In this article, we list and discuss the 15 Countries with Most Car Accidents per Capita.
According to the World Health Organization’s Road Traffic Injuries Report of 2023, 1.19 million people lose their lives every year due to road accidents. Moreover, these accidents are a leading cause of death among young adults between the ages of 5 and 29 years old. Apart from the loss of lives, though, road accidents also bring about heavy monetary loss — they cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP). Both these losses are undoubtedly huge, but the individuals who suffer in car accidents unfortunately get to experience the worst of it.
The WHO report further highlights that between 20 and 50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many resulting in long-term disabilities, and also deliver an expensive financial blow to the victims in the form of medical treatments and car repair bills, which are especially more drastic when the person doesn’t have insurance (See: 15 Largest Auto Insurance Companies In The US). According to another report published in 2023 by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), in 2019 alone, motor vehicle crashes cost Americans about $340 billion, and damaged 23 million vehicles.
Despite the implementation of strict traffic laws, the use of advanced technology, and intricate crash avoidance systems in place, the rate of global car accidents has not seen a decline in recent years. As the CDC reports, 3,700 people are killed globally due to road accidents, and the fatal and nonfatal injuries caused by the crashes will likely cause about $1.8 trillion to the world economy during 2015–2030.
Sometimes a genuine little mistake can lead to a terrific car crash. Other times, however, car crashes are resulted from the act of breaking the law i.e. speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, lack of car maintenance, and driving while being under a drug or drink influence.
There are also times when unfavorable weather conditions make it more difficult to see the road clearly and end up causing crashes. A similar accident happened in 1991 on the M4 motorway in Berkshire, Lambourn when excessive fog took over the highway, making it difficult for the drivers to see. Resultantly, a total of 51 cars collided with each other, leaving 10 people dead and around 25 injured.
Therefore, whether you are driving on a highway with a speed of 70 mph or in a residential or school district at 25 mph, car accidents can commonly occur and inflict car damage costs or other expenses that may deplete your savings significantly. That’s why, insurance is highly encouraged for all vehicle owners.
Car Insurance Companies: Industry Updates and Key Players
According to Bankrate, in 2024, the average annual cost of full coverage car insurance is $2,545, while minimum coverage costs $741 per year. While the car insurance industry is coming back to normalcy after the post-pandemic period, the severe weather conditions and surge in car thefts have made it difficult for private insurance providers to sustain in the industry without raising the prices. According to Insurance Business America, private auto insurers will raise their premiums by an average of 12.6% in 2024.
The key players in the car insurance industry include Progressive Corp (NYSE: PGR), Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (NYSE: BRK.B), and Allstate Corp (NYSE: ALL). Entering 2024, Progressive Corp (NYSE: PGR) plans to integrate artificial intelligence into its insurance system which will greatly improve its profitability by enhancing the underwriting and claims management processes and reducing costs. The vice president of Progressive Corp (NYSE: PGR) says, “The insurance industry as a whole tends to be a technology laggard.”
Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (NYSE: BRK.B) through its subsidiary company, GEICO, offers private car insurance plans. Geico has partnered with Tractable’s AI software for several automating uses such as providing accurate estimates to insurers. In 2024, Berkshire’s (NYSE: BRK.B) subsidiary, Geico, aims to offer some of the most affordable car insurance plans in the US.
Just like GEICO, Allstate Corp (NYSE: ALL) has also attempted to move towards digitalization by integrating its first-ever cloud-native technology. According to Allstate Corp (NYSE: ALL), nearly 40% of the company’s processes have been automated and digitized with filing claim time reduced from four minutes to 43 seconds.
Pixabay / Public Domain
Our Methodology
For our list of the 15 Countries with Most Car Accidents per Capita, we have sourced data from a couple of credible sources. To calculate the per capita data, we divided the number of total accidents for every country by their population. We then shortlisted the top 15, and have arranged our list in ascending order, based on the number of accidents per capita by country. The ranking metric (number of car accidents per capita) is correct to 3 significant figures.
By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.
15 Countries with Most Car Accidents per Capita
15. Turkey
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00203
Turkey is best known for its culture, history, beaches, Cappadocia hot air balloons, and cuisine. Located in the Middle East, the country has a total population of 86,112,372 as of writing this article. It ranks 15th on the list of countries with the most car accidents per capita with 0.00203 accidents per person. Interestingly, the country also ranks 4 in CEOWorld’s list of countries with the most car accidents overall, with a total count of 174,896 car accidents per year.
In the aftermath of these accidents, 5,473 die annually while 283,234 get injured. This comes to about 2,118 accidents per million people, 3,430 injuries per million people, and 66 deaths per million people. Needless to say, getting into a car accident in Turkey is a likely possibility.
14. Iceland
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00204
Iceland is a Nordic country in Europe, famously known for its rugged landscape and picturesque scenery. With a population of 376,624 as of writing this article and 770 car accidents per year as of 2024, the country has 0.00204 car accidents per capita.
According to OEC World, Iceland was the 87th largest car exporter in the world in 2021; exporting $5.9M in Cars. Plus, in Iceland, car insurance is based on the vehicle instead of the driver, and liability and accident insurance for cars is compulsory for all. Speaking of insurance, the country sees 1,130 injuries but only 6 deaths every year. Although these numbers are significantly smaller as compared to the other countries on the list, Iceland is still one of the countries with the most car accidents per capita due to its small population.
13. Latvia
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00205
Latvia, a country in Europe with a population of 1,816,631 as of writing this article, has the thirty-six highest number of car accidents in the world – precisely 3,729. Driving in Latvia is generally safe, but the country does see 0.00205 car accidents per capita and 1,948 accidents per million people.
Car accidents in the country cause 132 deaths and 4,559 injuries every year i.e. 69 deaths and 2,382 injuries per million people.
12. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00227
Located in the Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a beautiful upper-middle-income country best known for its medieval villages, rivers, lakes, and scenic views. The country is home to 3,198,638 people as of writing this article.
The road infrastructure in the country is underdeveloped and poor, and driving safety can vary greatly throughout the country. Every year, the country sees 7,256 total car accidents, due to which 261 people die and 10,186 suffer from injuries. The number of car accidents per capita stands at 0.00227 as of 2024.
11. Malta
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00249
Next on the list is Malta, a European archipelago with a population of 535,675 people. It is a developed country, famous for its diving, architectural sites, and festivals. Malta is also a famous filming location.
As of 2024, the country sees 0.00249 car accidents per capita, and 1,339 accidents overall. These accidents result in 1,647 injuries every year and a total of 16 deaths. Similar to Iceland, the small number yet high ranking results from the small population of the country.
10. Canada
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00271
Canada has more than a million kilometers of roads, out of which 40% are paved. Most of the roads in the country are in good, or better than good conditions. Therefore, it is relatively safer to drive in Canada.
As of 2024, the country has a population of 38,997,330 and a per capita car accident number of 0.00271. With 105,791 car accidents reported every year, Canada stands at #7 in the list of countries with the most car accidents and #10 in the list of countries with the most car accidents per capita. One of the most common causes of car accidents in Canada is driver error.
9. Slovenia
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00284
Slovenia is best known for its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and urban and cultural atmosphere. Located in Europe, the country has a total population of 2,118,965 as of writing this article.
Slovenia ranks 9 on the list of countries with the most car accidents per capita with 0.00284 accidents per person, and 31 on CEOWorld’s list of countries with the most car accidents, with a total of 6,023 car accidents per year. 102 die annually while 7,570 get injured due to these accidents, which comes to about 2,884 accidents per million people, 3,625 injuries per million people, and 49 deaths per million people.
8. Italy
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00293
Ranked 8, Italy is a country with a population of 58,757,412 people and a road and highway network of 512,400 km. The country is most popular for its architecture, culture, art, opera, literature, film, and fashion. However, it also ranks 5 in the countries with the most car accidents in the world, with around 0.00293 car accidents happening per capita as of 2024.
Due to the high number of accidents (172,183 to be precise), 3,173 people lose their lives and 241,384 get injured every year.
7. Montenegro
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00307
Montenegro is a country in the Balkans, home to 626,102 people and breathtaking mountains, glacial lakes, beach resorts of the Budva Riviera, and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bay of Kotor. The country sees 0.00307 accidents per capita, and 1,924 total car accidents per year. As a result of these accidents, 2,754 people face injuries and 47 people lose their lives annually.
6. Belgium
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00322
Sixth on the list, Belgium is best known for its culture, painting, and architecture. The country has a 118,414 km long network of roads and highways according to the WorldData record. The country also has a long history in the automotive industry and is a major player in the car production sector.
As of writing this article, Belgium has a population of 11,706,188, and 0.00322 per capita number of accidents. Overall, it has the tenth-highest number of car accidents in the world, with over 37,699 drivers experiencing an accident every year. Consequently, 646 lives are lost and 47,147 people are injured.
5. Germany
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00360
Fifth on the list is Germany, which is a European country with a population of 83,268,457. It is famous for its beers, castles, automobiles, bread, football, and Albert Einstein.
As of 2024, the country sees 0.00360 car accidents per capita, and 300,143 accidents overall. Due to the high number of total accidents, it comes as no surprise that the country has the third highest number of car accidents in the world. These accidents result in a whopping 384,230 injuries every year and a total of 3,046 deaths.
4. Portugal
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00364
Portugal has a road network of 16,500 kilometers, and its road infrastructure is considered to be the second best in the world by the World Economic Forum. The roads are all generally well-maintained. One of the most common causes of car accidents and deaths caused by them in Portugal is speeding.
As of 2024, the country has a population of 10,231,870 and a per capita car accident number of 0.00364. With 37,213 car accidents reported every year, Portugal stands at #11 in the list of countries with the most car accidents and #4 in the list of countries with the most car accidents per capita. 689 people in Portugal lose their lives to these accidents every year. According to WHO, in 2020, 838 people died in road traffic accidents in the country.
3. Austria
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00398
Austria, a country in Europe with a population of 8,970,748 as of writing this article, has the twelfth highest number of car accidents in the world – precisely 35,736. Driving in Austria is generally safe, but the country does see 0.00398 car accidents per capita and 4,024 accidents per million people.
Car accidents in the country cause 416 deaths and 45,141 injuries every year i.e. 47 deaths and 5,083 injuries per million people.
2. Japan
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00439
Japan is a world leader in many domains, but unfortunately, it also takes the lead in the number of car accidents per capita (and overall) in the world. With 0.00439 for the former and 540,000 for the latter, Japan stands at #2 in both domains — number of car accidents per capita and the total number of car accidents by country. 600,000 people suffer from injuries and 4,700 lose their lives to these accidents every year.
Japan has a total population of 122,856,256, and also one of the world’s best traffic safety records. However, it still has such a significant number of accidents because, as reported by the National Police Agency, traffic deaths are mainly caused by elderly drivers and male smokers. Other leading causes of road accidents by cars in the country include drunk driving and driver errors.
1. United States
Number of Car Accidents Per Capita (As of 2024): 0.00571
Topping the list is the United States, a world leader in many domains and unfortunately in this one too, like Japan. The country has a population of 341,206,007 and sees a total of 1,949,000 car accidents every year. Per capita, the number of accidents is higher than in any other country and stands at 0.00571. These accidents cause 36,096 deaths and 2,740,000 injuries annually.
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Disclosure: None. 15 Countries with Most Car Accidents per Capita is originally published on Insider Monkey.
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