Maps
The Best-Selling Vehicles in the World By Country
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The Best-Selling Vehicles in the World By Country
Each country has different preferences for goods, and vehicles are no different.
Consumers in a dense country might prefer smaller cars, while countries with wide expanses (and parking spots) open the way for larger trucks. Likewise, rugged terrain might call for vehicles that can adapt and scale quickly.
And it’s also a question of which manufacturer invested in the country. As the world’s largest automakers have raced to attract consumers in every corner of the globe, they built factories, renamed models, and even built specific cars to fit the tastes of individual countries.
This infographic from Budget Direct Car Insurance highlights the best-selling vehicles in the world, using 2019 year-end sales data.
What is the Most Popular Vehicle in Each Country?
Though the map might vary across the board, one thing is certain: Toyota’s dominance.
The Japanese automaker—which was also the most valuable automaker in the world for many years before being overtaken by Tesla—had the best-selling vehicle in 41 countries of the 104 countries tallied.
It also had the world’s best-selling vehicle in 2019, the Toyota Corolla, though the sedan only took the top spot itself in five countries.
Country | Best-Selling Vehicle | Type |
---|---|---|
Algeria | Dacia Sandero | Subcompact |
American Samoa | Toyota Tacoma | Truck |
Angola | Toyota Land Cruiser J70 | SUV |
Argentina | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Australia | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Austria | Skoda Octavia | Sedan |
Azerbaijan | Khazar SD/LD | Sedan |
Bahrain | Toyota Land Cruiser | SUV |
Belarus | Lada Vesta | Sedan |
Belgium | VW Golf | Hatchback |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Skoda Octavia | Sedan |
Botswana | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Brazil | Chevrolet Onix | Subcompact |
Canada | Ford F-Series | Truck |
Chile | Mitsubishi L-200 | Truck |
China | VW Lavida | Sedan |
Colombia | Renault Sandero | Subcompact |
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Croatia | Skoda Octavia | Sedan |
Cyprus | Toyota Yaris | Subcompact |
Czech Republic | Skoda Octavia | Sedan |
Denmark | Nissan Qashqai | SUV |
Ecuador | Chevrolet Spark | Subcompact |
Egypt | Chevrolet T-Series | Truck |
Estonia | Toyota Rav4 | SUV |
Fiji | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Finland | Skoda Octavia | Sedan |
France | Peugeot 208 I | Subcompact |
Georgia | Renault/Dacia Duster | SUV |
Germany | VW Golf | Hatchback |
Greece | Toyota Yaris | Subcompact |
Hungary | Suzuki Vitara | SUV |
Iceland | Toyota Rav4 | SUV |
India | Maruti Alto | Hatchback |
Indonesia | Toyota Avanza | Van |
Iran | Saipa Pride | Sedan |
Iraq | Kia Frontier | Truck |
Ireland | Toyota Corolla | Sedan |
Israel | Toyota Corolla | Sedan |
Italy | Fiat Panda | Subcompact |
Japan | Honda N-BOX | Subcompact |
Jordan | Hyundai Tucson | SUV |
Kazakhstan | Toyota Camry | Sedan |
Kenya | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Kosovo | Dacia Sandero | Subcompact |
Kuwait | Toyota Land Cruiser | SUV |
Latvia | Toyota Corolla | Sedan |
Lebanon | Toyota Land Cruiser | SUV |
Lesotho | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Liechtenstein | VW Golf | Hatchback |
Lithuania | Fiat 500 | Subcompact |
Luxembourg | VW Golf | Hatchback |
Macedonia | Kia Sportage | SUV |
Malawi | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Malaysia | Perodua Myvi | Hatchback |
Mexico | Nissan Versa | Sedan |
Moldova | Dacia Logan | Sedan |
Monaco | Smart Fortwo | Subcompact |
Morocco | Dacia Dokker | Van |
Namibia | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Netherlands | Tesla Model 3 | Sedan |
New Zealand | Ford Ranger | Truck |
Norway | Tesla Model 3 | Sedan |
Oman | Toyota Land Cruiser | SUV |
Pakistan | Toyota Corolla | Sedan |
Panama | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Papua New Guinea | Toyota Land Cruiser J70 | SUV |
Paraguay | Chevrolet Onix | Subcompact |
Peru | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Philippines | Toyota Vios | Subcompact |
Poland | Skoda Octavia | Sedan |
Portugal | Renault Clio | Hatchback |
Qatar | Toyota Land Cruiser | SUV |
Romania | Dacia Logan | Sedan |
Russia | Lada Granta | Subcompact |
Samoa | Toyota Hiace | Van |
Saudi Arabia | Hyundai Accent | Subcompact |
Senegal | Mitsubishi L200 | Truck |
Serbia | Skoda Octavia | Sedan |
Singapore | Honda Vezel/HR-V | SUV |
Slovakia | Skoda Fabia | Subcompact |
Slovenia | Renault Clio | Hatchback |
Solomon Islands | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
South Africa | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
South Korea | Hyundai Grandeur | Sedan |
Spain | SEAT Leon | Hatchback |
Sri Lanka | Suzuki Alto | Hatchback |
Swaziland (Eswatini) | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Sweden | Volvo S/V60 | Sedan/Wagon |
Switzerland | Skoda Octavia | Sedan |
Syria | Hyundai Tucson | SUV |
Taiwan | Toyota Corolla | Sedan |
Thailand | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Tonga | Toyota Hilux | Truck |
Tunisia | Renault Clio | Hatchback |
Turkey | Fiat Egea | Sedan |
Ukraine | Kia Sportage | SUV |
United Arab Emirates | Toyota Land Cruiser | SUV |
United Kingdom | Ford Fiesta | Subcompact |
United States | Ford F-150 | Truck |
Uruguay | Renault Kwid | Hatchback |
Venezuela | Toyota Fortuner | SUV |
Vietnam | Toyota Vios | Subcompact |
Yemen | Toyota Land Cruiser | SUV |
As the best-seller in 16 countries, the Toyota Hilux truck (also known as the Toyota Pickup in North America) was the top vehicle in the most countries. It has a noticeably strong market share in the Southern Hemisphere, including in Argentina, South Africa, and Australia.
The other consistent factor was the strength of local manufacturers. Many countries with large automakers had local models as the best-selling vehicles, especially in Europe.
Country with Local Best-Seller | Vehicle |
---|---|
Czech Republic | Škoda Octavia |
France | Peugeot 208 I |
Germany | VW Golf |
India | Maruti Alto |
Iran | SAIPA Pride |
Italy | Fiat Panda |
Japan | Honda N-BOX |
Malaysia | Perodua Myvi |
Romania | Dacia Logan |
Russia | Lada Granta |
South Korea | Hyundai Grandeur |
Spain | SEAT León |
Sweden | Volvo S/V60 |
U.S. | Ford F-150 |
Cars are the Best-Selling Vehicles in the World
So what do car consumers currently prefer? Currently, cars have a slight edge over trucks as the best-selling vehicles in the world.
Of the 104 countries with sales tallied for the study, smaller cars often classified as “passenger vehicles” (including sedans, hatchbacks, and subcompacts) made up the majority of best-sellers, with 57 of the best-selling vehicles by country.
Meanwhile, “light trucks” or “light commercial vehicles,” which include trucks, SUVs, and vans, were best-sellers in 47 countries.
Best-Selling Vehicles by Type
- Hatchback: 12
- Sedan: 25
- Sedan/Wagon: 1
- Subcompact: 19
- SUV: 20
- Truck: 24
- Van: 3
But changing car consumption preferences are already making their mark. The electric vehicle (EV) Tesla Model 3 was already the best-selling vehicle in both the Netherlands and Norway, and other countries like China are increasing incentives for consumers to purchase EVs.
That’s not even factoring in the slowdown of travel during the COVID pandemic, more workers going remote, and the semiconductor strain on automakers. A truly post-COVID world will likely transform the map even further.
Demographics
Mapped: Population Growth by Region (1900-2050F)
In this visualization, we map the populations of major regions at three different points in time: 1900, 2000, and 2050 (forecasted).
Mapping Population Growth by Region
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
In fewer than 50 years, the world population has doubled in size, jumping from 4 to 8 billion.
In this visualization, we map the populations of major regions at three different points in time: 1900, 2000, and 2050 (forecasted). Figures come from Our World in Data as of March 2023, using the United Nations medium-fertility scenario.
Population by Continent (1900-2050F)
Asia was the biggest driver of global population growth over the course of the 20th century. In fact, the continent’s population grew by 2.8 billion people from 1900 to 2000, compared to just 680 million from the second on our list, Africa.
Region | 1900 | 2000 | 2050F |
---|---|---|---|
Asia | 931,021,418 | 3,735,089,775 | 5,291,555,919 |
Africa | 138,752,199 | 818,952,374 | 2,485,135,689 |
Europe | 406,610,221 | 727,917,165 | 704,398,730 |
North America | 104,231,973 | 486,364,446 | 679,488,449 |
South America | 41,330,704 | 349,634,344 | 491,078,697 |
Oceania | 5,936,615 | 31,223,133 | 57,834,753 |
World 🌐 | 1,627,883,130 | 6,149,181,237 | 9,709,492,237 |
China was the main source of Asia’s population expansion, though its population growth has slowed in recent years. That’s why in 2023, India surpassed China to become the world’s most populous country.
Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Indonesia have also been big drivers of Asia’s population boom to this point.
The Future: Africa to Hit 2.5 Billion by 2050
Under the UN’s medium-fertility scenario (all countries converge at a birthrate of 1.85 children per woman by 2050), Africa will solidify its place as the world’s second most populous region.
Three countries—Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt—will account for roughly 30% of that 2.5 billion population figure.
Meanwhile, both North America and South America are expected to see a slowdown in population growth, while Europe is the only region that will shrink by 2050.
A century ago, Europe’s population was close to 30% of the world total. Today, that figure stands at less than 10%.
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