A monorail is a railway system in which the track consists of a single elevated rail, beam or track with the trains either supported or suspended. The term is also used to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track. Many monorail systems run through crowded areas that would otherwise require expensive tunneling or dangerous level crossings. Aside from mass transit and people mover systems, a large number of smaller monorails have been built in amusement parks and at zoos.

Operational monorails

These are lists of operating monorails that are open to the public. Only true monorails (vehicle wider than track) are included; see people mover for a list of monorail-like systems. There are also other monorail type systems used for human transportation not included, such as slope cars, mining monorails and farm monorails.

Operational monorails - transit, people movers

''Systems used primarily for passenger transportation, characterised by enclosed cars, multiple stations and open on a regular basis. Ordered by system length (click headings to re-sort). Monorails associated with amusement parks that have enclosed cabins and multiple stations are generally included here.''

Operational monorails – sightseeing, amusement park rides, zoo monorails

''Systems characterised by one station and/or open cabins and that are not primarily for point-to-point transportation. Ordered by country (click headings to re-sort).''

Under construction

Physical construction work has started on the following monorails (sorted by opening dates):

Africa

Americas

Asia

Proposed monorails

Maglev proposals can be found on the list of maglev train proposals.

Americas

Cayman Islands

In 2022 a monorail was proposed by members of the public to the island administration that monorail could be a method to help with traffic problems gripping the U.K. Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.

Mexico

United States

Panama

Venezuela

Asia

China

India

Philippines

Taiwan

Thailand

Vietnam

Europe

United Kingdom

Denmark

Poland

Ukraine

The Netherlands

Oceania

Africa

South Africa

Several proposals have been made for a Monorail system in South Africa including one in Johannesburg metropolitan area, one in Durban and one in Capetown.

Algeria

Proposals have been made in the city of Algiers in 2023, construction will start in early 2026.

Decommissioned

Africa

Nigeria

Americas

Brazil

Canada

United States

Asia

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Japan

Malaysia

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Europe

United Kingdom

Continental Europe

Oceania

Cancelled or lapsed proposals

Americas

South America

Canada

United States

Central America and the Caribbean

Asia

Bangladesh

Hong Kong

India

Iran

Indonesia

Malaysia

Sri Lanka

Turkey

Europe

Africa