Highlights
In 2023, total revenue for passenger bus and urban transit companies operating in Canada was $30.5 billion, up 16.8% from 2022 and 32.0% higher than in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Urban transit recovering
The revenue generated from the 102 Canadian urban transit agencies totalled $25.7 billion in 2023, representing 84.3% of the industry total. This included operating subsidies of $8.7 billion.
While ridership continued to recover in 2023, it had not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, total passenger trips increased to 1.8 billion, up 26.1% from 2022 but less than three-quarters (71.6%) of the 2019 level. At the same time, Canada's total population reached a milestone of 40 million in June 2023, with the population growth in 2023 being the highest annual growth since 1957.
Interurban, charter and other passenger bus industries continue their recovery
In 2023, a total of 13 interurban and rural transportation companies (or intercity companies) recorded $291.4 million in revenue, up 19.7% from 2022 and 6.0% from 2019.
In 2023, the 125 charter and sightseeing bus companies reported earning $675.4 million in total revenue, up 47.8% from 2022 albeit 0.8% below the pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019. This sharp increase coincided with the boost in Canada's tourism industry following the removal of all pandemic border restrictions in October 2022 (see National Travel Survey and Visitor Travel Survey). In 2023, the number of domestic trips by Canadians (+10.1%) and trips by non-residents (+51.8%) surpassed trips in 2022. Compared with the pre-pandemic 2019 level, domestic trips by Canadians were 3.5% greater in 2023 and trips by non-residents were 16.1% lower.
The 453 school and employee bus transportation companies recorded $3.1 billion in total revenue in 2023, up 22.8% from 2022. Over the same period, the revenue of 406 other transit and ground transportation companies increased 11.3% to $766.0 million.
Table 1: Total revenue, passenger bus and urban transit, 2019 to 2023
Note to readers
The Annual Passenger Bus and Urban Transit Survey collects financial and operating information from companies operating in Canada.
Data for 2022 have been revised based on updated information.
The survey covers the following North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2017 industries: urban transit systems (NAICS 485110); interurban and rural bus transportation (485210); school and employee bus transportation (485410); charter bus industry (485510); other transit and ground passenger transportation (485990); and scenic and sightseeing transportation, land (487110).
Prior to reference year 2022, a growing number of ridesharing operators (i.e., drivers) were classified to the Other transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485990) industry. With the 2022 NAICS update, ridesharing operators are now classified in taxi services (NAICS 485310), which is not covered by this survey. The impact of including ridesharing operators in the other transit and ground passenger transportation industry is estimated to be about 1.5% of total other transit and ground passenger transportation revenues. For further information, please send an email to the following address: (statcan.transportationstatistics-statistiquesdutransport.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
The Transportation Data and Information Hub, featuring data from Statistics Canada, Transport Canada and partners, provides Canadians with online access to comprehensive statistics and indicators for the country's transportation sector.
Reference
Data tables: Access the latest tables.
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Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2798.
Previous release: Passenger bus and urban transit, 2022.
Contact information
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