Davao City has overtaken Manila as the Philippine city with the worst traffic, based on the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index. Ranking 8th globally out of 500 cities, Davao City was also the most congested city in the Philippines.
The index, which assesses congestion and travel times across 62 countries, revealed that commuters in Davao take nearly 33 minutes to travel 10 kilometers on average. The city also performed worst among all Southeast Asian cities included in the study.
Manila, previously the most congested city in the Philippines, ranked 14th globally with a slightly quicker average travel time of 32 minutes per 10 kilometers. Caloocan also made its debut on the list, ranking 26th globally.
In Davao City, motorists lost about 136 hours annually due to rush-hour congestion, despite a slight improvement in average travel times compared to 2023, with trips being 30 seconds faster.
Manila commuters lost 127 hours per year in traffic, with 15 November 2024 — a payday Friday — recorded as the capital’s worst traffic day, when drivers spent 39 minutes and 37 seconds to travel just 10 kilometers.
Caloocan commuters fared slightly better, averaging 27 minutes and 20 seconds per 10-kilometer trip.
Globally, Barranquilla, Colombia, topped the list as the city with the worst traffic, with motorists needing 36 minutes and 6 seconds for a 10-kilometer trip. Indian cities Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Pune ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, followed by London in 5th place.
Sapporo, Japan, recorded the worst single traffic day in 2024 on 17 January, when 10-kilometer trips took a staggering 47 minutes and 30 seconds.
The 14th edition of the TomTom Traffic Index, its most comprehensive analysis to date, used floating car data to assess travel times and congestion. It considered factors such as road infrastructure, traffic density, roadworks, weather, and optimal travel times.
While Davao City’s ranking highlights its significant traffic issues, the results underscore a broader challenge in the Philippines, with urban centers like Manila and Caloocan also struggling to manage congestion. Comprehensive urban planning and traffic management reforms remain crucial to address these persistent issues.