Countries With the Fastest Decline in Rail lines (total km) (5-Year Change)
Change in Rail lines (total km) over the five years to each country's latest year, as a percentage of the earlier value. Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Ireland fell the most: by 24.1%, from 2,174 km to 1,650 km in the five years to 2021. Tunisia is second (−20.8%), followed by Gabon (−20%). 20 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −1.55%.
- #1
- Ireland · −24.1%
- Median
- −1.55%
- Coverage
- 20 countries
- Data year
- 2021
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ireland | 2,174 | 1,650 | −24.1% |
| 2 | Tunisia | 2,244 | 1,777 | −20.8% |
| 3 | Gabon | 810 | 648 | −20% |
| 4 | Cameroon | 1,004 | 884 | −12% |
| 5 | Serbia | 3,736 | 3,348 | −10.4% |
| 6 | Norway | 4,209 | 3,885 | −7.7% |
| 7 | France | 29,237 | 27,716 | −5.2% |
| 8 | Georgia | 1,415 | 1,387 | −1.98% |
| 9 | United States | 151,270 | 148,550 | −1.8% |
| 10 | Kyrgyz Republic | 424 | 417 | −1.65% |
| 11 | Luxembourg | 275 | 271 | −1.45% |
| 12 | Argentina | 18,097 | 17,866 | −1.28% |
| 13 | Czechia | 9,463 | 9,357 | −1.12% |
| 14 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,027 | 1,018 | −0.876% |
| 15 | Portugal | 2,546 | 2,527 | −0.742% |
| 16 | Canada | 48,498 | 48,150 | −0.718% |
| 17 | United Kingdom | 16,257 | 16,179 | −0.48% |
| 18 | Moldova | 1,151 | 1,149 | −0.174% |
| 19 | Finland | 5,926 | 5,918 | −0.135% |
| 20 | Latvia | 1,860 | 1,859 | −0.027% |
About the top 10
#1 Ireland
Ireland ranks #1 on this list with −24.1%.
- Capital
- Dublin
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.48 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$721.7 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$131,590 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 64.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in gdp per capita ppp · #3 in air passengers carried · #3 in manufacturing value added share of gdp.
#2 Tunisia
Tunisia ranks #2 on this list with −20.8%.
- Capital
- Tunis
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 12.35 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$57.5 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,657 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 70.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #9 in youth unemployment rate · #9 in gender parity index (school enrolment) · #16 in unemployment rate.
#3 Gabon
Gabon ranks #3 on this list with −20%.
- Capital
- Libreville
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.59 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$21.43 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$8,263 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 92.1% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in forest area share · #4 in renewable energy share · #6 in unemployment rate.
#4 Cameroon
Cameroon ranks #4 on this list with −12%.
- Capital
- Yaoundé
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 29.88 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$58.93 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,972 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 64 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 55.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Douala, Yaoundé, Garoua.
Also ranks #10 in pm2.5 air pollution exposure · #11 in pupil-teacher ratio (primary) · #15 in age dependency ratio (young).
#5 Serbia
Serbia ranks #5 on this list with −10.4%.
- Capital
- Belgrade
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.95 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$15,262 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 62.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: City of Belgrade, Belgrade.
Also ranks #3 in death rate · #4 in smoking prevalence · #13 in age dependency ratio (old).
#6 Norway
Norway ranks #6 on this list with −7.7%.
- Capital
- Oslo
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.61 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$530.76 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$94,594 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 83.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim.
Also ranks #2 in nurses and midwives per 1,000 · #2 in voice and accountability score · #3 in gni per capita.
#7 France
France ranks #7 on this list with −5.2%.
- Capital
- Paris
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 68.72 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.37 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$48,986 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 78.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Paris, Metropolis of Lyon, Bordeaux Métropole.
Also ranks #1 in tourism arrivals · #1 in account ownership (female) share · #3 in remittances received.
#8 Georgia
Georgia ranks #8 on this list with −1.98%.
- Capital
- Tbilisi
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 3.94 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$38.14 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$9,692 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 61.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tbilisi.
Also ranks #2 in alcohol consumption per capita · #6 in physicians per 1,000 · #10 in female population share.
#9 United States
United States ranks #9 on this list with −1.8%.
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 341.78 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$30.77 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$90,027 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: New York metropolitan area, New York City, Chicago.
Also ranks #1 in gdp (current us$) · #1 in health expenditure per capita · #1 in imports of goods and services.
#10 Kyrgyz Republic
Kyrgyz Republic ranks #10 on this list with −1.65%.
- Capital
- Bishkek
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 7.34 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$22.62 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,081 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 34.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bishkek.
Also ranks #5 in gdp growth rate · #8 in income share of poorest 10% · #10 in mineral rents share of gdp.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Rail lines (total km) over the five years to each country's latest year, as a percentage of the earlier value. Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator IS.RRS.TOTL.KM. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Rail lines (total route-km): Railisa Database, International Union of Railways (UIC) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Railisa Database, International Union of Railways (UIC).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.