Passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine was 32.91 million Number in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
32.91 million Number
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
4th
of 51 countries
All-time high
32.91 million Number
in 2024
All-time low
11.67 million Number
in 1970
Years of data
42
1970–2024
Passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1970–2024
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Number.
Analysis
In 2024, passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 32.91 million Number. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 32.91 million Number in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.67 million Number, in 1970.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th of 51 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.67 million Number | — |
| 1975 | 13.95 million Number | +19.5% |
| 1979 | 15.19 million Number | +8.9% |
| 1980 | 15.62 million Number | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 15.82 million Number | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 16.28 million Number | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 16.61 million Number | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 17.21 million Number | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 17.74 million Number | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 18.36 million Number | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 18.86 million Number | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 19.94 million Number | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 20.93 million Number | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 20.72 million Number | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 20.76 million Number | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 20.97 million Number | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 21.29 million Number | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 21.74 million Number | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 21.95 million Number | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 22.82 million Number | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 23.45 million Number | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 23.92 million Number | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 24.63 million Number | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 25.07 million Number | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 25.78 million Number | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 26.46 million Number | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 26.95 million Number | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 27.77 million Number | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 28.29 million Number | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 28.39 million Number | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 28.25 million Number | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 28.42 million Number | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 28.47 million Number | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 28.72 million Number | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 30.25 million Number | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 30.85 million Number | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 31.20 million Number | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 31.52 million Number | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 31.88 million Number | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 32.17 million Number | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 32.55 million Number | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 32.91 million Number | +1.1% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 32.91 million Number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.98 million Number, 11.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 32.91 million Number is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.08 million Number, 8.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.60 million Number | 11.67 million Number | 15.19 million Number | 3 |
| 1980s | 17.74 million Number | 15.62 million Number | 20.93 million Number | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.23 million Number | 20.72 million Number | 24.63 million Number | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.12 million Number | 25.07 million Number | 28.39 million Number | 8 |
| 2010s | 29.92 million Number | 28.42 million Number | 31.52 million Number | 7 |
| 2020s | 32.38 million Number | 31.88 million Number | 32.91 million Number | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 8.2% (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 32.91 million Number in 2024, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 32.91 million Number in 2024.
- What is the lowest passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.67 million Number in 1970.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th out of 51 countries with data for 2024.
- Is passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Passenger cars, by type of motor energy and size of engine. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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