in use per 1,000 people, including both passenger cars and commercial vehicles as of 2020:
| Country | Number of Vehicles in Use per 1000 Inhabitants |
Average Annual Growth Rate 2015-2020 |
|---|---|---|
 New Zealand |
869 | 3% |
 U.S. |
860 | 2% |
 Poland |
761 | 4% |
 Italy |
756 | 1% |
 Australia |
737 | 2% |
 Canada |
707 | 3% |
 France |
704 | 1% |
 Czechia |
658 | 3% |
 Portugal |
640 | 2% |
 Norway |
635 | 1% |
Clinching top spot is New Zealand, a country known for its love of cars.
The U.S. falls close behind, with a clear preference for trucks and SUVs. In fact, the Ford F-1 Series has been the best-selling vehicle in America for 42 consecutive years.
In Europe, Poland has the highest number of vehicles per person, but one of the lowest share of electric vehicles (EVs). While EVs make up nearly 16% of all cars in top-ranking country Norway, they comprise 0.1% in Poland. On average, EVs account for 0.8% of passenger cars in the European Union.
The Top EV Markets, by Country
As EV sales gain momentum, here are the biggest markets worldwide, based on the number of all-EV cars in use as of 2022:
| Country | Estimated Number of EVs in Use 2022 |
|---|---|
 China |
11,000,000 |
| U.S. |
2,100,000 |
 Germany |
1,000,000 |
| France |
620,000 |
| Norway |
590,000 |
 UK |
550,000 |
 Netherlands |
340,000 |
 South Korea |
300,000 |
| Canada |
250,000 |
 Japan |
210,000 |
China is home to over half of the world’s EVs.
Its foothold on the global EV market can be explained by its close proximity to the raw materials used in EV batteries. In fact, China produces roughly 70% of the world’s rare earth metals and has more battery production capacity than all other countries combined.
Adding to this, China developed key government policies that specifically tackled operational hurdles, such as battery constraints, leading to innovation in core technologies. In 2023, EVs made up 31% of all car sales in China, boosted by government incentives and strong consumer demand.
