Airports are an integral part of the global transportation system. According to the Central Intelligence Agency there are over 41,700 airports all over the world. This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable from the air and their varied runway types. The United States alone has over 13,000 airports listed with the Central intelligence Agency, making it by far the country with the most airports in the world.
Global Airport Totals
The Central Intelligence Agency states that there are a total of 41,700 airports across the globe. Depending on who you ask, there are approximately 200 countries in the world, with the United Nations stating there are 251 countries and the United States’ answer hovering around 196. Of those countries, there are over 41,000 airports spread across the globe.
US Airports Lead the Way
The United States is home to approximately 50 percent of the world's airports. With a total of 13,000 airports, the US leads the way in airport totals by a wide margin. Brazil comes in second with a little over 4,000 airports and from there the numbers drop drastically per country.
Number of Countries Involved
Of the estimated 200 countries in the world, over 100 have at least one airport. Some countries like France, Canada, and Germany each have hundreds of airports while some smaller nations may only have one.
Varied Runway Types
Runways can be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces). Additionally, airports may include closed or abandoned installations. For example, Baker Island has one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered with vegetation.
Leave a Reply