Metro stations are essential to urban life, but their quality and level of modernization vary across Europe’s capital cities.

High-quality transportation networks play a crucial role in driving business productivity by enhancing mobility and expanding access to a broader labor pool. Moreover, investment in metro systems is connected with higher foreign direct investment. These investments boost a city’s appeal by improving commuting speed and accessibility.

This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Dorothy Neufeld, ranks the metro systems of European capital cities, based on data from Bounce.

Methodology

For the ranking, metro systems across 19 European capital cities were scored according to the following metrics:

• Number of stations

• Annual ridership

• Distance covered

• Google review scores

• The share of positive and negative online reactions to articles about each metro system

Due to travel advisories, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russian capitals were excluded. Overall, metro systems were measured out of a score of 10.

Norway is Home to Top Metro System in European Capitals

Oslo, the capital of Norway, tops the list with 101 metro stations across its transit network.

In 2023, it became the first metro system in the world to operate entirely on electric power. As the largest network in Scandinavia, Oslo’s metro stations earned an average Google review score of 4.13 out of 5 stars, with users often saying they were “very well organized” and “easy to get around”.

Sofia, Bulgaria, claims second place with the newest metro system among European capitals, established in 1998.

In contrast, the London Underground, built in 1863, holds the title of the world’s oldest metro system. Today, the London Underground emits 84% fewer carbon emissions per passenger than a gasoline car, and it’s on track to be fully powered by renewables by 2030. Overall, London’s metro system ranks sixth among European capitals.

Copenhagen’s automated metro runs 24/7, with trains arriving every two minutes during most of the day. Despite placing seventh on the list, it is frequently recognized as the world’s best metro system due to its exceptional reliability.

At the other end of the spectrum, Budapest’s metro system ranks last, with 75% of online reactions to transport-related news articles being negative. Passengers have described some metro stations as “rather unpleasant,” with cleanliness often cited as a major concern.

To learn more about this topic from a global perspective, check out this graphic on different transportation methods around the world.

On Wednesday the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) issued a new public intelligence estimate entitled “Nuclear Challenges 2024”. 

The detailed 194-page document includes an overview of chief nuclear-armed powers and rivals of the United States, focusing especially on countries with “mature nuclear weapons programs” which are said to be “increasing stockpiles” or else “modernizing their legacy stockpiles by incorporating advanced technologies to penetrate or avoid missile defense systems” – such as North Korea.

“Countries are also developing nuclear weapons with smaller yields, improved precision, and increased range for military or coercive use,” the DIA says.

One nation’s program is gaining the most attention as a result of the DIA report, and that’s China. The intelligence agency assesses the country under President Xi is undergoing a huge and rapid expanse of its nuclear arsenal, which is the biggest in its history, assuming the projection is accurate. 

The “Nuclear Challenges 2024” assesses that China is on track to possess more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030.

The report contextualizes that this accelerated growth is being drive primarily by China’s strategic competition with the Untied States.

Below is a section providing the DIA’s bird’s eye view summary of China’s nuclear arsenal plans and expansion:

China. Beijing has far surpassed earlier growth estimates assessed in 2018, and is currently exceeding 500 deliverable nuclear warheads in its stockpile. By 2030, we estimate that China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads— most of which will be fielded on systems capable of ranging the continental United States. China probably also seeks lower-yield nuclear warhead capabilities to provide proportional response options that its high-yield warheads cannot deliver. For example, China is increasing its stockpile of theater-range delivery systems, such as the DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).

Below is a current snapshot of the global nuclear stockpile situation, as it stood by middle of this year…

You will find more infographics at Statista

As Statista’s Anna Fleck reports, currently, there are estimated to be 9,585 nuclear warheads in military stockpiles for potential use across nine countries, with Russia and the U.S. accounting for 8,088 of these.

There are also an estimated 2,536 retired warheads that are yet to be dismantled. China has added 90 nuclear warheads to its arsenal since January 2023, increasing from 410 warheads to 500.

This is according to data from the peace research institute SIPRI. India and North Korea have also expanded their arsenals, bringing their total figures to an estimated 170 warheads and 50 warheads, respectively.

The two European nuclear powers, France and the UK, together have 515 operational nuclear warheads. With the exception of North Korea, none of the nations in possession of nuclear warheads have tested them since the 1990s.