The world's busiest airports

I've always thought that Heathrow was the world's busiest airport, but it seems, when you look up the figures, it's not even remotely close.

In 2020, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China was hands down the busiest airport. In fact, seven out of the top ten were Chinese, the other three being American (Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver). Heathrow was sitting at No. 22.

Ah, but 2020 was not a normal year, you say. True, but looking back over the previous few years, Heathrow appears at No. 7, No. 7, No. 6, No. 7, etc. Back in 2013 and earlier, it made No. 3, but it still never equalled Atlanta and Beijing. Not even close. Going right back to the year 2000, Atlanta is a comfortable No. 1, with Chicago usually No. 2 in the earlier years.

Huh. Who knew?