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This list of metro systems includes electrified rapid transit train systems worldwide. In some cases, metro systems are referred to as subways, U-Bahns or undergrounds. , 148 cities in 55 countries around the world host the approximately 160 metro systems that are listed here. The earliest metro system, the London Underground, first opened as an "underground railway" in 1863; its first electrified underground line opened in 1890, making the London Underground the world's first metro system. The metro system with the longest route length in the world is the Shanghai Metro; the busiest one is the Beijing Subway; and the one with the most stations is the New York City Subway.

Considerations
The International Association of Public Transport (L'Union Internationale des Transports Publics, or UITP) defines metro systems as urban passenger transport systems, "operated on their own right of way and segregated from general road and pedestrian traffic". The terms Heavy rail (mainly in North America) and heavy urban rail are essentially synonymous with the term "metro". Heavy rail systems are also specifically defined as an "electric railway".

The dividing line between metro and other modes of public transport, such as light rail and commuter rail, is not always clear, and while UITP only makes distinctions between "metros" and "light rail", the U.S.'s APTA and FTA distinguish all three modes. A common way to distinguish metro from light rail is by their separation from other traffic. While light rail systems may share roads or have level crossings, a metro system runs, almost always, on a grade-separated exclusive right-of-way, with no access for pedestrians and other traffic. And in contrast to commuter rail or light rail, metro systems are primarily used for transport within a city, and have higher service frequencies and substantially higher passenger volume capacities. Furthermore, most metro systems do not share tracks with freight trains or inter-city rail services. It is however not relevant whether the system runs on steel wheels or rubber tyres, or if the power supply is from a third rail or overhead line.

The name of the system is not a criterion for inclusion or exclusion. Some cities use metro as a brand name for a transit line with no component of rapid transit whatsoever. Similarly, there are systems branded light rail that meet every criterion for being a rapid transit system. Some systems also incorporate light metro or light rail lines as part of the larger system under a common name. These are listed, but the light rail lines are not counted in the provided network data. Certain transit networks match the technical level and service standards of metro systems, but reach far out of the city and are sometimes known as S-Bahn, suburban, regional or commuter rail. These are not included in this list. Neither are funicular systems, or people movers, such as amusement park, ski resort and airport transport systems.

This list counts metros separately when multiple metros in one city or metropolitan area have separate owners or operating companies. This list expressly does not aim at representing the size and scope of the total rapid transit network of a certain city or metropolitan area. The data of this list should not be used to infer the size of a city's, region's, or country's rapid transit systems, or to establish a ranking. Doing so would in many cases lead to a gross misrepresentation.

Legend

 * City: Primary city served by the metro system.
 * Country: Sovereign state in which the metro system is located.
 * Name: The most common English name of the metro system (and the connecting Wiki page for that system).
 * Year opened: The year the metro system was opened for commercial service at metro standards. In other words, parts of the system may be older, but as parts of a former light rail or commuter rail network, so the year that the system obtained metro standards (e.g. electrified) is the one listed.
 * Year of last expansion: The last time the metro system was expanded in terms of the system length or number of stations.
 * Stations: The number of stations in the metro network, as quoted by the system's operating company.
 * System length: The system length of a metro network is the sum of the lengths of all routes in the rail network in kilometers (or miles). Each route is counted only once, regardless of how many lines pass over it, and regardless of whether it is single-track or multi-track, single carriageway or dual carriageway.
 * Ridership: The number of unique journeys on the metro system every year. There is a major discrepancy between the ridership figures: some metro systems count transferring between lines as multiple journeys, but others do not.

List
''This list is sortable. Click on the icon in the column header to change sort key and sort order.''

Indicates ridership figures based on the fiscal year rather than the calendar year.
 * Table notes

Metro systems under construction
The following is a list of new worldwide metro systems that are currently actively under (heavy) construction. Note that in some cases it is not clear (mainly due to lack of information), if the system will be considered a full metro system once it begins operational service. Only cities which currently do not have metro systems in operation should be included.