Dubai: Which city has the worst traffic? Manila had just taken the No.1 spot on the list of worst cities in the world, according to a new report.
The TomTom Traffic Index showed traffic in Manila is the "worst in the world" for a metro area.
In 2023, Metro Manila's average travel time per 10 kilometres was 25 minutes and 30 seconds, versus 24 minutes and 50 seconds in 2022.
The percentage of congestion in the bustling Philippine capital was seen at 52 per cent last year.
Metro Manila, or the National Capital Region (NCR), with 16 cities and 1 municipality, is home to nearly 14 million inhabitants and ranks among the world's most densely populated places.
Manila residents and visitors spent 240 hours –10 days – on the road in the past year, enduring 117 hours in slow-moving rush-hour traffic at just 19 km/h, the index reported.
TomTom estimates this time could have been used to read about 48 novels during the 10 days and 21 hours stuck in traffic.
Manila's worst travel day in 2023 was December 15, with an average 31 minutes and 50 seconds to cover 10 kilometers.
Meanwhile, carbondioxide (CO2) emissions in 2023 reached 1,027kg, with 304 kg attributed to traffic, necessitating planting 103 trees annually for environmental offset.
Metro Manila moved up one position, ranking fifth globally, overtaking Bogota, Colombia, which now dropped to No. 5.
On Friday, the Department of Transportation (DOTR) said it would expedite road projects. It said the capital region's ranking 'poses a challenge' for the agency and the entire government.
TomTom's Traffic Index assessed 387 cities across 55 nations on six continents.
TomTom defines a “metro area” as “a circle covering the city and rural areas in close proximity”.
After Manila, rounding up the Top 5 are:
• Lima, the capital of Peru (24 minutes and 20 seconds)
• Bengaluru, India (23 minutes and 50 seconds)
• Sapporo, Japan (23 minutes and 30 seconds)
• Bogota, Colombia (23 minutes and 30 seconds).
Where Mumbai and Pune stand
Mumbai and Pune in India are ranked 7th and 9th in the top 10, respectively, while Japan's Nagoya was rated tenth.
Tokyo, Japan, Geneva, Switzerland, and Brussels, Belgium were among the top 15.
In 55 nations across six continents, 387 cities were chosen and ranked by the TomTom Traffic Index.
