The Shanghai Metro is the world's longest metro network at 803 kilometres (499 mi) and has the highest annual ridership at 2.83 billion trips. The New York City Subway has the greatest number of stations with 472. As of 2023, the country with the most metro systems is China, with 45 in operation.

As of early 2026, China holds the record for the most metro systems in the world by a significant margin. The country has over 55 cities with operational metro or rapid transit systems, with the total network length exceeding 10,000 kilometers. This includes the world's two longest systems in Shanghai and Beijing, both of which span over 800 kilometers each. China’s "New Urbanization Plan" has led to an explosion of metro construction over the last decade, with cities like Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenzhen also hosting networks that dwarf most Western capitals. In comparison, the United States has about 15 traditional metro systems, and India has rapidly grown to become the third-largest network with roughly 16 cities. China's dominance in 2026 is not just in quantity but in technological advancement, with many of its newer lines featuring fully autonomous "Driverless" operation and integrated facial-recognition payment systems.