In 2024, Italy and Greece emerged as the leading EU nations in passenger traffic at their ports, according to Eurostat data. Italian ports welcomed 93.5 million passengers, accounting for 22.4% of the EU total, while Greece followed with 81.1 million passengers, representing 19.4%. Denmark secured the third position with 41.3 million passengers, making up 9.9% of the total.
The ten busiest passenger ports in the EU collectively handled 21.8% of all seaborne passengers, with a notable concentration in the Mediterranean, where seven of the top ports are located. Italy dominated the rankings, with Messina leading at 11.4 million passengers, closely trailed by Reggio di Calabria and Napoli, which recorded 11.2 million and 11.0 million passengers, respectively. Napoli also saw the most significant growth since 2019, increasing its passenger count by 1.7 million, or 18.5%.
Between 2019 and 2024, several countries experienced passenger growth, with Greece gaining 7.1 million (+9.7%) and Italy 7.0 million (+8.0%). Conversely, Sweden, Finland, and Germany faced substantial declines in passenger numbers. Overall, EU ports reported 417.8 million passengers in 2024, a 6.2% increase from 2023, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
