France is the most visited country in the world, with 102.0 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, ahead of Spain (93.8 million) and the United States (72.4 million). Worldwide, international tourism reached about 1.52 billion arrivals in 2025, up 4.0% on 2024. This is our top 10 of the most visited countries, ranked on the latest complete UN Tourism data (2024), with 2025 figures added where countries have reported them.
Tourism has grown a long way since 2012, when the number of international tourists topped 1 billion for the first time. The ranking changed too: Malaysia and Russia dropped out, while Mexico, Japan and Greece climbed in.
Most visited countries in the world at a glance
| Rank | Country | 2024 arrivals | 2023 arrivals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 102.0 million | 100.0 million |
| 2 | Spain | 93.8 million | 85.2 million |
| 3 | United States | 72.4 million | 66.4 million |
| 4 | Turkey | 60.6 million | 55.2 million |
| 5 | Italy | 57.7 million | 57.3 million |
| 6 | Mexico | 45.0 million | 42.0 million |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 41.8 million | 37.2 million |
| 8 | Germany | 37.5 million | 34.8 million |
| 9 | Japan | 36.9 million | 25.1 million |
| 10 | Greece | 36.0 million | 32.7 million |
How we ranked it: by international tourist arrivals as compiled by UN Tourism, using full-year 2024 as the common year because 2025 is still pending for several countries. Counting methods differ by country, so national figures can be lower or higher.
10. Greece: 36.0 million
Greece joins the top 10 on the strength of its islands: Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Skiathos attract millions of visitors a year. The Bank of Greece counted 40.7 million inbound travelers in 2024. UN Tourism lists about 38.0 million for 2025. Athens will get its first integrated resort, a Hard Rock hotel and casino, in 2027.
9. Japan: 36.9 million
Japan is the biggest riser on this list. Arrivals jumped from 25.1 million in 2023 to 36.9 million in 2024, and Japan’s own count for 2025 was 42.7 million. Inbound tourism is now the country’s second-largest export industry after cars.
8. Germany: 37.5 million
Germany is a huge tourism market: it was the third-largest travel and tourism market in 2023, contributing about $487.6 billion to GDP. Bavaria alone has the most overnight stays.
7. United Kingdom: 41.8 million
The UK welcomed 41.8 million visitors in 2024, ahead of its 2019 figure of over 40.1 million. London remains the draw, with Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower Bridge and the British Museum. In 2025 the UK ranked among the top earners from tourism with about $89.6 billion in receipts. Expect to spend: its receipts per visitor are high.
6. Mexico: 45.0 million
Mexico moved up the ranking to sixth in 2024. Beach resorts like Acapulco, developed in the 1940s and 1950s, remain central, alongside Caribbean destinations and archaeological sites. Mexico is an example of a country where visitor numbers are rising faster than most in the Americas.
5. Italy: 57.7 million
Italy recorded 57.7 million in 2024 and 61.5 million in 2025. It has roughly 100,000 monuments, from museums and palaces to churches and archaeological sites, plus fashion capital Milan. Overcrowding is a real issue: in 2024 Venice introduced an entry fee for day trippers on peak days, and large cruise ships have been banned from the historic centre since 2021.
4. Turkey: 60.6 million
Turkey reached 60.6 million on UN Tourism’s 2024 count, while Turkish authorities counted about 52.6 million foreign tourists and record revenue of $61.1 billion. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern, coastal resorts and hot-air balloon rides drive the numbers. For 2025, the regional table lists about 62 million.
3. United States: 72.4 million
The US welcomed 72.4 million international visitors in 2024 and takes first place by receipts, with about $213 billion in 2025. National parks, New York, Las Vegas, Florida and California are the main magnets. On our math it also earns far more per visitor than any other destination here, about $2,900 per arrival in 2025.
2. Spain: 93.8 million
Spain is France’s closest rival. It recorded 93.8 million in 2024 and about 97 million in 2025, its eighth consecutive record year, and tourism accounted for 12.6% of GDP in 2024. It also leads Europe in receipts, with about $113.8 billion in 2025. Barcelona, Madrid, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries are the main draws, and the country has dozens of World Heritage Sites.
1. France: 102.0 million
France stays number one with 102.0 million arrivals in 2024. Paris hosted the 2024 Summer Olympics, and Notre-Dame reopened to the public in December 2024 after its restoration. The French Riviera is the country’s second-biggest destination with more than 10 million tourists a year, and the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees and Versailles remain on every list. Many visitors are in transit, which is one reason France is top for arrivals but fifth for hotel nights.
Which countries earn the most from tourism?
Arrivals and money tell different stories. In 2025 the top earners from international tourism were the United States ($213.0 billion), Spain ($113.8 billion), the United Kingdom ($89.6 billion), France ($84.0 billion), Japan ($64.0 billion), Italy ($61.4 billion) and Turkey ($60.0 billion).
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FAQ
What is the most visited country in the world?
France, with 102.0 million international tourist arrivals in 2024 on UN Tourism’s count.
Which country is second most visited?
Spain, with 93.8 million arrivals in 2024 and about 97 million in 2025.
How many tourists travel internationally each year?
About 1.52 billion international tourists in 2025, up 4.0% from 2024.
Which countries earn the most from tourism?
The United States leads with about $213.0 billion in 2025 receipts, followed by Spain with $113.8 billion and the United Kingdom with $89.6 billion.
Which country climbed fastest?
Japan, from 25.1 million arrivals in 2023 to 36.9 million in 2024, and 42.7 million in 2025 by Japan’s own count.
Why does the original list differ?
We replaced the 2013 numbers with 2024 data, and Malaysia and Russia are no longer in the top 10 while Mexico, Japan and Greece are.
How we put this list together
We ranked countries by international tourist arrivals in the latest full year, 2024, and added 2025 data where available. Where national statistics differ from the UN Tourism counts, we say so.
Last updated: October 2026.
