Public transport accounts for just 4% of all journeys made in 2023

Date published: 27 November 2025

New official accredited statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department for Infrastructure present travel patterns for Northern Ireland residents during 2022 and 2023.

Key findings

Overall results: 

• On average, 828 journeys were made per person in 2023 (just over 2 journeys per day), similar to 2022 (821 journeys per person).
• In 2023, each person travelled, on average, 5,640 miles (approximately 15.5 miles per day), an increase from the previous year (4,927 miles per person in 2022).

Main mode of travel:

• Seven in ten (70%) of all journeys were made by car in 2023, with 583 car journeys per person on average, similar to 2022 (69%).
• There were 181 walking journeys per person in 2023. This represents just over one fifth (22%) of all journeys made, similar to 2022 (24%).
• In 2023, 32 public transport journeys were made per person. This equates to 4% of all journeys made, the same as 2022 (4%).
• There was an average of 9 cycling journeys per person in 2023, representing 1% of all journeys made, the same as 2022.

Purpose of journey:

• There were 296 leisure and other journeys taken per person in 2023 (visiting friends at private home/elsewhere, entertainment/social activities, sports, holiday/day trip, other  including just walk, undefined purpose). This represents just over one third (36%) of all journeys made, the same as 2022 (36%).
• On average, 162 commuting and business journeys were taken per person in 2023. This equates to 20% of all journeys made, an increase compared to 2022 (17%).

Urban Rural comparison

• In 2023, people living in urban areas made around the same number of journeys, on average, as people living in rural areas (urban: 836 journeys; rural: 814 journeys). However, rural residents travelled further than urban residents (urban: 4,711 miles; rural: 7,103 miles).

About this publication

This report contains key results for the 2022 and 2023 Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI). The information collected by the TSNI includes: 

• Walking
• Cycling
• Public transport
• Travelling by car
• Journey purpose
• Key figures by Urban / Rural

Further information

For the full report, background information and data tables: 

Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) report 2022 and 2023 data