Lyon Tops France’s Traffic Woes as Mexico City Leads Global Congestion

The TomTom Traffic Index 2025 has ranked 492 cities globally by congestion, travel times, and speeds. Among them, 29 French cities were included, showing a slight rise in traffic delays compared to the previous year. Lyon topped the national list, while Mexico City led worldwide with the highest congestion levels.

Mexico City recorded the worst congestion globally, with an average rate of 75.9%. Drivers there lost 184 hours in rush-hour traffic over the year. Dublin followed closely in third place, with 72.9% congestion and 191 hours wasted in jams.

In France, Lyon ranked highest, with a 47.2% congestion level and drivers spending 121 hours stuck in traffic. The city led the national top five, ahead of Bordeaux, Montpellier, Paris, and Marseille. The busiest days across the country coincided with public holidays and long weekends, including Easter, the end of school breaks, and Pentecôte.

Not all French cities saw worsening traffic. Toulon was the only one where average journey times fell, likely due to the widening of the A57 motorway. Paris and Toulon both reduced their congestion rates—Paris dropped from 44% to 40%, while Toulon fell from 34% to 31%. Similar improvements were seen in Grenoble, Rouen, Brest, and Nice.

Strasbourg stood out as the least congested French city in 2025. Its low traffic delays were credited to a well-developed tram network, strong cycling and walking infrastructure, and urban planning that discouraged car use.

The report highlights a mixed picture for French cities, with most experiencing slight increases in congestion. Lyon remains the most affected, while Strasbourg’s transport policies kept delays minimal. Globally, Mexico City and Dublin faced the worst traffic, with drivers losing hundreds of hours annually.