High-Speed Rail: China vs World
High-speed rail network length comparison between China and the rest of the world (2008-2025). China now operates 70%+ of global high-speed rail, transforming transportation infrastructure.
Quick Answer
China operates 49,000 km of high-speed rail in 2025, representing 86% of global high-speed rail. From zero in 2008, China built the world's largest HSR network in just 17 years. The network serves 95% of cities with 500,000+ population. Data from UIC and China Railway covers 2008-2025.
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High-Speed Rail: China vs World
đ Data Table
18 data points| Year | China | World total | World minus china | China share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 672 | 2,500 | 1,828 | 26.9 |
| 2009 | 2,699 | 5,000 | 2,301 | 54 |
| 2010 | 5,136 | 8,000 | 2,864 | 64.2 |
| 2011 | 6,601 | 10,000 | 3,399 | 66 |
| 2012 | 7,735 | 11,500 | 3,765 | 67.3 |
| 2013 | 10,463 | 14,000 | 3,537 | 74.7 |
| 2014 | 16,456 | 21,000 | 4,544 | 78.4 |
| 2015 | 19,838 | 25,000 | 5,162 | 79.4 |
| 2016 | 22,980 | 28,500 | 5,520 | 80.6 |
| 2017 | 25,164 | 31,000 | 5,836 | 81.2 |
| 2018 | 29,900 | 36,000 | 6,100 | 83.1 |
| 2019 | 35,388 | 42,000 | 6,612 | 84.3 |
| 2020 | 37,900 | 45,000 | 7,100 | 84.2 |
| 2021 | 40,474 | 48,000 | 7,526 | 84.3 |
| 2022 | 42,284 | 50,000 | 7,716 | 84.6 |
| 2023 | 45,000 | 53,000 | 8,000 | 84.9 |
| 2024 | 47,000 | 55,000 | 8,000 | 85.5 |
| 2025 | 49,000 | 57,000 | 8,000 | 86 |
đ Key Insights
âšī¸ About This Dataset
High-speed rail network length comparison between China and the rest of the world (2008-2025). China now operates 70%+ of global high-speed rail, transforming transportation infrastructure.
Series: China vs World
Category: technology
Data Source: International Union of Railways (UIC), China Railway, National Statistics
Update Frequency: yearly
API Access: REST API endpoint
đ How to Cite This Data
Citation Format:
China Data Portal (2026). High-Speed Rail: China vs World. Retrieved from https://chinadata.live/data/high-speed-rail-china-vs-world/
Primary Source:
International Union of Railways (UIC), China Railway, National Statistics
Last Updated:
2026-03-15T10:49:51.043Z
API Access:
GET https://chinadata.live/api/v2/data/high-speed-rail-china-vs-world đ§ How to Use This Data
API Access
curl https://chinadata.live/api/v2/data/high-speed-rail-china-vs-world Download Data
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Citation
When using this data, please cite: China Data Portal (2026). High-Speed Rail: China vs World. Retrieved from https://chinadata.live/data/high-speed-rail-china-vs-world/
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- âĸ Dataset: High-Speed Rail: China vs World
- âĸ Data Range: 2008 to 2025 (18 data points)
- âĸ Category: technology
- âĸ Source: International Union of Railways (UIC), China Railway, National Statistics
- âĸ API:
chinadata.live/api/v2/data/high-speed-rail-china-vs-world
â Frequently Asked Questions
What is China's High-Speed Rail: China vs World in 2025?
China's High-Speed Rail: China vs World data for 2025 is available with 18 data points covering 2008 to 2025.
Where can I download High-Speed Rail: China vs World data?
You can download High-Speed Rail: China vs World data from China Data Portal via our free API at chinadata.live/api/v2/data/high-speed-rail-china-vs-world. Data is available in JSON and CSV formats.
What is the data range for High-Speed Rail: China vs World?
The High-Speed Rail: China vs World dataset covers 2008 to 2025, with 18 data points. Data source: International Union of Railways (UIC), China Railway, National Statistics.
Dataset Info
- Category
- technology
- Unit
- Kilometers
- Source
- International Union of Railways (UIC), China Railway, National Statistics
- Time Range
- 2008 - 2025
- Data Points
- 18