Ports across the European Union recorded a total of 395.3 million passengers, in 2023, reflecting a 5.8% increase compared to 2022, according to data released by Eurostat on Monday, Dec. 9. Eurostat’s report reveals that Italian and Greek ports played a leading role in maritime passenger transport.
Eleven EU countries, each handling over 10 million passengers, accounted for 97% of the bloc’s total maritime passenger traffic. Italian ports registered the highest number, with 85.4 million passengers, representing 22% of the EU total.
Greek ports followed closely with 75.0 million passengers (19%), while Denmark ranked third with 41.2 million passengers (10%).
Compared to 2022, the number of maritime passengers grew in 16 of the 21 EU countries in 2023. Italy, Greece, and France saw the largest increases, with passenger numbers rising by 6.5 million, 4.8 million, and 3.2 million respectively.
The EU’s 10 busiest ports accounted for more than one-fifth (22%) of total maritime passenger traffic. These included six ports in the Mediterranean, three in the Baltic Sea, and one in the North-eastern Atlantic.
Messina in Italy retained its position as the EU’s busiest passenger port, with 11.3 million passengers, followed by Reggio di Calabria in Italy with 11.1 million and Piraeus in Greece with 9.6 million.
Compared to 2019, only three of the EU’s top 10 ports experienced passenger growth: Palma de Mallorca in Spain, which added 0.4 million passengers, along with Reggio di Calabria in Italy and Piraeus in Greece, both seeing increases of 0.2 million passengers.
