Manila, the bustling capital of the Philippines, faces significant traffic challenges, with a heavy reliance on cars and buses for daily commutes. In 2024, the city continues to grapple with high CO2 emissions and inefficiencies in its transportation system, impacting daily life for its residents.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Manila is approximately 51.33 minutes, with significant time spent driving and waiting.
  • Bus - Bus commuters spend around 41.36 minutes on the bus, with additional time waiting and walking, totaling a commute distance of 10.08 km.
  • Car - Car users experience a driving time of 50.5 minutes, covering an average distance of 13.57 km.
  • Train - Train commuters spend about 10 minutes on the train, with additional time walking, covering a distance of 6 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes take approximately 17.44 minutes, with a total distance of 5.67 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
38%
Bus
22%
Home
19%
Walking
14%
Tram
2%
Train
2%
Bicycle
2%
Motorcycle
2%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic congestion tends to worsen during the rainy season due to flooding and road conditions. Holiday seasons see increased traffic as residents travel for family gatherings and celebrations.

Commuter Pain Points

Heavy traffic congestion leads to long commute times and increased stress for commuters. Limited public transport options and overcrowding on buses and trains exacerbate commuting challenges.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 8 PM are generally the best times to travel to avoid peak traffic. Midday travel can also be less congested, particularly outside of the central business district.

Event Impacts

Public events such as festivals and parades can significantly impact traffic, leading to road closures and detours. Major events at venues like the Mall of Asia Arena often cause localized congestion.

Sustainability Efforts

Manila is investing in expanding its public transport network, including new train lines and bus rapid transit systems. The city is also promoting carpooling and cycling to reduce traffic congestion and emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have become popular in Manila, offering flexible commuting options and reducing the need for personal car ownership. However, they also contribute to traffic congestion, particularly in high-demand areas.

Worldwide
Philippines

Traffic Rankings

Manila ranks 1st on the Traffic rankings in Philippines. The Traffic Index for Philippines combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in Philippines, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.

Worst to BestUpdated: Dec, 2024

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 64 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
6.9 miles
Walking
5.8 mins
Waiting
4.7 mins
Driving Car
23.9 mins
Bus / Trolley
11.5 mins
Bicycle
0.7 mins
Motorcycle
1.7 mins
Train
1.2 mins
Tram
0.5 mins
Other
1.3 mins
Total:
51.3 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
6.3 miles
Walking
6.9 mins
Waiting
14.6 mins
Bus / Trolley
41.4 mins
Train
1.4 mins
Tram
0.8 mins
Other
2.1 mins
Total:
67.1 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
8.4 miles
Walking
1.1 mins
Driving Car
50.5 mins
Total:
51.6 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
3.7 miles
Walking
2.0 mins
Waiting
2.0 mins
Train
10.0 mins
Total:
14.0 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
3.5 miles
Walking
17.4 mins
Waiting
2.2 mins
Driving Car
3.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
2.2 mins
Bicycle
0.3 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Train
3.3 mins
Other
0.1 mins
Total:
29.0 mins
Manila Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Manila's reliance on cars and buses contributes to high CO2 emissions and long commute times.

Enhancing public transportation infrastructure and promoting alternative commuting methods could improve traffic conditions.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Manila's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 7154.46, reflecting the city's heavy traffic and reliance on motor vehicles.

Efforts to reduce emissions are critical as the city continues to grow and urbanize.

Time

The time index of 51.33 minutes indicates significant delays and congestion in Manila's traffic system.

Commuters face long travel times, particularly during peak hours.

Inefficiency

With an inefficiency index of 262.53, Manila's traffic system struggles with delays and congestion.

Improving public transport and reducing car dependency could alleviate some of these inefficiencies.