Countries With the Most Airports in 2025
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. has by far the most airports globally, with more than three times the number of Brazil, the second-ranked country.
- Geographically dispersed countries like Brazil, Australia, and Canada also top the rankings, reflecting their need for extensive air connectivity.
Air travel has long been a vital part of global connectivity, enabling trade, tourism, and cultural exchange across continents.
In this visualization, we break down the countries with the most airports, based on 2025 estimates. It highlights how geography, economic size, and historical development can shape the spread of aviation infrastructure around the world.
Data & Discussion
The data for this visualization comes from The World Factbook.
| Name | # of Airports | Region | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
 U.S. |
16,116 | Americas | 34.1% |
 Brazil |
5,297 | Americas | 11.2% |
 Australia |
2,257 | Asia & Oceania | 4.8% |
 Mexico |
1,580 | Americas | 3.3% |
 Canada |
1,459 | Americas | 3.1% |
 France |
1,218 | Europe | 2.6% |
 UK |
1,057 | Europe | 2.2% |
 Russia |
905 | Europe | 1.9% |
 Germany |
840 | Europe | 1.8% |
 Argentina |
764 | Americas | 1.6% |
 Colombia |
661 | Americas | 1.4% |
 Italy |
655 | Europe | 1.4% |
 South Africa |
573 | Africa | 1.2% |
 Papua New Guinea |
569 | Asia & Oceania | 1.2% |
 Indonesia |
556 | Asia & Oceania | 1.2% |
 China |
552 | Asia & Oceania | 1.2% |
 Venezuela |
509 | Americas | 1.1% |
 Rest of World |
11,674 | — | 24.7% |
Rest of World includes all countries with a less than 1% share.
The U.S. Leads by a Wide Margin
America’s sheer size, diverse geography, and history of regional air travel are all reasons for its massive number of airports. From small local airstrips to major international hubs, it has three times as many airports as second-place Brazil.
Unfortunately, having this many airports means a lot of workers are required to staff them. Earlier this year, staff shortages were a contributing factor in the deadly D.C. plane crash that involved a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet.
As of September 2023, 128 of the 290 FAA air control facilities were below the 85% staffing goal.
China’s Airport Count Remains Relatively Low
Given China’s large population and geographical area, it’s airport count (552 airports) is surprisingly low.
This is likely due to the country’s focus on high-speed rail. As of 2023, China’s network had reached 45,000 kilometers (28,000 miles). These rails make up many regional and intercity routes that would otherwise be served via short-haul flights.
Another point to consider is that China’s population is heavily concentrated in its eastern provinces, while countries like the U.S. and Brazil are more sparsely populated across many areas.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Busiest Airports on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
- Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/which-countries-have-the-most-airports-we-visualized-the-numbers/
