Mobility Barometer 2022
Understanding changes in mobility
Through the Mobility Barometer 2022—the first barometer of its kind—we explore mobility patterns in Scandinavia. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of how people choose to get around, why they make those choices, the underlying factors that influence their decisions, and their preferences for personal transportation.
We spend a lot of time on the move. One in three people spends up to an hour each day traveling from point A to point B. We commute to work, go shopping, and head to the gym. When choosing a mode of transportation, we prioritize availability, comfort, affordability, and reliability. Environmental friendliness is also a consideration, though it tends to rank lower. All things considered, the car checks many of our boxes.
“There is nothing permanent except change”
Words from the CEO
You may have heard this famous quote before: “There is nothing permanent except change,” said by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. He lived around 2,500 years ago —and he was right. Even though we live in an ever-changing world, some needs remain constant. One of these is the need for interaction — the human need to meet and connect. Another is the need to transport goods, whether across short distances or overseas.
We refer to this as the need for mobility. This need has remained constant throughout history, even as the means of mobility have evolved. New technologies have transformed habits and reshaped societies — from the invention of the wheel to the first car powered by an internal combustion engine.
For us, it’s not just about adapting to these shifts — we want to help drive them, enabling a more sustainable kind of mobility. One way we support this mission is by conducting the Mobility Barometer.
You’re now reading the first comprehensive report of its kind on opinions, trends, and facts related to mobility in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. What are today’s habits? What are the expectations for tomorrow? What patterns are emerging? How did we get here—and what does it all mean for the future?
In short, the Mobility Barometer aims to expand our understanding of the constant changes within the permanent need for mobility.
I hope you enjoy reading it.
Pehr Oscarson
President & CEO,
MEKO
Facts about the survey 2022
The Mobility Barometer consists of two sections. The first focuses on the results of a cross-national survey conducted in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, with more than 4,000 participants. The survey includes a broad range of questions about current everyday habits related to personal transportation.
The second section presents the Mobility Indicator—an index that highlights the gap between desire and reality, comparing how people travel today with how they would ideally like to move from point A to point B.
The survey was conducted online with randomly selected respondents aged 18 and older, between March 25 and April 4, 2022. In each country, more than 1,000 people completed the survey, with the total number of respondents exceeding 4,000.
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