Rail lines rose 27.4% to 19,249 km in Japan in 2017, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, rail lines in Japan reached an all time high of 29,809 km in 2001 and an all time low of 15,108 km in 2016. When compared to Japan's main peers, rail lines in China amounted to 67,278 km, 85,545 km in Russia, 4,192 km in South Korea and 150,966 km in USA in 2017.
Japan has been ranked 10th within the group of 75 countries we follow in terms of rail lines, 2 places above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Rail Lines (km) | Unit | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| Canada | km | ... | 255 | 58,651 | 57,264 | 48,498 | 48,150 | ... | ||||||||||||||
| China | km | 66,585 | 66,989 | 67,212 | 83,717 | 67,278 | ||||||||||||||||
| Dem. People's Republic of Korea | km | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | |
| Germany | km | 33,449 | 33,426 | 33,332 | 33,380 | 33,488 | ||||||||||||||||
| India | km | 65,436 | 65,808 | 66,030 | 66,687 | 67,368 | ||||||||||||||||
| Japan | km | 19,436 | 16,703 | 16,704 | 15,108 | 19,249 | ... | |||||||||||||||
| Mexico | km | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 26,704 | 11,891 | 11,903 | 11,905 | 14,280 | ... | ||||||||||
| Russia | km | 85,266 | 85,266 | 85,262 | 85,375 | 85,545 | ||||||||||||||||
| South Korea | km | 3,666 | 3,668 | 3,944 | 4,071 | 4,192 | ||||||||||||||||
| USA | km | 154,322 | 152,933 | 151,735 | 151,270 | 150,966 | ... | |||||||||||||||
| Vietnam | km | 2,347 | 3,186 | 3,186 | 2,581 | 2,367 |
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