The CIA World Factbook Edition 2010 Transportation

Railways In 36 editions of 36.

Railways was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 2010 edition carries it in 137 entries, in its Transportation section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.

entries in the 2010 edition: 137
the first edition with it: 1990
the latest edition with it: 2025

Published as “Railways” (1996 to 2025) and “Railroads” (1990 to 1995).

the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach entry below ends in its editions with Railways, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.

Entries with Railways in each edition

Select a bar to open that edition.

World

1 entry

World

total:: 1,138,632 km (2008)

Africa

36 entries

Algeria

total:: 3,973 km
country comparison to the world:: 43
standard gauge:: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2008)

Angola

total:: 2,764 km
country comparison to the world:: 62
narrow gauge:: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2008)

Benin

total:: 578 km
country comparison to the world:: 112
narrow gauge:: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Botswana

total:: 888 km
country comparison to the world:: 97
narrow gauge:: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Burkina Faso

total:: 622 km
country comparison to the world:: 109
narrow gauge:: 622 km 1.000-m gauge

note: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote d'Ivoire (2008)

Cameroon

total:: 987 km
country comparison to the world:: 90
narrow gauge:: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the now Democratic Republic of the Congo

total:: 4,007 km
country comparison to the world:: 42
narrow gauge:: 3,882 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Congo, Republic of the now Republic of the Congo

total:: 795 km
country comparison to the world:: 103
narrow gauge:: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Cote d'Ivoire

total:: 660 km
country comparison to the world:: 108
narrow gauge:: 660 km 1.000 meter gauge

note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso (2008)

Djibouti

total:: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)
country comparison to the world:: 126
narrow gauge:: 100 km 1.000-m gauge

note: railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)

Egypt

total:: 5,500 km
country comparison to the world:: 33
standard gauge:: 5,500 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2009)

Eritrea

total:: 306 km
country comparison to the world:: 120
narrow gauge:: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2008)

Swaziland now Eswatini

total:: 301 km
country comparison to the world:: 121
narrow gauge:: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Ethiopia

total:: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
country comparison to the world:: 106
narrow gauge:: 681 km 1.000-m gauge

note: railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)

Gabon

total:: 814 km
country comparison to the world:: 100
standard gauge:: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Ghana

total:: 947 km
country comparison to the world:: 93
narrow gauge:: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Guinea

total:: 1,185 km
country comparison to the world:: 87
standard gauge:: 238 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 947 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Kenya

total:: 2,778 km
country comparison to the world:: 60
narrow gauge:: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Liberia

total:: 429 km
country comparison to the world:: 117
standard gauge:: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 84 km 1.067-m gauge

note: most sections of the railway are inoperable because of damage suffered during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003 (2008)

Madagascar

total:: 854 km
country comparison to the world:: 98
narrow gauge:: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Malawi

total:: 797 km
country comparison to the world:: 102
narrow gauge:: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Mali

total:: 593 km
country comparison to the world:: 111
narrow gauge:: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Mauritania

728 km

standard gauge:: 728 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Morocco

total:: 1,907 km
country comparison to the world:: 74
standard gauge:: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2008)

Mozambique

total:: 4,787 km
country comparison to the world:: 37
narrow gauge:: 4,787 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Namibia

total:: 2,629 km
country comparison to the world:: 65
narrow gauge:: 2,629 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Nigeria

total:: 3,505 km
country comparison to the world:: 49
narrow gauge:: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Senegal

total:: 906 km
country comparison to the world:: 94
narrow gauge:: 906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2008)

South Africa

total:: 20,872 km
country comparison to the world:: 14
narrow gauge:: 20,436 km 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge (2008)

Sudan

total:: 5,978 km
country comparison to the world:: 30
narrow gauge:: 4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations (2008)

Tanzania

total:: 3,689 km
country comparison to the world:: 46
narrow gauge:: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,720 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Togo

total:: 532 km
country comparison to the world:: 113
narrow gauge:: 532 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Tunisia

total:: 2,167 km
country comparison to the world:: 70
standard gauge:: 471 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 1,688 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
dual gauge:: 8 km (2008)

Uganda

total:: 1,244 km
country comparison to the world:: 84
narrow gauge:: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Zambia

total:: 2,157 km
country comparison to the world:: 71
narrow gauge:: 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge

note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2008)

Zimbabwe

total:: 3,077 km
country comparison to the world:: 55
narrow gauge:: 3,077 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2008)

Asia

19 entries

Armenia

total:: 845 km
country comparison to the world:: 99
broad gauge:: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (818 km electrified)

note: some lines are out of service (2008)

Azerbaijan

total:: 2,918 km
country comparison to the world:: 57
broad gauge:: 2,918 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2009)

Bangladesh

total:: 2,768 km
country comparison to the world:: 61
broad gauge:: 946 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

China

total:: 77,834 km
country comparison to the world:: 3
standard gauge:: 77,084 km 1.435-m gauge (24,433 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 750 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)

Georgia

total:: 1,612 km
country comparison to the world:: 80
broad gauge:: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)
narrow gauge:: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2008)

India

total:: 64,015 km
country comparison to the world:: 4
broad gauge:: 52,808 km 1.676-m gauge (18,172 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 8,473 km 1.000-m gauge; 2,734 km 0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2009)

Japan

total:: 26,435 km
country comparison to the world:: 11
standard gauge:: 3,978 km 1.435-m gauge (3,978 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 96 km 1.372-m gauge (96 km electrified);
22,313 km 1.067-m gauge (15,235 km electrified);
48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) (2009)

Kazakhstan

total:: 15,082 km
country comparison to the world:: 19
broad gauge:: 15,082 km 1.520-m gauge (3,700 km electrified) (2008)

Korea, North now North Korea

total:: 5,242 km
country comparison to the world:: 35
standard gauge:: 5,242 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2009)

Korea, South now South Korea

total:: 3,381 km
country comparison to the world:: 51
standard gauge:: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)

Kyrgyzstan

total:: 470 km
country comparison to the world:: 115
broad gauge:: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

Mongolia

total:: 1,810 km
country comparison to the world:: 76
broad gauge:: 1,810 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

Nepal

total:: 59 km
country comparison to the world:: 130
narrow gauge:: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2008)

Pakistan

total:: 7,791 km
country comparison to the world:: 28
broad gauge:: 7,479 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 312 km 1.000-m gauge (2007)

Russia

total:: 87,157 km
country comparison to the world:: 2
broad gauge:: 86,200 km 1.520-m gauge (40,300 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 957 km 1.067-m gauge (on Sakhalin Island)

note: an additional 30,000 km of non-common carrier lines serve industries (2006)

Sri Lanka

total:: 1,449 km
country comparison to the world:: 82
broad gauge:: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)

Tajikistan

total:: 680 km
country comparison to the world:: 107
broad gauge:: 680 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

Turkmenistan

total:: 2,980 km
country comparison to the world:: 56
broad gauge:: 2,980 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)

Uzbekistan

total:: 3,645 km
country comparison to the world:: 47
broad gauge:: 3,645 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2008)

Central America and the Caribbean

8 entries

Costa Rica

total:: 278 km
country comparison to the world:: 123
narrow gauge:: 278 km 1.067-m gauge

note: none of the railway network is in use (2008)

Cuba

total:: 8,598 km
country comparison to the world:: 24
standard gauge:: 8,322 km 1.435-m gauge (176 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 276 km 1.000-gauge

note: 4,533 km of the track is used by sugar plantations; 4,257 km is standard gauge; 276 km is narrow gauge (2006)

Dominican Republic

total:: 1,784 km
country comparison to the world:: 77
standard gauge:: 375 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 1,409 km 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges

note: 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076 m, 0.889 m, and 0.762-m gauges (2008)

El Salvador

total:: 283 km
country comparison to the world:: 122
narrow gauge:: 283 km 0.914-m gauge

note: railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2008)

Guatemala

total:: 332 km
country comparison to the world:: 119
narrow gauge:: 332 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)

Honduras

total:: 75 km
country comparison to the world:: 128
narrow gauge:: 75 km 1.067-m gauge (2009)

Panama

total:: 76 km
country comparison to the world:: 127
standard gauge:: 76 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

total:: 50 km
country comparison to the world:: 131
narrow gauge:: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists (2008)

Europe

40 entries

Albania

total:: 896 km
country comparison to the world:: 96
standard gauge:: 896 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Austria

total:: 6,399 km
country comparison to the world:: 29
standard gauge:: 5,927 km 1.435-m gauge (3,688 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 384 km 1.000-m gauge (15 km electrified); 88 km 0.760-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)

Belarus

total:: 5,537 km
country comparison to the world:: 32
broad gauge:: 5,512 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
standard gauge:: 25 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Belgium

total:: 3,233 km
country comparison to the world:: 54
standard gauge:: 3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (2,950 km electrified) (2008)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

total:: 1,000 km
country comparison to the world:: 89
standard gauge:: 1,000 km 1.435-m gauge (590 km electrified) (2008)

Bulgaria

total:: 4,294 km
country comparison to the world:: 38
standard gauge:: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2008)

Croatia

total:: 2,722 km
country comparison to the world:: 63
standard gauge:: 2,722 km 1.435-m gauge (985 km electrified) (2009)

Czech Republic now Czechia

total:: 9,620 km
country comparison to the world:: 22
standard gauge:: 9,521 km 1.435-m gauge (3,013 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 99 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)

Denmark

total:: 2,667 km
country comparison to the world:: 64
standard gauge:: 2,667 km 1.435-m gauge (640 km electrified) (2008)

Estonia

total:: 1,196 km
country comparison to the world:: 86
broad gauge:: 1,196 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (131 km electrified) (2008)

European Union

total:: 229,450 km (2008)

Finland

total:: 5,794 km
country comparison to the world:: 31
broad gauge:: 5,794 km 1.524-m gauge (3,047 km electrified) (2008)

France

total:: 29,213 km
country comparison to the world:: 9
standard gauge:: 29,046 km 1.435-m gauge (15,164 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Germany

total:: 41,896 km
country comparison to the world:: 6
standard gauge:: 41,641 km 1.435-m gauge (20,053 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 75 km 1.000-m gauge (75 km electrified); 180 km 0.750-m gauge (24 km electrified) (2008)

Greece

total:: 2,548 km
country comparison to the world:: 66
standard gauge:: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)

Hungary

total:: 8,057 km
country comparison to the world:: 27
broad gauge:: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge:: 7,802 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2008)

Ireland

total:: 3,237 km
country comparison to the world:: 53
broad gauge:: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2008)

Isle of Man

total:: 63 km
country comparison to the world:: 129
narrow gauge:: 6 km 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified); 57 km 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified)

note: primarily summer tourist attractions (2008)

Italy

total:: 19,729 km
country comparison to the world:: 15
standard gauge:: 18,317 km 1.435-m gauge (12,458 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 123 km 1.000-m gauge (123 km electrified);
1,058 km 0.950-m gauge (151 km electrified);
231 km 0.850-m gauge (2008)

Kosovo

total:: 430 km
country comparison to the world:: 116
standard gauge:: 430 km 1.435-m gauge (2007)

Latvia

total:: 2,298 km
country comparison to the world:: 68
broad gauge:: 2,265 km 1.520-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)

Liechtenstein

9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2008)

Lithuania

total:: 1,768 km
country comparison to the world:: 78
broad gauge:: 1,746 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge:: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)

Luxembourg

total:: 275 km
country comparison to the world:: 124
standard gauge:: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified) (2008)

Moldova

total:: 1,138 km
country comparison to the world:: 88
broad gauge:: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge:: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Montenegro

total:: 250 km
country comparison to the world:: 125
standard gauge:: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2007)

Netherlands

total:: 2,896 km
country comparison to the world:: 58
standard gauge:: 2,896 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2009)

Macedonia now North Macedonia

total:: 699 km
country comparison to the world:: 104
standard gauge:: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2009)

Norway

total:: 4,114 km
country comparison to the world:: 40
standard gauge:: 4,114 km 1.435-m gauge (2,552 km electrified) (2009)

Poland

total:: 22,314 km
country comparison to the world:: 12
broad gauge:: 633 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge:: 21,681 km 1.435-m gauge (11,769 km electrified) (2007)

Portugal

total:: 2,786 km
country comparison to the world:: 59
broad gauge:: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Romania

total:: 10,788 km
country comparison to the world:: 21
broad gauge:: 57 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge:: 10,731 km 1.435-m gauge (3,965 km electrified) (2008)

Serbia

total:: 3,379 km
country comparison to the world:: 52
standard gauge:: 3,379 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 1,254 km) (2006)

Slovakia

total:: 3,622 km
country comparison to the world:: 48
broad gauge:: 99 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge:: 3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,577 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2008)

Slovenia

total:: 1,228 km
country comparison to the world:: 85
standard gauge:: 1,228 km 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2007)

Spain

total:: 15,288 km
country comparison to the world:: 18
broad gauge:: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified)
standard gauge:: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (1,054 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 1,949 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2008)

Sweden

total:: 11,633 km
country comparison to the world:: 20
standard gauge:: 11,568 km 1.435-m gauge (7,531 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)

Switzerland

total:: 4,888 km
country comparison to the world:: 36
standard gauge:: 3,397 km 1.435-m gauge (3,142 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 1,481 km 1.000-m gauge (1,378 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)

Ukraine

total:: 21,658 km
country comparison to the world:: 13
broad gauge:: 21,658 km 1.524-m gauge (9,729 km electrified) (2009)

United Kingdom

total:: 16,454 km
country comparison to the world:: 17
broad gauge:: 303 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland)
standard gauge:: 16,151 km 1.435-m gauge (5,248 km electrified) (2008)

Middle East

8 entries

Iran

total:: 8,442 km
country comparison to the world:: 26
broad gauge:: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge:: 8,348 km 1.435-m gauge (148 km electrified) (2008)

Iraq

total:: 2,272 km
country comparison to the world:: 69
standard gauge:: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Israel

total:: 949 km
country comparison to the world:: 92
standard gauge:: 949 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Jordan

total:: 507 km
country comparison to the world:: 114
narrow gauge:: 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

Lebanon

total:: 401 km
country comparison to the world:: 118
standard gauge:: 319 km 1.435 m
narrow gauge:: 82 km 1.050 m

note: rail system unusable because of the damage done during fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2008)

Saudi Arabia

total:: 1,392 km
country comparison to the world:: 83
standard gauge:: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2008)

Syria

total:: 2,052 km
country comparison to the world:: 72
standard gauge:: 1,801 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

Turkey now Turkiye

total:: 8,697 km
country comparison to the world:: 23
standard gauge:: 8,697 km 1.435-m gauge (1,920 km electrified) (2008)

North America

3 entries

Canada

total:: 46,688 km
country comparison to the world:: 5
standard gauge:: 46,688 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Mexico

total:: 17,516 km
country comparison to the world:: 16
standard gauge:: 17,516 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

United States

total:: 226,427 km
country comparison to the world:: 1
standard gauge:: 226,427 km 1.435-m gauge (2007)

Oceania

3 entries

Australia

total:: 37,855 km
country comparison to the world:: 7
broad gauge:: 142 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge:: 24,409 km 1.435-m gauge (1,094 km electrified)
narrow gauge:: 13,304 km 1.067-m gauge (1,193 km electrified) (2008)

Fiji

total:: 597 km
country comparison to the world:: 110
narrow gauge:: 597 km 0.600-m gauge

note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during the harvest season, which runs from May to December (2008)