Table 2
Geographic Overview of World's Top Economies: 2008
| Ranked by Population | National population (millions, July 2009 est.) | Population density (number of people per square kilometer) | Urban population (% of total national population, 2008) | Land area (thousands of square kilometers) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1,339 | 140 | 43 | 9,570 |
| India | 1,166 | 392 | 29 | 2,973 |
| United States | 307 | 34 | 82 | 9,162 |
| Indonesia | 240 | 133 | 52 | 1,812 |
| Brazil | 199 | 23 | 86 | 8,459 |
| Russia | 140 | 9 | 73 | 16,378 |
| Japan | 127 | 349 | 66 | 364 |
| Mexico | 111 | 57 | 77 | 1,944 |
| Germany | 82 | 236 | 74 | 349 |
| Turkey | 77 | 100 | 69 | 770 |
| France | 64 | 116 | 77 | 550 |
| United Kingdom | 61 | 253 | 90 | 242 |
| Italy | 58 | 198 | 68 | 294 |
| South Korea | 49 | 501 | 81 | 97 |
| Spain | 41 | 81 | 77 | 499 |
| Poland | 38 | 126 | 61 | 304 |
| Canada | 33 | 4 | 80 | 9,094 |
| Saudi Arabia | 29 | 13 | 82 | 2,150 |
| Netherlands | 17 | 493 | 82 | 34 |
| Belgium | 10 | 344 | 97 | 30 |
| Sweden | 9 | 22 | 85 | 410 |
| Austria | 8 | 100 | 67 | 82 |
| Australia | 8 | 0 | 89 | 7,682 |
| Switzerland | 8 | 190 | 73 | 40 |
| Norway | 5 | 15 | 77 | 304 |
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, based on data from Central Intelligence Agency, Fact Book 2009, available at www.cia.gov as of Sept. 20, 2009.
- The relatively larger area, lower population density, and higher urban population of the United States, in comparison to other countries, leads to relatively more freight activity. Freight must be transported greater distances as goods are shipped from production centers to consumers.