Are there more boats or airplanes currently in operation internationally?

Question

Are there more boats or airplanes currently in operation internationally?

Answer 1

The answer to your basic question is there are significantly more boats than airplanes.

If you are asking about Commercial boats, excluding pleasure craft, but including commercial fishing boats there would still be many more boats than planes.

If you are only considering vessels that carry passengers for hire, there may be more planes than boats but, considering how many ferries are operating around the world, I wouldn't risk a paycheck on it.

If you are talking about passenger miles, Airplanes are ahead by far.