Chicago has retaken the unwanted title of Worst Traffic in the Nation.

The Midwest’s largest city usually places near the top of data firm Inrix’s annual Global Traffic Scorecards.

Last year, Chicago tied with New York City for the number-one spot in the US. But Chicago is alone at the top nationally again, thanks in part to NYC implementing a congestion surcharge in Manhattan earlier this year.

Chicago placed second worst in the world behind only Istanbul. The report said traffic on average is worsening across the globe.

“As the demand for vehicular travel continues to grow faster than the supply of roadway[s], traffic congestion and delay[s] tend to grow,” the authors wrote in the report.

Chicago drivers saw a 10% increase in 2025 in the average time wasted this year in peak traffic

See Full Page