In 2025, Istanbul retained its first position as the world's most congested city in terms of traffic according to the Global Traffic Index of the US-based international software and data firm “INRIX" (INRIX), reports the website “Türkiye Today“, quoted by BTA.
According to the study, which analyzed traffic in more than 900 cities in 36 countries, in 2025, drivers in Istanbul spent 118 hours a year in traffic jams, with the city recording a 12 percent increase year-on-year in this indicator and maintaining its first position in the ranking of the most congested cities.
According to the study, Chicago is the second most congested city in the world, with drivers there losing 112 hours a year, and Mexico City is in third place with 108 hours.
The “INRIX" transportation analyst Bob Pishu points to rapid urbanization and Istanbul's population of over 16 million as the main factors behind the city's traffic problems, which he says can only be solved through long-term investment in modern, high-capacity infrastructure.
Commenting on the topic, Professor Selim Dundar of Okan University in Istanbul notes that driver behavior is also an extremely important factor contributing to traffic congestion. He says that improper parking, running red lights and driving in the opposite lane are among the most common violations, which have a particularly negative impact on traffic during peak hours.
According to Dundar, the combination of increased enforcement and improved infrastructure is the key to solving the city's traffic problem.