A new study has found that Switzerland is home to 6,6 million vehicles - double the number that were on the roads in 1980. The data also shows that Swiss roads and motorways take up 56 percent more space than they did in 1980, whereas railway tracks only take up 3 percent more room.

4,7 million cars versus 8,8 million people

Of the 6,6 million vehicles registered in Switzerland, 4,7 million are passenger cars, according to the statistics published as part of the Federal Statistical Office's (FSO) Mobility and Transport Pocket Statistics for 2023. This figure is double the number of cars registered in 1980, though it should be said that the population at the time was just 6,3 million people, whereas today it is 8,8 million. 

Cars are now responsible for 74 percent of passenger transport globally, while railways are only responsible for around 11 percent. The FSO statistics show that people in Switzerland mainly use their cars for "leisure purposes", with around 41,6 percent of drivers stating that they use their car primarily for leisure, followed by 15,6 percent of respondents who usually use their car for work. 

Swiss population devotes around 80 minutes a day to transportation

People in Switzerland spend an average of 80 minutes a day on public transportation, with the majority of trips being made between 4 and 6pm on weekdays, according to the data. The peak travel hours change at weekends to 10 to 11am on Saturdays and 2 to 3 pm on Sundays. 

Figures for the amount of energy consumed by transportation were also published as part of the report. The data shows that mobility is responsible for 32 percent of energy consumption in Switzerland, which is down 17 percent compared to the year 2000.

Image: Shutterstock.com / Thomas Stoiber