By 
Global Report – February 27, 2025
A new ranking of the world’s most traffic-congested cities has placed New York City at the top of an unenviable list, spotlighting the urban centers where drivers spend countless hours trapped in gridlock. The list, compiled from recent traffic data, underscores the global challenge of urban mobility as populations grow and infrastructure struggles to keep pace.
New York City, the bustling heart of the United States, claims the dubious honor of having the worst traffic congestion worldwide. Drivers in the Big Apple are no strangers to honking horns and bumper-to-bumper delays, with the city’s dense layout and heavy reliance on road travel contributing to its top ranking. Following closely behind is Mexico City, where sprawling urban expansion and a surging population have turned daily commutes into a test of patience.
London secures the third spot, maintaining its reputation as a traffic-choked capital despite efforts like the Congestion Charge to ease the flow. Paris, with its iconic boulevards and radial layout, ranks fourth, as commuters navigate a maze of historic streets often clogged with vehicles. Chicago rounds out the top five, its towering skyline overshadowed by the reality of gridlock on its highways and downtown streets.
The list spans continents, highlighting congestion woes far beyond North America and Europe. Istanbul, bridging Europe and Asia, lands at sixth place, its transcontinental sprawl exacerbating traffic snarls. Los Angeles, the car-centric metropolis of the U.S. West Coast, takes seventh, while Boston’s narrow colonial streets and modern sprawl earn it eighth. Cape Town, South Africa’s scenic gem, surprises at ninth, reflecting growing pains in one of Africa’s key urban hubs. Jakarta, Indonesia’s teeming capital, completes the top ten, where rapid urbanization has outpaced road development
