This Seaport City Is the Most Walkable Destination on Earth — Ranking No. 1 for Active Mobility

There’s nothing better than taking a slow stroll through a new destination. Taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells allows you to immerse yourself in a place in a way you never could be car. If this sensory experience matters to you too, a new study has unveiled the most walking-friendly destination you need to go to next. 

In May, The Economist broke down the “The ABC of Mobility” study by researchers Rafael Prieto-Curiel and Juan Pablo Ospina, which looked at the habits of some 850 million people living in 794 cities around the world to understand their transportation behavior and to gain insight into “global mobility.” After crunching the numbers, the researchers named Quelimane, Mozambique, the most walkable destination on Earth. 

According to data from Sustainable Mobility of the 349,842 residents living in the seaport city, more than 82 percent walk as their main mode of transportation, while an additional 9 percent bike. However, as the Sustainable Mobility website noted, this also should urge local officials to improve pedestrian infrastructure for all.

“Given how dependent residents in Quelimane and the rest of Africa depend on walking and cycling, the urgency is higher to provide pedestrian and cycling infrastructure to maintain this modal split,” the site noted. “Quelimane is also working towards establishing cycling paths, cycling highways, and shared bicycle programs to improve cycling conditions. This should be the norm for all types of new projects or developments, as sustainable and efficient mobility is a pre-condition for economic growth and personal wellbeing.” 

Other cities to make the list include Peja, Kosovo in second, followed by Utrecht in the Netherlands, Shkoder in Albania, and Granollers in Spain. 

Interestingly, The Economist noted that the wealthier a city is, the more dependent it is on cars. 

“The study found that, holding all other factors consistent, doubling a city’s income is associated with 37 percent more car journeys,” it noted while adding that officials in these same cities want to “ditch cars in favor of cheaper, healthier, and greener options.” 

Still, as The Economist added, “peak car,” or a time when the number of cars in the world begins to decline, may be on its way. After all, members of the Gen Z generation are driving less and less. As 2024 data from the Department of Transportation showed, the number of 16-year-olds with driver’s licenses in the U.S. has decreased by nearly 27 percent since the year 2000, making destinations like Quelimane all the more attractive.