Japan Top 10

Japan is country where there are rules and guidelines for everything. Including how crowded a train is.

The Ministry of Land , Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism defines rules for almost everything when it comes to roads and trains – including what constitutes crowded. Here are the official levels of train crowding in Japan:

100% — Commuters have enough personal space and are able to take a seat or stand while holding onto the straps or hand rails.

150% — Commuters have enough personal space to read a newspaper.

180% — Commuters must fold newspapers to read.

200% — Commuters are pressed against each other in each compartment but can still read small magazines.

250% — Commuters are pressed against each other, unable to move.

As you can tell, they are not quite new; and a smartphone is smaller than a small magazine. And these guidelines are not used when the trains arrive (which would be useful).