Road density

Calculation

Total length of roads divided by total land area of a country.

Definition

Meters of road per squared kilometer of land area. Roads may include highways, primary roads, secondary roads, tertiary roads, and local roads.

Relevance

Road infrastructure is key for ensuring market access and efficient supply chains. Road density is higher in wealthier and more densely populated countries. In rural, remote areas, lack of roads may limit yearlong access to nutritious foods.