Countries with the Most Airports

Name the countries of the world that have the most airports or airfields recognizable from the air.
The runway(s) may be paved or unpaved and may include closed or abandoned installations
Quiz by Kannan2000
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Last updated: March 17, 2021
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First submittedMarch 18, 2013
Times taken68,256
Average score80.0%
Rating4.97
3:30
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#
Country
13,513
United States
4,093
Brazil
1,714
Mexico
1,467
Canada
1,218
Russia
916
Argentina
855
Bolivia
836
Colombia
799
Paraguay
673
Indonesia
561
Papua New Guinea
539
Germany
507
China
481
Chile
464
France
460
United Kingdom
444
Venezuela
432
Ecuador
418
Australia
407
South Africa
+31
Level 65
Sep 11, 2017
Why are so many SA countries on here?
+549
Level 83
Sep 12, 2017
Because they have a lot of airports.
+35
Level 74
Sep 12, 2017
Best answer ever!
+23
Level 89
Jan 15, 2018
With 58 likes and counting, looks like many agree.
+9
Level 28
Jan 16, 2018
Great response mate
+7
Level 60
Jan 16, 2018
So true
+9
Level 74
Jan 17, 2018
84 likes now, you're becoming famous :D
+11
Level 70
Oct 28, 2018
Ooh... That comment has just overtaken another for second place in most-liked jetpunk comments I've ever seen. Number one is on the Elements Mentioned in the Bible Quiz.
+4
Level 74
Dec 4, 2018
Six away from overtaking that one ... can we beat it?
+17
Level 83
Jan 10, 2019
Dear God how did this reply get so popular
+6
Level 79
Mar 22, 2020
@brandybuck96 Is this the most like comment on Jetpunk? Is there a way to find out which comment is the most liked on this website?
+6
Level 55
Apr 16, 2020
rg1227 has a blog on it. It's the second most, after the Elements Mentioned Most in the Bible.
+4
Level 68
May 5, 2020
Shoot, 185 likes!
+3
Level 42
Mar 6, 2021
Pandora49 their are quizzes on it too
+4
Level 55
Apr 19, 2021
I'm like number 300 to the comment!
+4
Level 51
May 14, 2021
1st place!!! Congrats! I was waiting for this moment!!
+2
Level 73
Sep 6, 2021
403, wow!
+2
Level 66
Oct 10, 2021
Let's get to 500!!!!!
+2
Level 62
Aug 26, 2023
You get 500!!
+1
Level 59
Feb 24, 2024
+540, the most liked comment on jp for now
+26
Level 91
Sep 13, 2017
Lots of little airfields due to poor road infrastructure
+6
Level 67
Mar 1, 2021
The fact that the countries are so mountainous probably helps.
+8
Level 52
Jan 15, 2018
But no Peru.
+17
Level 95
Sep 12, 2017
Seeing pretty much all SA countries on the list, can't help but wonder how much the drug trade had an impact on this...
+20
Level 69
Sep 16, 2017
That's a sobering thought!
+8
Level 66
Apr 19, 2021
A lot of places in SA are very difficult to access by train or car so they built airports.
+1
Level 58
Apr 14, 2022
Not much, definitely not the reason
+7
Level 59
Sep 12, 2017
Is there any reason that the airports/airfields per capita is so high in South America?
+6
Level 59
Sep 12, 2017
Like Bolivia has 1 airport/airfield in 12.7k population while China has 1 airport/airfield in 2.56m population. That difference is about 200 times. But of course, if comparing to India or Bangladesh, the number would be even more astonishing.
+5
Level 71
Sep 12, 2017
It depends what you call an airport. Most South American 'airports' are virtually landing strips where you can land and take off and that's about it. It also depends who uses the airport and for what purpose. Many light aircraft fly from South America to USA carrying cargo. The passenger aircraft only use a few of the major airports.
+2
Level 80
Sep 12, 2017
! don't think this is per-capita. I think it's the actual number of airports in the whole country. The South American countries probably have many more (but smaller) landing strips, as many places are very remote and much more accessible by air.
+6
Level 73
Sep 12, 2017
Very remote villages, accessible only by air (in terms of practicality). The Andes Mountains and the Amazon rain forest are incredible obstacles to road or rail construction. Kind of reminds me how it is very difficult and expensive to string traditional wired phone service - cellular towers are much more efficient and far cheaper than pulling wire. One airstrip versus a mountain road with tunnels....In a way, it is a blessing because the beautiful cultures in the deep interior of South America are much more likely to remain relatively intact with less encroachment from outside. That said, being cut off from the world has the effect of keeping these areas poor, and puts a tremendous limit on access to healthcare and education.
+6
Level 67
Jan 15, 2018
I planned to travel in Bolivia from La Paz to another destination (can't remember exactly what it was called, as it wasn't a city), and my travel options were a 40-minute flight or a 23-hour drive. That is not an exaggeration. The mountains, the rain forest, and the poverty make road travel over long distances very difficult. I took the flight, by the way.
+2
Level 70
Apr 19, 2021
Because the terrain is so difficult. In China you would just take a train or a highway. In Paraguay that is often not really an option; you need to use the tiny airstrip.
+8
Level 74
Sep 12, 2017
Forget South America, how come Papua New Guinea makes this list???
+14
Level 82
Sep 13, 2017
Rainforest again i would think
+7
Level 82
Nov 7, 2017
right. same answer. Difficult terrain, poor roads, no infrastructure like railroads etc.
+10
Level 70
Jan 15, 2018
Also some abandoned WWII fields.
+5
Level 60
Jan 16, 2018
Because it has enough airports to make the list.
+2
Level 72
Oct 12, 2020
Yeah, but Paraguay is also poor and unlike PNG, has NO challenging geography... It's flat! And it's on there too.
+3
Level 65
Apr 19, 2021
islands as well
+1
Level 73
Sep 3, 2021
Lots of islands. You need a way to get to them...
+16
Level 73
Jan 12, 2018
Very surprised the Vatican didn't make the list
+9
Level 76
Jan 15, 2018
They might have the most helipads per square metre
+2
Level 17
Feb 25, 2018
yeah!
+3
Level 79
Mar 22, 2020
Because the Vatican is a microstate (with smallest area and population), and actually has no airports in it (unsurprisingly).
+2
Level 68
May 5, 2020
I wonder if one could fit in it.
+3
Level 79
Mar 24, 2021
Around 3,000 acres minimum is required for an airport, and the Vatican is only 121 acres in size.
+5
Level 67
Apr 19, 2021
it was a joke...
+4
Level 76
Jan 15, 2018
Papua New Guinea???
+2
Level 56
Jan 15, 2018
Who knew?

Not me.

+3
Level 56
Jan 15, 2018
As kalbahamut has been pointing out, difficult terrain and poor roads means a lot more short distance air travel. Also in the case of PNG specifically I would expect a lot of it is left over infrastructure from WWII.
+1
Level 65
Apr 20, 2021
The proliferation of cargo cults!
+3
Level 37
Jan 15, 2018
Guessed them all but Papua New Guinea.
+2
Level 72
Jan 18, 2018
As about 90% of the test takers (me including). In hindsight it makes sense that it's on the list, but I still wouldn't have told about it.
+2
Level 68
Jan 15, 2018
Well, I'm surprised I got them all! PNG was one of my first guesses. So many valleys and mountains that air is the only access route for many.
+2
Level 58
Jan 15, 2018
Casually got all of them except for the UK...
+3
Level 79
Mar 22, 2020
Are you serious?
+3
Level 34
Jan 15, 2018
Can't believe I got png. Who would have thought.
+2
Level 73
Jan 15, 2018
I got them all with 1:00 left. Agreed with above comments. I thought about 1) countries with more money as airplanes are expensive; 2) significant land space to fit all those airports; 2) remote/sparsely populated countries where road travel is impossible or hard; and 3) military impact; places where wars were contested or where there is a lot of military activity.

I did also consider drug trade since that's one of the things, for better or worse, that comes to mind when considering aviation and the Americas. I guessed all the SA countries, which is the only reason I got Paraguay, I was surprised how many they had.

+1
Level 76
Apr 10, 2023
Yes, all south american countries are heavy into drug trade. In fact, south of Texas it's all like Mexico: taco eating, mariachi hat wearing, mustachoed drug dealers. In the jungle, of course. >__>
+2
Level 69
Jan 15, 2018
Literally the last country I thought of was PNG, and I decide to give up a split second later. I have never felt so ashamed.
+3
Level 74
Jan 15, 2018
So many people baffled about South America, but what's the deal with USA having 13,5K airports?
+3
Level 67
Jan 15, 2018
Whole lotta shipping planes. Plus, it's wealthy, populous, and huge. So...
+2
Level 74
Apr 19, 2021
Combination of factors including that flying is a fetishized hobby in the US. There are private airstrips (now mostly disused) built into the farmland all over the place. There's also Alaska which is huge with limited roads, although a lot of that traffic uses water for landing.
+2
Level 28
Jan 16, 2018
There better be 100% guessed USA..
+2
Level 60
Jan 16, 2018
Don’t worry... there is
+4
Level 38
Jan 17, 2018
got the south american nations but would have NEVER guessed papua new guinea
+2
Level 37
Jan 19, 2018
I too didn't think of Indonesia or png. Spaced that area of the world out I guess. Makes sense now.
+2
Level 65
Jan 19, 2018
Papua New Guinea, eh? I guess World War II really left a mark on such a remote and relatively small country.
+2
Level 39
Jan 20, 2018
How come most of the South American nations are there??
+5
Level 55
Apr 17, 2020
Because they have a lot of airports. (sorry brandybuck96!)
+2
Level 71
Aug 30, 2020
*crickets*
+3
Level 54
Jan 22, 2018
Papua New Guinea has more airports than... Germany?!
+3
Level 51
Apr 18, 2018
South America loves their airports!
+1
Level 71
Jun 26, 2018
USA - wtf??
+6
Level 88
Jun 26, 2018
You're the only one shocked.
+1
Level 41
Apr 11, 2020
Nope i am shocked too.
+2
Level 44
Apr 19, 2021
What could possibly be surprising about that?
+3
Level 55
Aug 21, 2018
Interesting. Very surprising list. These airports probably mostly in very remote areas
+2
Level 35
Apr 29, 2019
Tactic of picking countries with poor road and rail infrastructure paid off quite well re. the South American countries.
+4
Level 55
Apr 17, 2020
Why is everybody talking about PNG images.
+2
Level 71
Aug 30, 2020
I was baffled at first by all of the South American countries on the list, but after reading the explanations it makes more sense. Still have two questions though: 1. Why is Mexico so high? From what I can tell, Mexico doesn't have terrain nearly as difficult to navigate as South America. 2. Why isn't Peru on here when other smaller countries with similar terrain (like Ecuador) make it?
+2
Level 69
Apr 19, 2021
Evangelical missionaries built lots of airports in Ecuadorian jungle. That might be true in other countries.

And, recently, drug trade.

+2
Level 72
Oct 12, 2020
Ecuador but not India. Hmm.
+2
Level 63
Mar 27, 2021
I made the opposite quiz without knowing this existed! Countries with no airports.
+2
Level 64
Apr 19, 2021
I'm feeling quite sad now because I made this same quiz in 2020 :/
+2
Level 46
Apr 19, 2021
I have so many questions...

But somehow got 100% first try lol

+2
Level 40
Apr 19, 2021
i feel like a genius for getting a hundred on this
+2
Level 44
Apr 19, 2021
Just starting guessing South American countries as a joke, then kept going after every one turned out right lol. Is there a reason South America is fanatical about their airports?
+1
Level 58
Apr 14, 2022
Mostly big countries (Paraguay is a small country for SA and still has 4/5 the size of Spain), most people wouldn't travel by roads for huge distances. Rio-Brasilia, for instance, is a 3 hours flight, or 14 hours by car, or 20 hours (at least) by bus, which would you choose?

Moreover, railroads infrastructure is terrible for a few reasons (terrain, history, politics).

Therefore, the preferential transport is by air.

+2
Level 67
Apr 19, 2021
Surprised by all the comments about PNG. It is not a small country. It is incredibly mountainous to the extent that tribes in adjoining valleys had no knowledge of each other. There's a reason why it has so may distinct languages. Light aircraft and helicopters are used to ferry goods and livestock as well as people. It is amazing to see people in traditional garb, who have no electricity or piped water queueing to board a plane only one or two generations after they first made contact with the outside world.
+1
Level 58
Apr 14, 2022
The reason I was surprised by PNG is because Indonesia is very much like PNG, but much bigger and only has 100 airports difference.
+1
Level 48
Apr 20, 2021
Got all except South Africa!
+1
Level 73
Apr 21, 2021
In Colombia, for example, from Bogotá to Pereira (a medium large city of 600k) it takes you thirty minutes by plane or nine hours by bus. Crossing the Andes takes a LOT of time.
+1
Level 55
Apr 23, 2021
Why are so many SA countries on here?
+1
Level 55
Apr 23, 2021
Because they have a lot of airports.
+1
Level 52
Jun 4, 2021
I totally didnt expect Papua New Guinea
+1
Level 81
Jul 5, 2021
Ecuador...total suprise
+2
Level 34
Aug 22, 2021
12% People Got Papua New Guinea???
+1
Level 59
Oct 29, 2021
I almost typed png but then I was like "no, there's no way" so i am mad
+1
Level 58
Jun 24, 2022
I figured a lot of missionaries would have made airstrips.
+1
Level 35
Aug 19, 2022
missed only Papua new Guinea because I write "png"
+2
Level 53
Sep 12, 2022
I was really surprised to see so many South American countries! Only missed png.
+1
Level 69
Sep 26, 2022
Woah, PNG? Apparently Oceania and South America LOVE planes
+1
Level 35
Oct 20, 2022
jeez only 13% got the good ol' PNG, thats not at all surprising. i just spammed all the countries i know
+1
Level 60
Feb 13, 2023
19/20, because i misspelled Australia and never tried to type it again. LOL.
+1
Level 75
Apr 27, 2023
how in the world does PAPUA NEW GUINEA????? have more airports than CHINA and INDIA, literally makes no sense. PNG is barely even visited, has way smaller land area, and way smaller population.
+1
Level 41
May 3, 2023
paraguay makes much less sense. It has less people and is smaller. Its odd that they both have a lot of airports
+1
Level 41
May 3, 2023
why does paraguay need so many airports
+1
Level 49
Aug 30, 2023
I missed 3, all are S. American countries :(
+1
Level 54
Sep 20, 2023
Great Quiz! Looks like the Iberians tought the South Americans well… a little too well maybe. Surprised Europe isn’t dominating and the less developed South American Countries producing airports out the wazoo. Papua is just ridiculous though. Just nearly behind Indonesia? Surpassing the entire EU?!
+1
Level 33
Feb 12, 2024
I FORGOT ABT ECUADOR D:
+1
Level 87
Feb 23, 2024
Not sure why everyone is surprised at this - the question relates to runways rather than actual airports, so places inaccessible by road would surely dominate.

As an aside, some of the local Papuans call helicopters “whirlybird blong Jesus” which I find rather enchanting…