Road Traffic Death Rate by Country: 2026 Snapshot Based on WHO Estimates
Road Traffic Death Rate by Country: 2026 Snapshot Based on WHO 2021 Estimates
Guinea had the highest WHO-estimated road traffic mortality rate in 2021 at 37.4 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by Libya at 34.0 and Haiti at 31.3. Monaco and Niue had the lowest published point estimates at 0.0.
The metric measures estimated road traffic deaths per 100,000 population. Because it is population-based, the ranking compares mortality rates rather than absolute fatality counts, so country population size does not directly determine position.
This is a 2026 snapshot based on the latest globally comparable WHO 2021 series. Higher values rank higher, so rank 1 represents the highest estimated mortality rate and therefore a worse mortality outcome.
The table is a compiled research dataset based on two official WHO country-level data sources: the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 indicator workbook for participating Member States and WHO Data country profiles for Member States not present in that workbook. Row-level source and method notes are shown in the ranking table.
Coverage is 193 of 194 WHO Member States with a confirmed 2021 value. WHO shows the 2021 road traffic mortality rate as unavailable for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, so it is excluded rather than estimated.
Guinea ranks first at 37.4 estimated road traffic deaths per 100,000 population.
Monaco and Niue share the lowest published point estimate. A zero in a small population should not be read as a permanent zero-risk condition.
WHO Member States with a confirmed 2021 road traffic mortality rate. DPR Korea is excluded because WHO marks the indicator unavailable.
WHO reports a global road traffic death rate of about 15 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021.
All 193 included values are historical WHO estimates for 2021. No forecasts or later-year projections are used.
Overview: what the WHO road traffic mortality rate measures
The metric corresponds to Sustainable Development Goal indicator 3.6.1 and expresses WHO's estimated number of deaths caused by road traffic crashes per 100,000 population. The denominator is population, not registered vehicles, licensed drivers or distance travelled.
WHO estimates are designed to improve international comparability where national reporting systems differ in completeness and quality. Depending on country data availability, WHO can use death registration, national road-safety data, statistical estimation and other validated sources. The resulting rate therefore should not be confused with a police-reported fatality rate.
The country values are historical WHO estimates for 2021, not forecasts. The table contains 2021 estimates only; no later values or projections are introduced.
Interpretation: a higher rate indicates a worse mortality outcome. A lower rate is favorable, but it does not by itself measure exposure-adjusted driving risk or the probability that an individual driver will be involved in a fatal crash.
Top 10 countries by estimated road traffic death rate in 2021
The ten highest published WHO point estimates range from 28.2 to 37.4 deaths per 100,000 population. Five of the Top 10 are in the WHO African Region, three are in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, one is in the Region of the Americas and one is in the South-East Asia Region.
Top 10 highest WHO-estimated road traffic mortality rates, 2021
| Rank | Entity | Rate | Source / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guinea | 37.4 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 2 | Libya | 34.0 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 3 | Haiti | 31.3 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 4 | Guinea-Bissau | 30.5 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 5 | Syrian Arab Republic | 29.9 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 29.9 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 7 | Yemen | 29.8 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 8 | Comoros | 29.0 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 9 | Kenya | 28.2 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 10 | Nepal | 28.2 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
Unit: estimated road traffic deaths per 100,000 population. All values are WHO 2021 point estimates. Countries with the same rate are listed alphabetically.
Chart: Top 20 highest road traffic mortality rates in 2021
The chart uses the same values as the ranking table. Guinea has the highest published point estimate at 37.4 per 100,000, while South Africa ranks 20th at 24.5.
Methodology
Metric, unit and direction
Metric: WHO-estimated road traffic mortality rate. Unit: estimated deaths per 100,000 population. Ranking direction: descending, so a larger mortality rate receives a higher position; rank 1 represents the highest rate.
Data year and publication snapshot
Every included country value is a WHO estimate for 2021. The publication snapshot does not change the data year, and the table contains no later values, trend extensions or forecasts.
Source hierarchy
The WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 indicator workbook is the primary source for 170 participating Member States. For 23 Member States not present in that workbook, the 2021 value comes from WHO Data country profiles. Values are not averaged when sources differ.
Coverage and missing data
The table contains confirmed 2021 values for 193 WHO Member States. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is not included because WHO marks its 2021 road traffic mortality value as unavailable. Territories that are not WHO Member States are excluded.
WHO estimate versus reported deaths
Every row uses a published WHO historical estimate rather than a raw police count. WHO estimates can reconcile incomplete or non-comparable national sources to improve international comparability.
Formula and denominator
Conceptually, the rate is estimated road traffic deaths divided by population, multiplied by 100,000. WHO identifies UN DESA population estimates as the denominator source. This page uses WHO's published rate directly rather than recomputing it from rounded death counts.
Rounding and ties
WHO publishes the country point estimates used here to one decimal place. Ranks are calculated from those values. Countries with the same rate are ordered alphabetically while retaining sequential display ranks.
Limits of comparison
The ranking does not display uncertainty intervals, and uncertainty ranges can overlap. It also does not control for vehicle-kilometres travelled, motorization, road mix, urbanization, enforcement, emergency response or age structure. Small-population rates can be volatile.
The metric does not measure the absolute number of road deaths, total crashes, non-fatal injuries, fatalities per vehicle, fatalities per licensed driver or fatalities per kilometre travelled. It should therefore be used as a population-based mortality comparison, not as a complete measure of road-system risk.
Main ranking: 193 WHO Member States by 2021 road traffic mortality rate
Search a country, filter by WHO region or data type, change the display sort or limit the view to the highest-ranked 10 or 20 entries. All ranks are based on WHO's 2021 point estimates.
WHO-estimated road traffic mortality rate by country, 2021
| Rank | Entity | Rate | Source / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guinea | 37.4 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 2 | Libya | 34.0 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 3 | Haiti | 31.3 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 4 | Guinea-Bissau | 30.5 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 5 | Syrian Arab Republic | 29.9 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 29.9 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 7 | Yemen | 29.8 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 8 | Comoros | 29.0 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 9 | Kenya | 28.2 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 10 | Nepal | 28.2 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 11 | Burkina Faso | 27.8 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 12 | Dominican Republic | 27.4 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 13 | Chad | 26.4 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 14 | Central African Republic | 25.9 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 15 | Ghana | 25.9 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 16 | Thailand | 25.4 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 17 | Niger | 24.9 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 18 | Benin | 24.8 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 19 | Eswatini | 24.7 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 20 | South Africa | 24.5 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 21 | Afghanistan | 24.1 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 22 | Ecuador | 23.4 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 23 | Djibouti | 23.3 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 24 | South Sudan | 23.3 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 25 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 23.1 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 26 | Togo | 22.7 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 27 | Madagascar | 22.5 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 28 | Palau | 22.2 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 29 | Gambia | 22.0 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 30 | Namibia | 22.0 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 31 | Lesotho | 21.6 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 32 | El Salvador | 21.5 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 33 | Iraq | 21.5 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 34 | Paraguay | 21.0 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 35 | Senegal | 20.8 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 36 | Côte d'Ivoire | 20.6 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 37 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 20.6 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 38 | Malawi | 20.2 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 39 | Mali | 20.2 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 40 | Somalia | 20.2 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 41 | Mozambique | 20.1 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 42 | Sudan | 19.6 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 43 | Myanmar | 19.3 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 44 | Cambodia | 18.8 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 45 | Bangladesh | 18.6 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 46 | Morocco | 18.6 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 47 | Honduras | 18.5 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 48 | Saudi Arabia | 18.5 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 49 | Algeria | 18.3 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 50 | Tuvalu | 17.9 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 51 | Jamaica | 17.8 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 52 | Eritrea | 17.7 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 53 | Ethiopia | 17.7 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 54 | Viet Nam | 17.7 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 55 | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 17.6 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 56 | Cook Islands | 17.6 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 57 | Belize | 17.5 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 58 | China | 17.4 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 59 | Azerbaijan | 17.2 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 60 | Nigeria | 17.2 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 61 | Zambia | 17.1 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 62 | Botswana | 16.5 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 63 | Cabo Verde | 16.5 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 64 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 16.4 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 65 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 16.3 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 66 | Tunisia | 16.3 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 67 | Bahamas | 16.2 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 68 | Colombia | 16.2 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 69 | Suriname | 16.2 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 70 | Uganda | 16.0 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 71 | United Republic of Tanzania | 15.8 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 72 | Brazil | 15.7 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 73 | Costa Rica | 15.5 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 74 | India | 15.4 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 75 | Liberia | 15.3 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 76 | Guyana | 15.2 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 77 | Angola | 15.0 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 78 | Papua New Guinea | 14.9 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 79 | United States of America | 14.2 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 80 | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 14.1 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 81 | Malaysia | 13.9 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 82 | Tajikistan | 13.9 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 83 | Sierra Leone | 13.8 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 84 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 13.7 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 85 | Armenia | 13.6 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 86 | Jordan | 13.6 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 87 | Nicaragua | 13.6 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 88 | Kyrgyzstan | 13.3 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 89 | Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 13.2 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 90 | Uruguay | 13.0 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 91 | Georgia | 12.7 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 92 | Peru | 12.7 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 93 | Guatemala | 12.6 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 94 | Gabon | 12.5 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 95 | Vanuatu | 12.5 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 96 | Mongolia | 12.4 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 97 | Burundi | 12.3 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 98 | Bhutan | 12.2 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 99 | Kazakhstan | 12.2 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 100 | Mexico | 12.0 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 101 | Timor-Leste | 12.0 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 102 | Marshall Islands | 11.9 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 103 | Pakistan | 11.9 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 104 | Equatorial Guinea | 11.7 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 105 | Sao Tome and Principe | 11.7 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 106 | Rwanda | 11.6 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 107 | Sri Lanka | 11.5 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 108 | Indonesia | 11.3 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 109 | Solomon Islands | 11.2 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 110 | Dominica | 11.0 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 111 | Oman | 11.0 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 112 | Albania | 10.8 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 113 | Cameroon | 10.6 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 114 | Russian Federation | 10.6 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 115 | Ukraine | 10.5 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 116 | Chile | 10.3 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 117 | Barbados | 10.0 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 118 | Latvia | 9.8 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 119 | Lebanon | 9.7 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 120 | Mauritius | 9.7 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 121 | Philippines | 9.7 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 122 | Romania | 9.6 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 123 | Samoa | 9.6 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 124 | Mauritania | 9.5 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 125 | Egypt | 9.4 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 126 | Uzbekistan | 9.3 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 127 | Kuwait | 9.2 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 128 | Montenegro | 9.1 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 129 | Republic of Moldova | 9.1 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 130 | Saint Lucia | 8.9 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 131 | Argentina | 8.8 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 132 | Tonga | 8.5 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 133 | Bulgaria | 8.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 134 | Congo | 8.4 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 135 | Bahrain | 8.1 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 136 | Croatia | 8.1 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 137 | Nauru | 8.0 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 138 | Turkmenistan | 8.0 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 139 | Antigua and Barbuda | 7.5 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 140 | Belarus | 7.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 141 | Hungary | 7.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 142 | Serbia | 7.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 143 | Greece | 7.3 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 144 | Panama | 7.3 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 145 | Qatar | 7.3 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 146 | Portugal | 7.2 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 147 | Republic of Korea | 6.9 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 148 | New Zealand | 6.6 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 149 | Seychelles | 6.6 | African Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 150 | Poland | 6.5 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 151 | Türkiye | 6.5 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 152 | Grenada | 6.4 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 153 | Slovakia | 6.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 154 | Lithuania | 6.3 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 155 | Kiribati | 6.2 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 156 | San Marino | 5.9 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 157 | United Arab Emirates | 5.9 | Eastern Mediterranean Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 158 | Slovenia | 5.8 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 159 | North Macedonia | 5.7 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 160 | Cuba | 5.4 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 161 | Fiji | 5.3 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 162 | Czechia | 5.2 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 163 | Italy | 5.0 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 164 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5.0 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 165 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 4.8 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 166 | Canada | 4.7 | Region of the Americas; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 167 | France | 4.7 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 168 | Austria | 4.6 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 169 | Belgium | 4.6 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 170 | Australia | 4.5 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 171 | Estonia | 4.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 172 | Finland | 4.2 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 173 | Israel | 4.2 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 174 | Cyprus | 3.9 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 175 | Luxembourg | 3.9 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 176 | Brunei Darussalam | 3.6 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 177 | Spain | 3.5 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 178 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 3.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 179 | Germany | 3.3 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 180 | Ireland | 2.8 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 181 | Japan | 2.7 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 182 | Andorra | 2.5 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 183 | Iceland | 2.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 184 | Switzerland | 2.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 185 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 2.4 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 186 | Denmark | 2.3 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 187 | Sweden | 2.1 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 188 | Malta | 1.9 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 189 | Singapore | 1.9 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 190 | Norway | 1.5 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 191 | Maldives | 1.3 | South-East Asia Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
| 192 | Monaco | 0.0 | European Region; WHO estimate, 2021; WHO Data country profile. |
| 193 | Niue | 0.0 | Western Pacific Region; WHO estimate, 2021; Global Status Report 2023. |
Compiled WHO dataset: 170 country values come from the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 indicator workbook and 23 confirmed 2021 values come from WHO Data country profiles. All 193 included values are historical WHO estimates for 2021.
Insights from the 2021 WHO ranking
Key Insight
Guinea's rate of 37.4 is about three times the table median of 12.3, placing the highest point estimate well above the middle of the 193-country distribution.
Notable Pattern
Sixteen countries have a published rate of at least 25.0 deaths per 100,000, while 31 countries are at 5.0 or below. This creates a wide spread between the upper and lower ends of the ranking.
Regional/Source Concentration
Thirteen of the Top 20 are in the WHO African Region. At the opposite end, 15 of the bottom 20 are in the European Region. Most country values, 170 in total, come from the GSRRS workbook; the remaining 23 come from WHO Data country profiles.
Outlier
Monaco and Niue both have a 0.0 published 2021 point estimate. Because both have small populations, this one-year rate is especially sensitive to a very small number of deaths and should not be generalized into a long-term safety claim.
What this ranking means
Use the table as a population-based comparison of road traffic mortality. A country near the top has a higher WHO-estimated road traffic death rate per resident in 2021; a country near the bottom has a lower estimated rate.
Because the rate is standardized per 100,000 population, countries of very different sizes can be compared directly. A populous country can record many road deaths but still have a moderate population-based rate, while a smaller country can rank high when estimated deaths are large relative to its population.
The ranking should not be interpreted as a direct measure of driving skill or road quality. Population-based mortality also reflects travel exposure, walking and cycling, vehicle fleets, speeds, enforcement, infrastructure, trauma care, data quality and other factors. WHO estimates improve comparability but do not remove all uncertainty.
The ranking reports the latest globally comparable WHO country series for 2021 and does not project later years.
FAQ
Which country has the highest road traffic death rate in this WHO 2021 ranking?
Guinea ranks first at 37.4 estimated road traffic deaths per 100,000 population, followed by Libya at 34.0 and Haiti at 31.3.
Which countries have the lowest rate?
Monaco and Niue each have a published 2021 point estimate of 0.0. Because these are small populations, the result should be interpreted as a one-year population-based estimate rather than evidence of permanent zero road risk.
Are these 2026 road traffic death rates?
No. The page is a 2026 snapshot, but every numeric ranking value is for 2021. No 2026 forecast or projection is used.
Why use WHO estimates instead of reported police fatalities?
National reporting systems differ in completeness and definitions. WHO uses validated data and estimation methods intended to improve cross-country comparability. The ranking therefore uses the WHO-estimated rate rather than raw reported fatalities.
What does per 100,000 population mean?
It standardizes deaths by population size: conceptually, estimated road traffic deaths divided by population and multiplied by 100,000. This allows countries of very different population sizes to be compared on the same scale.
Why are there 193 countries instead of all 194 WHO Member States?
WHO provides a confirmed 2021 road traffic mortality rate for 193 Member States in the sources used here. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is excluded because WHO marks the 2021 value as unavailable.
Does a low road traffic death rate mean a country is one of the safest places to drive?
Not necessarily. This is a population-based mortality rate, not an exposure-adjusted driving-risk measure. It does not account for kilometres travelled, vehicle ownership, mode share, the number of drivers or time spent on the road.
Are uncertainty intervals included in the rank?
No. The table ranks the published WHO point estimates. Uncertainty can be material and ranges may overlap, so small differences between adjacent countries should not be over-interpreted.
Sources
WHO Data — Road traffic mortality rate
Indicator definition, unit, provenance and methodological description for WHO's official road traffic mortality estimate.
WHO — Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023
Report context for the globally comparable 2021 road-safety estimates and the 2010-2021 assessment period.
WHO GSRRS 2023 — Country indicator workbook
Primary source for country-level values for 170 participating WHO Member States. The workbook reports WHO-estimated road traffic mortality rates per 100,000 population for 2021.
WHO Data — Country profiles
Additional official WHO source for 23 Member States not included in the GSRRS participant workbook, and the source used to confirm that DPR Korea has no available 2021 road traffic mortality value.
WHO Global Health Observatory OData API
Technical documentation for the WHO Global Health Observatory data interface associated with the road traffic mortality indicator.
