The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland Report 2024 data, published
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The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland Report 2024 data, has been published today.
Statistics from the Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) for 2024 are now available. The report includes information on walking, cycling, public transport, travelling by car, journey purpose and key tables by urban–rural.
The publication is available on the Department for Infrastructure website.
Key Points:
- In 2024, each person travelled, on average, 5,575 miles (approximately 15 miles per day), around the same as the previous year (5,640 miles per person in 2023).
- On average, 857 journeys were made per person in 2024 (just over 2 journeys per day), similar to 2023 (828 journeys per person).
- In 2024, the average journey length was 6.5 miles, a decrease from the previous year (6.8 miles in 2023).
- On average, 591 car journeys were taken per person in 2024. This equates to just over two thirds (69%) of all journeys made, similar to 2023 (70%).
- There was an average of 204 walking and cycling journeys made per person in 2024. This represents just under one quarter (24%) of all journeys made, similar to 2023 (23%).
- In 2024, 37 public transport journeys were made per person, on average. This equates to 4% of all journeys made, the same as 2023 (4%).
- There was an average of 334 leisure and other journeys taken per person in 2024 (visiting friends at private home/elsewhere, entertainment/social activities, sports, holiday/day trip, other including just walk, undefined purpose). This represents just under two fifths (39%) of all journeys made, similar to 2023 (36%).
- Each person made, on average, 142 shopping journeys during 2024, which represents 17% of all journeys made, no real difference compared to 2023 (18%).
- On average, 158 commuting and business journeys were taken per person in 2024. This equates to 18% of all journeys made, around the same as 2023 (20%).
- There were 98 education and escort education journeys made per person in 2024 (e.g. a schoolchild going to school, a student going to college/university, a parent taking a child to school). This accounted for 11% of all journeys made, a decrease from 2023 (14%).
- In 2024, people living in rural areas took more journeys, on average, compared to people living in urban areas (urban: 823 journeys; rural: 906 journeys). Similarly, rural residents travelled further than urban residents (urban: 4,352 miles; rural: 7,326 miles).
Notes to editors:
- The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (TSNI) is a household survey and is the only source of information on how, over the region as a whole, people use different forms of transport to meet their travel needs as individuals. Detailed user information, definitions and guidance are included in the report.
- TSNI reports are generally published annually and the earliest data available are for the 1999-2001 period. This latest report covers the time period from 1 January to 31 December 2024. A significant amount of extra data validation work was required from 2022 onwards, which combined with the delay in receiving earlier TSNI datasets from the data supplier, continues to have a knock-on effect on the usual publication timetable.
- The survey methodology changed in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, 2020 to 2024 results are not directly comparable to those prior to 2020. The commentary contained in the report is therefore mainly focussed on the findings for 2024 data. The smaller achieved sample for single years has limited some of the analysis that can be carried out.
- These statistics are accredited official statistics, independently reviewed by Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) in March 2011. Accredited Official Statistics are official statistics that have been independently reviewed by OSR and confirmed to comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
- Electronic copies of the Report, associated data tables and summary infographic are available free of charge from the Department for Infrastructure website.
- For more information relating to this publication, including additional analysis, breakdowns of data, or alternative formats please contact:
Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch, First Floor, James House, Cromac Avenue, Belfast, BT7 2JB
Telephone: (028) 9054 0799 E-mail: asrb@nisra.gov.uk
Website: Statistics and research - All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office.
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