Border crossings into the US from Canada declined in 2025
The number of people crossing into the US from Canada by land has declined overall since 1996.
In 2025, people made 65.4% fewer land border crossings into the US from Canada than in 1996, according to data from the Department of Transportation (DOT).
People entering the US from Canada by land decreased 65% since 1996.
People entering the US from Canada by mode of transportation, 1996–2025
Crossings peaked in 1996 (at 105.7 million people) and hit a low in 2021 (6.5 million people, around a sixteenth of 1996’s crossings). Three consecutive years of increases followed, and in 2024 border crossings rose to 46.4 million — before declining again in 2025.
Crossings in 2025 were the fourth lowest in thirty years, outside of three COVID-19 pandemic years (2020, 2021, and 2022).
How are people crossing the US-Canada border?
The DOT tracks the four types of passenger land border crossings, all of which require processing at a US Customs port of entry:
- Bus passengers: People arriving by bus.
- Pedestrian passengers: People arriving on foot or by conveyances such as bicycles, mopeds, or wheelchairs.
- Personal vehicle passengers: People entering by private automobile, pick-up truck, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, taxi, ambulance, hearse, tractor, snowmobile, and other motorized private ground vehicles.
- Train passengers: Passengers and crew arriving by train.
The vast majority of border crossings happen in personal vehicles — an average of 94.9% of crossings since 1996. Bus passengers have averaged 3.9% of crossings, followed by pedestrians (0.8%) and train passengers (0.4%).
This mix has stayed relatively stable over time; the shares of personal vehicle passengers, pedestrians, and train passengers increased by less than 1.0% from 1996 to 2025 while bus passengers decreased from 3.7% to 2.4%.
Personal vehicles account for an average of 95% of border crossings.
Share of US-Canadian land border crossings by mode of transportation, 1996–2025
The number of passengers arriving by all modes of transportation has dropped — except those arriving by train.
Volume-wise, personal vehicle crossings dropped the most, going from 101.1 million to 35.1 million — a 65.3% decrease.
The biggest drop by percentage was among bus passengers , a 77.1% decrease since 1996.
Pedestrian crossings also declined, by 49.2%.
And train passengers? They increased by 40.0%, the only mode of transportation to have an increase since 1996.
Since 1996, crossings decreased for all modes except trains.
Yearly US-Canadian land border crossings into the US by mode of transportation, 1996–2025
Why do Canadians travel to the US?
While the border crossing data doesn't identify travelers' nationality or purpose, an International Trade Administration (ITA) survey of Canadian visitors provides insight into why Canadians travel to the US.
This survey found that 75.2% of Canadian visitors who entered over land in 2022 and stayed in the US overnight were on vacation: they entered for general vacation, shopping, special events, a cruise, or other leisure activities.
In 2022, three-quarters of Canadian visitors came for vacation.
Primary purpose of trip for overnight Canadian land border visitors.
Another fifth (19.3%) were visiting friends and/or relatives. The remaining 5.4% came for business; to attend a specific convention, conference, or trade show; education; or for medical treatment.
What influences border crossings into the US from Canada?
There are a wide variety of reasons people travel. While some changes in travel trends can be linked to particular events, it’s often difficult to identify specific causes behind longer-term increases and declines.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) identified two acute events that have led to fewer border crossings.
9/11 terrorist attacks
Land crossings into the US from Canada declined after 2001 as the US implemented new security measures. The “USA Patriot Act” authorized tripling the number of US agents at the Canadian border; the increased security also led to longer travel times. In 2002, there were 20.8% fewer crossings than in 2000, 102.8 million vs. 87.2 million.
The drop persisted through 2009, which BTS attributes to economic conditions in both countries along with the increased security measures.
COVID-19 pandemic
Land crossings into the US from Canada declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The US restricted entry at many incoming crossings to essential travel and freight, causing a decline in vehicle, bus, and train passengers, and pedestrians.
Truck traffic was more likely to qualify as essential and declined less than the other modes; 2020 truck crossings dropped 8.2% from 2019, the smallest decrease of all land-crossing modes.
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Where does this data come from?
Where does this data come from?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics, part of the Department of Transportation, provides summary statistics for Border Crossing Data and the US-Canada and US-Mexico border. Data is available for trucks, trains, containers, buses, personal vehicles, passengers, and pedestrians.
This data is collected at ports of entry by Customs and Border Protection. There is not comparable data on outbound border crossings.
Keep exploring
- Border crossings into the US from Canada declined in 2025 - The number of people crossing into the US from Canada by land has declined overall since 1996.
- How many people immigrate to the US via authorized channels each year?
- What can the data tell us about unauthorized immigration? - The US has reported nearly 11 million unauthorized border encounters between October 2019 and June 2024.
- What is ICE and what does it do? - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, aims to preserve American safety by detaining, deporting, and sometimes, convicting unauthorized immigrants.
