Printable Version

Fact #469: May 14, 2007
Growth in Per Capita Rates for Vehicles and Vehicle-Miles

The number of vehicle-miles per capita has grown faster than the number of vehicles per capita from 1950 to 2005. From 3,029 miles per capita in 1950, the number of vehicle-miles driven per capita has increased to 10,087 miles. Vehicles per capita increased from 0.286 to 0.802 in the same period.

Supporting Information

Vehicles Per Capita and Vehicle Miles Per Capita, 1950-2005

Year	Vehicles Per Capita	Vehicle-Miles Per Capita
1950	0.286	3,029
1955	0.338	3,656
1960	0.370	3,994
1965	0.424	4,587
1970	0.481	5,440
1975	0.560	6,191
1980	0.615	6,722
1985	0.660	7,460
1990	0.718	8,590
1995	0.726	9,098
2000	0.756	9,734
2005	0.802	10,087
Source: Resident population – U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, The 2007 Statistical Abstract of the United States, Washington, D.C. 2007, pp. 373. Vehicles – R.L. Polk and Company, 2006. Vehicle Miles – U.S. Department of Transportation, Highway Statistics 2005, Washington, D.C. 2006, Table VM-1, p. 57, an annual.

 

Return to 2007 Facts of the Week