Passenger transport: modal share and carbon impact
The car remains the backbone of travel in France, but collective modes are regaining ground. The gap in carbon intensity between modes runs to tens of grams per kilometre travelled.
Domestic passenger transport, mainland France, in billions of passenger-kilometres (private vehicles, road, rail and air public transport). Greenhouse gas emissions by mode in Mt CO2e, mainland France, Citepa scope (direct emissions).
Source: SDES - Bilan annuel des transports : chapitre F (« Transport intérieur de voyageurs selon le mode de transport ») et chapitre D (« Émissions de gaz à effet de serre en France métropolitaine », d'après le Citepa)
Passenger-kilometres
billions, in 2024 (mainland France)
Car share
of passenger-kilometres; 18.2% for collective modes
Transport share
of France's greenhouse gas emissions, in 2024
Car vs train
91 against 3.1 gCO₂e per passenger-kilometre
Which modes carry France's travel
Domestic passenger transport by mode, as a share of the total and in absolute terms. One passenger-kilometre = one passenger carried one kilometre: the measure accounts for vehicle occupancy.
View data
| Year | French private cars | Foreign light vehicles | Light commercial vehicles | Powered two-wheelers | Buses, coaches and trams | Rail modes | Domestic air transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 68.6 % | 7.2 % | 5.9 % | 1.1 % | 5.5 % | 10.4 % | 1.4 % |
| 2013 | 68.7 % | 7.1 % | 5.9 % | 1.1 % | 5.5 % | 10.3 % | 1.4 % |
| 2014 | 68.9 % | 6.9 % | 5.9 % | 1.1 % | 5.6 % | 10.2 % | 1.4 % |
| 2015 | 69.2 % | 6.7 % | 5.9 % | 1.1 % | 5.6 % | 10.1 % | 1.4 % |
| 2016 | 69.3 % | 6.7 % | 5.9 % | 1.1 % | 5.7 % | 9.9 % | 1.4 % |
| 2017 | 68.6 % | 7.1 % | 5.9 % | 1.1 % | 5.5 % | 10.4 % | 1.4 % |
| 2018 | 68.5 % | 7.5 % | 6 % | 1.1 % | 5.5 % | 9.9 % | 1.5 % |
| 2019 | 68.1 % | 7.6 % | 6 % | 1.1 % | 5.6 % | 10.1 % | 1.5 % |
| 2020 | 72.2 % | 6.9 % | 6.7 % | 1.2 % | 4.6 % | 7.5 % | 0.9 % |
| 2021 | 71 % | 6.9 % | 6.7 % | 1.1 % | 4.5 % | 8.8 % | 1.1 % |
| 2022 | 68.6 % | 7.7 % | 6.1 % | 1.1 % | 4.6 % | 10.6 % | 1.3 % |
| 2023 | 67.7 % | 7.6 % | 6 % | 1 % | 5.1 % | 11.3 % | 1.3 % |
| 2024 (p) | 67.2 % | 7.5 % | 5.9 % | 1.1 % | 5.2 % | 11.8 % | 1.2 % |
Source: SDES - Bilan annuel des transports : chapitre F (« Transport intérieur de voyageurs selon le mode de transport ») et chapitre D (« Émissions de gaz à effet de serre en France métropolitaine », d'après le Citepa)
Emissions from passenger transport, mode by mode
Greenhouse gas emissions, in millions of tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. Citepa scope: direct, tailpipe emissions. The electricity used by trains, trams and electric cars is not included.
View data
| Year | Private cars | Light commercial vehicles | Buses and coaches | Powered two-wheelers | Domestic air transport | Rail transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.5 Mt CO₂e | 18.7 Mt CO₂e | 2 Mt CO₂e | 0.6 Mt CO₂e | 3 Mt CO₂e | 1.1 Mt CO₂e |
| 1991 | 67.1 Mt CO₂e | 19.5 Mt CO₂e | 2.1 Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt CO₂e | 3 Mt CO₂e | 1.1 Mt CO₂e |
| 1992 | 69.9 Mt CO₂e | 20 Mt CO₂e | 2.2 Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt CO₂e | 3 Mt CO₂e | 1 Mt CO₂e |
| 1993 | 70 Mt CO₂e | 20.2 Mt CO₂e | 2.3 Mt CO₂e | 0.9 Mt CO₂e | 3 Mt CO₂e | 0.9 Mt CO₂e |
| 1994 | 69.9 Mt CO₂e | 20.4 Mt CO₂e | 2.3 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e | 3.1 Mt CO₂e | 0.9 Mt CO₂e |
| 1995 | 71.2 Mt CO₂e | 20.2 Mt CO₂e | 2.2 Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt CO₂e | 3.5 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e |
| 1996 | 71.9 Mt CO₂e | 20.5 Mt CO₂e | 2.3 Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt CO₂e | 3.9 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e |
| 1997 | 72.4 Mt CO₂e | 21.2 Mt CO₂e | 2.3 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e | 4 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e |
| 1998 | 73.9 Mt CO₂e | 21.4 Mt CO₂e | 2.3 Mt CO₂e | 1 Mt CO₂e | 4.1 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e |
| 1999 | 74.8 Mt CO₂e | 21.5 Mt CO₂e | 2.2 Mt CO₂e | 1 Mt CO₂e | 4.3 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e |
| 2000 | 74.9 Mt CO₂e | 20.7 Mt CO₂e | 2.2 Mt CO₂e | 1.1 Mt CO₂e | 4.4 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e |
| 2001 | 77.5 Mt CO₂e | 21 Mt CO₂e | 2.2 Mt CO₂e | 1.2 Mt CO₂e | 4.2 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e |
| 2002 | 78.2 Mt CO₂e | 21 Mt CO₂e | 2.2 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 4 Mt CO₂e | 0.8 Mt CO₂e |
| 2003 | 78.7 Mt CO₂e | 21 Mt CO₂e | 2.2 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.7 Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt CO₂e |
| 2004 | 78.2 Mt CO₂e | 20.6 Mt CO₂e | 2.3 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.6 Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt CO₂e |
| 2005 | 76.7 Mt CO₂e | 20.2 Mt CO₂e | 2.3 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.6 Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt CO₂e |
| 2006 | 76.7 Mt CO₂e | 20.2 Mt CO₂e | 2.4 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.5 Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt CO₂e |
| 2007 | 76.3 Mt CO₂e | 19.8 Mt CO₂e | 2.4 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.4 Mt CO₂e | 0.6 Mt CO₂e |
| 2008 | 73.1 Mt CO₂e | 18.5 Mt CO₂e | 2.4 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.5 Mt CO₂e | 0.6 Mt CO₂e |
| 2009 | 73.9 Mt CO₂e | 18.8 Mt CO₂e | 2.4 Mt CO₂e | 1.4 Mt CO₂e | 3.4 Mt CO₂e | 0.6 Mt CO₂e |
| 2010 | 73.9 Mt CO₂e | 19.3 Mt CO₂e | 2.5 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.3 Mt CO₂e | 0.6 Mt CO₂e |
| 2011 | 73.7 Mt CO₂e | 19.7 Mt CO₂e | 2.6 Mt CO₂e | 1.4 Mt CO₂e | 3.5 Mt CO₂e | 0.6 Mt CO₂e |
| 2012 | 72.7 Mt CO₂e | 19.8 Mt CO₂e | 2.5 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.5 Mt CO₂e | 0.5 Mt CO₂e |
| 2013 | 72.4 Mt CO₂e | 19.9 Mt CO₂e | 2.6 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.4 Mt CO₂e | 0.5 Mt CO₂e |
| 2014 | 72.9 Mt CO₂e | 19.5 Mt CO₂e | 2.6 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.3 Mt CO₂e | 0.5 Mt CO₂e |
| 2015 | 73.1 Mt CO₂e | 20.1 Mt CO₂e | 2.7 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.3 Mt CO₂e | 0.5 Mt CO₂e |
| 2016 | 73.7 Mt CO₂e | 19.7 Mt CO₂e | 2.7 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.4 Mt CO₂e | 0.4 Mt CO₂e |
| 2017 | 72.4 Mt CO₂e | 20 Mt CO₂e | 2.7 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.5 Mt CO₂e | 0.5 Mt CO₂e |
| 2018 | 70.1 Mt CO₂e | 19.7 Mt CO₂e | 2.7 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.6 Mt CO₂e | 0.4 Mt CO₂e |
| 2019 | 69.5 Mt CO₂e | 19.6 Mt CO₂e | 2.7 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.6 Mt CO₂e | 0.4 Mt CO₂e |
| 2020 | 56.8 Mt CO₂e | 16.8 Mt CO₂e | 2.1 Mt CO₂e | 1.1 Mt CO₂e | 2.1 Mt CO₂e | 0.4 Mt CO₂e |
| 2021 | 63.6 Mt CO₂e | 19.4 Mt CO₂e | 2.6 Mt CO₂e | 1.2 Mt CO₂e | 2.7 Mt CO₂e | 0.4 Mt CO₂e |
| 2022 | 66.8 Mt CO₂e | 19.7 Mt CO₂e | 2.8 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 3.2 Mt CO₂e | 0.4 Mt CO₂e |
| 2023 | 64.3 Mt CO₂e | 19 Mt CO₂e | 2.9 Mt CO₂e | 1.2 Mt CO₂e | 3.1 Mt CO₂e | 0.4 Mt CO₂e |
| 2024 (p) | 64.3 Mt CO₂e | 18.7 Mt CO₂e | 3 Mt CO₂e | 1.3 Mt CO₂e | 2.9 Mt CO₂e | 0.4 Mt CO₂e |
Source: SDES - Bilan annuel des transports : chapitre F (« Transport intérieur de voyageurs selon le mode de transport ») et chapitre D (« Émissions de gaz à effet de serre en France métropolitaine », d'après le Citepa)
Carbon intensity per passenger-kilometre, by mode
Emissions divided by passenger-kilometres, for 2024. A derived indicator: it brings together two published series from the same document, to be read as an order of magnitude.
View data
| Mode | Carbon intensity | Emissions | Passenger-kilometres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic air transport | 227.8 gCO₂e/p-km | 2.87 Mt CO₂e | 12.6 bn p-km |
| Powered two-wheelers | 109.8 gCO₂e/p-km | 1.29 Mt CO₂e | 11.75 bn p-km |
| Private cars | 91.4 gCO₂e/p-km | 64.29 Mt CO₂e | 703.64 bn p-km |
| Buses, coaches and trams | 55.5 gCO₂e/p-km | 3.02 Mt CO₂e | 54.391 bn p-km |
| Rail transport | 3.1 gCO₂e/p-km | 0.39 Mt CO₂e | 123.937 bn p-km |
Scope differences in the pairings marked with an asterisk:
- Private cars. Emissions: private cars driven in France. Mileage: French private cars; the traffic of foreign light vehicles is not in the denominator.
- Buses, coaches and trams. The mileage includes trams, whose traction is electric: their indirect emissions fall outside the Citepa scope (direct emissions).
- Rail transport. Rail emissions published by Citepa include freight; the mileage covers passengers only (trains, regional express rail and metros).
- Rail transport. Traction is overwhelmingly electric: indirect emissions from electricity generation are not counted.
- Domestic air transport. Domestic flights only, on both sides: international aviation is outside the scope of both series.
- Domestic air transport. Domestic air transport emissions published by Citepa include air freight.
Direct emissions (Citepa) related to passenger-kilometres (SDES). Both series cover mainland France and come from the same document. Indirect emissions (electricity generation, manufacturing of vehicles and infrastructure) are not counted: electric modes therefore appear at a very low level, which is not a life-cycle assessment.
Method and limitations
Read directly from sheet “F1” of chapter F: one row per mode, one column per year. Modal shares are recomputed on the published “Ensemble” total, never on the sum of the rows. A value that is not published (“-”) stays null.
Read directly from the first table of sheet “D2.1.1” of chapter D (emissions by sector, Citepa source), including the breakdown of the transport sector by mode. The following tables on the same sheet are ignored.
On carbon intensity
Derived indicator: Citepa emissions related to SDES passenger-kilometres, for the years present in both series. As both sheets come from the same document and the same field (mainland France), only functional scope differences remain; they are carried row by row in intensity.json (`caveats`) and shown on the page. To be read as an order of magnitude.
Mainland France for both series. Direct emissions (excluding upstream electricity, excluding life cycle). Published rail and air emissions include freight.
Licence: Licence Ouverte / Etalab 2.0.
Real data, updated with each annual edition of the Bilan annuel des transports (no API: the workbooks are resolved by filename on the SDES page).