Countries with Subways: A Global Look Beneath the Streets

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If you’ve ever stood on a busy platform as a train roared by or taken a moment to admire the design of an underground station, you’ve felt just how powerful and transformative subways can be. These urban lifelines move billions of people, redefine commutes, and shape how cities grow. The map below shows which countries have subway systems in place today. But to truly understand how we got here, let’s go back to where it all began.

The World’s First Subway: London, 1863

The idea of traveling underground wasn’t always so comfortable. The very first subway system opened in London on January 10, 1863. Called the Metropolitan Railway, it initially connected Paddington (then called Bishop’s Road) to Farringdon Street — a stretch of just 3.75 miles (6 km). Trains were powered by steam locomotives, meaning the tunnels were often filled with smoke and heat. Some passengers came out coughing, their clothes dusted with soot. Still, they were thrilled. The idea was revolutionary: beat the city’s notorious congestion by tunneling underneath it.

On its first day, the system carried over 38,000 passengers. Within a year, ridership ballooned to 9.5 million journeys annually. London had tapped into something big.

The Second Subway: Budapest, 1896

Next came Budapest, Hungary, in 1896. It built the first electric underground railway in continental Europe: the Millennium Underground Railway (Line M1). Just 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long, it was a technical marvel. The elegant yellow line still operates today and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Budapest’s metro set a precedent for electric systems, a trend that quickly took off.

Subways Go Global

Over the next century, subway systems expanded into Asia, the Americas, and beyond. Cities found that going underground offered fast, high-capacity transport without taking up valuable surface space.

Today, about 65 countries operate subway or metro systems. These are no longer quaint novelties — they are vast, complex systems integrated with other transport networks and smart payment systems. In many cities, metro expansion continues at full speed.

Some countries with extensive subway systems include:

• China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, etc.)
• Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya)
• South Korea (Seoul, Busan)
• United States (New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco)
• Russia (Moscow, Saint Petersburg)
• France (Paris, Lyon)
• Germany (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg)
• Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro)
• India (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru)
• Mexico (Mexico City)
• Iran (Tehran)

Meanwhile, countries like Egypt, Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand, Nigeria, and Indonesia are either expanding or rapidly building metro systems.

Who Has the Longest and Fastest-Growing Metro Systems?

The honor for the longest metro system goes to Shanghai, China, with a network spanning over 800 km (nearly 500 miles) as of 2024. It surpassed Beijing in total length and continues to grow.

When it comes to rapid growth, China dominates here too. Cities like Chengdu, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou are building lines at a blistering pace. Chengdu, for instance, opened three new metro lines in 2020 alone.

The Largest Metro Systems in the World

Here’s the list of the world’s largest subway systems:

City	Country	Population Density (/sq.mi / km²)	System Length (mi / km)	Annual Journeys	Fares & Payments
Tokyo	Japan	16,121 / 6,225	206 / 332	3.6 billion	170–320 Yen ($1.15–$2.15) via IC card
Beijing	China	3,400 / 1,312	485+ / 780+	3.9 billion (2023)	3–9 Yuan ($0.40–$1.25) via QR or card
Shanghai	China	9,900 / 3,822	500+ / 800+	3.7 billion (2023)	3–15 Yuan ($0.40–$2.10) via phone/card
Seoul	South Korea	42,000 / 16,216	205 / 330	2.9 billion	1,400 Won ($1.05) via T-Money
Moscow	Russia	14,800 / 5,713	250 / 402	2.5 billion	62 Rubles ($0.65) via Troika card
Guangzhou	China	4,900 / 1,891	330 / 531	2.7 billion	2–14 Yuan ($0.30–$2.00)
New York	USA	28,210 / 10,895	245 / 394	2.5 billion	$2.90 via MetroCard or OMNY
Mexico City	Mexico	16,000 / 6,178	140 / 225	1.4 billion	5 Pesos ($0.30)
Hong Kong	China	16,948 / 6,544	138 / 222	1.6 billion	HK$4.5–HK$65 ($0.60–$8.30)
Paris	France	55,000 / 21,236	133 / 214	1.5 billion	€2.10 ($2.25)
London	UK	14,500 / 5,598	250 / 402	1.2 billion	£2.40–£6.30 ($3.00–$7.80) via Oyster
São Paulo	Brazil	20,495 / 7,914	62 / 100	940 million	5.00 Real ($1.00) via Bilhete
Berlin	Germany	11,000 / 4,247	94 / 151	600 million	€3.20 ($3.45)

From London’s sooty beginnings to Shanghai’s digital ticketing and sprawling expansions, subway systems have reshaped how we experience cities. And while they may differ in age, design, and cost, they all aim to solve the same timeless problem: how to move people efficiently in a crowded urban world.

Which metro system have you used that impressed (or disappointed) you the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below — especially if your city is working on one!