Colombia has several cities among the ones with the worst traffic congestion in the world, according to the TomTom Traffic Index 2025. This annual report, produced by the global navigation and mapping company TomTom, measures and compares vehicle congestion in hundreds of cities using indicators such as traffic levels, average travel time, peak-hour speed, and hours lost in traffic jams.
The study confirms that urban mobility has become one of the country’s main challenges, placing Bogota, Medellin, Cali, and Barranquilla within the global top 20. This scenario reflects the growing pressure on road infrastructure and the planning challenges faced by Colombia’s major metropolitan areas.
The global ranking is led by Mexico City, which holds first place as the city with the worst traffic in the world, with a congestion level of 75.9%. In contrast, Colombia appears with four cities in prominent positions on the list, showing that the mobility crisis is not an isolated issue but a structural one.
Overall, millions of drivers in the country lose more than 130 hours a year stuck in traffic, equivalent to several full days of their lives spent solely on urban commuting. This indicator, calculated by the Traffic Index, helps measure the real impact of traffic on the quality of life and urban productivity.
Colombian cities with the most traffic congestion in the world
Bogota continues to be the Colombian city with the worst traffic and one of the most affected globally. In 2025, it ranked seventh worldwide, with a congestion level of 69.9%, representing a significant increase compared to the previous year.
Each driver loses an average of 153 hours per year in traffic — almost an entire week. The average peak-hour speed is just 15.4 km/h, similar to that of a bicycle, and traveling 10 kilometers can take more than 30 minutes.
Medellin surprised by ranking 11 worldwide, with a congestion level of 66.9%. As in Bogota, drivers lose about 153 hours per year in traffic. The average peak-hour speed is 15.9 km/h, and traveling 10 kilometers takes more than 28 minutes. The increase compared to 2024 shows that mobility measures implemented so far have not managed to contain the growth of the vehicle fleet or road demand.
Cali, for its part, ranks 13 globally, with a congestion level of 65.6%. Although it recorded a slight decrease compared to the previous year, it remains among the most congested cities in the world. On average, drivers lose around 117 hours per year in traffic, and traveling 10 kilometers takes about 29 minutes.
Barranquilla also joined the global list, ranking among the 20 most congested cities on the planet, with a congestion level of 62.8%. The average peak-hour speed is just 13.7 km/h, one of the lowest in the country. At certain times of the year, congestion has exceeded 120%, and traveling short distances can take more than half an hour.
The top 20 cities with the worst traffic in the world
The TomTom Traffic Index 2025 reveals a global landscape dominated by large urban areas with high population density and strong pressure on their transportation systems. The ranking of the 20 most congested cities is as follows:
- Mexico City (Mexico)
- Bengaluru (India)
- Dublin (Ireland)
- Lodz (Poland)
- Pune (India)
- Lublin (Poland)
- Bogota (Colombia)
- Arequipa (Peru)
- Lima (Peru)
- Bangkok (Thailand)
- Medellin (Colombia)
- Davao City (Philippines)
- Cali (Colombia)
- Poznan (Poland)
- Recife (Brazil)
- Bandung (Indonesia)
- Guadalajara (Mexico)
- Mumbai (India)
- Barranquilla (Colombia)
- Bucharest (Romania)
The presence of four Colombian cities on this list positions the country as one of the most affected by urban congestion in Latin America.
A structural challenge for urban mobility
The data reflects a complex problem in Colombian cities’ traffic congestion that combines population growth, an expanding vehicle fleet, limited infrastructure, and insufficient urban planning.
In several cities, the average peak-hour speed is comparable to that of a cyclist, highlighting the impact of traffic on productivity, quality of life, and the environment.
In addition to lost time, congestion leads to higher pollution emissions, increased driver stress, and high economic costs for cities.