While rankings vary, Mumbai, India, is frequently cited as the most stressful city to drive in due to extreme congestion, high accident rates, and dense population, with Paris, Jakarta, Delhi, and New York often following closely behind in global studies from around 2021. More recent data points to cities like London, Zagreb, and other major hubs facing significant stress from congestion and poor conditions, though Mumbai consistently tops lists based on factors like vehicle density and accidents.
The capital also features among the ten most congested cities worldwide, with a 10km journey taking an average of almost 33 minutes due to a 47pc congestion rate. According to the rankings, the hardest city to navigate by car is Mexico City, followed by Bangkok, Madrid, Istanbul and then Dublin.
While reports vary slightly, Brisbane is frequently cited as Australia's most congested city by time lost in traffic, often ranking high globally (around 10th) for peak hour delays, with commuters losing dozens of hours annually, though some sources place Melbourne and Sydney as having higher costs or variability. Melbourne and Sydney consistently rank second and third for congestion within Australia.
Worst Cities to Drive In
And now, it's official: NYC has just been crowned the most stressful city in the world to live in.
Ranking of the 10 worst cities in the world to live in 2022
The following countries are the most stressed in the world, according to the factors that were analysed.
Our analysis highlights U.S. cities with the highest road rage incidents. Houston, Texas, ranks as the most dangerous city for road rage, followed by Los Angeles, California, as the only two cities scoring over 60.
According to Time magazine, São Paulo has the world's worst daily traffic jams.
Firstly, the unhappiest city in Australia is Darwin. About 23. 4% of the population here is experiencing anxiety.
Tennant Creek is consistently ranked as one of the most disadvantaged and dangerous towns in Australia. In 2017, the estimated homicide rate in Tennant Creek per 100,000 people was 59.6, which was over 11 times as high as the same statistic for the United States as a whole.
A recent study has shown that Los Angeles is the third worst city in the United States for traffic jams, behind New York City and Chicago.
According to the fifth Global Status Report on Road Safety from the World Health Organization released in 2023, Guinea was named the world's most dangerous country to drive in. Top 10 countries for the number of road traffic deaths per 100,000 population: Guinea.
Top 10 Most Traffic-Congested Cities in the World
The Top 5 Most Stressful Life Events and How to Handle Them
The US and Canada are probably the easiest in general for driving. The US has cheap fuel too.
The Nordic country gets many things right – and driving is one of them. According to the data we sourced from OurWorldInData and Gov.UK, Norway has officially earned the title of the safest place to drive in the world, with only 1.5 traffic-related fatalities per 100,000 people.
Cities With the Most Total Traffic Collisions
With well-maintained roads, reasonable average speed limits and relatively low congestion, driving in the Netherlands is a breeze, especially when you're outside of the city centres, with the country earning our highest score of 84.88 out of 100.
Use the three-second rule to ensure a safe following distance and avoid a collision. Following other vehicles at a safe distance gives you enough time to react if another driver makes a mistake. If a vehicle merges in front of you too closely, take your foot off the accelerator.
New York City Ranks as America's Most Stressed Urban Center
Topping both the global and US rankings for stress, New York City continues to challenge residents with its combination of long commutes, extraordinarily high living costs, and urban pressures.
Monaco ranks as the least stressed country in the world for 2025, achieving a remarkable score of 83.83. Its upscale, peaceful environment significantly contributes to this stress-free status.