Worldwide tourism is slowly but steadily recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Globally, around 917 million tourist arrivals were recorded in 2022, which is still much lower compared to the pre-Covid levels, but it does show that people overall started to travel again. Planes especially have made traveling as easy and popular as ever before. You can get on a plane and then get to any place on Earth you want, usually in a matter of a single day.
That being said, there are some countries that are significantly more popular to visit than others. The reasons for this may be the weather, the culture, or the sights one particular country offers its guests. The following Top 10 ranking shows you the 10 most visited countries on Earth.
Collectively, these countries were responsible for over 514 million of all global tourist destinations last year. This means these 10 countries alone generate 56% of all tourist travels around the world. Quite a remarkable number, is it not? Each of these countries welcomed at least more than 30 million foreign visitors into their county last year, while the most visited countries on Earth are even closer to the 100 million mark. Most of the time there are particular cities and attractions within those most visited countries that generate the biggest tourism waves for the respective country. The ranking will therefore also point out the most visited cities and attractions within the most visited countries.
Note: The Top 10 Ranking of Most Visited Countries in the World is based on the most recent available numbers of visitors a country has gotten during a whole calendar year.
Click the following for the ranking of the Top 10 Biggest Countries by population in the world.
The Top 10 Most Visited Countries in the World 2023
1. France
~ 82.6 million visitors
Most visited city: Paris, Ile-de-France
Most visited attraction: Palace of Versailles (in Versailles, Ile-de-France)
2. United States of America
~ 75.6 million visitors
Most visited city: New York City, New York
Most visited attraction: Times Square (in New York City, New York)
3. Spain
~ 75.3 million visitors
Most visited city: Barcelona, Catalonia
Most visited attraction: La Sagrada Familia (in Barcelona, Catalonia)
4. China
~ 59.3 million visitors
Most visited city: Beijing, Municipality of Beijing
Most visited attraction: Forbidden City (in Beijing, Municipality of Beijing)
5. Italy
~ 52.4 million visitors
Most visited city: Venice, Veneto
Most visited attraction: San Marco Square & Rialto Bridge (both in Venice, Veneto)
6. United Kingdom
~ 35.8 million visitors
Most visited city: London, England
Most visited attraction: Big Ben (in London, England)
7. Germany
~ 35.6 million visitors
Most visited city: Berlin, Berlin
Most visited attraction: Brandenburg Gate (in Berlin, Berlin)
8. Mexico
~ 35.1 million visitors
Most visited city: Cancun, Quintana Roo
Most visited attraction: Pyramid of the Sun (in Teotihuacan, State of Mexico)
9. Thailand
~ 32.5 million visitors
Most visited city: Bangkok, Central Thailand
Most visited attraction: Grand Palace (in Bangkok, Central Thailand)
10. Turkey
~ 30.3 million visitors
Most visited city: Istanbul, Istanbul Province
Most visited attraction: Grand Bazaar (in Istanbul, Istanbul Province)
The 10 Most Visited Countries in the World 2023
(based on 2022 global tourist arrivals)
| Top 10 Most Visited Countries in the World: |
|---|
| 1. FRANCE ~ 82.6 million visitors |
| 2. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ~ 75.6 million visitors |
| 3. SPAIN ~ 75.3 million visitors |
| 4. CHINA ~ 59.3 million visitors |
| 5. ITALY ~ 52.4 million visitors |
| 6. UNITED KINGDOM ~ 35.8 million visitors |
| 7. GERMANY ~ 35.6 million visitors |
| 8. MEXICO ~ 35.1 million visitors |
| 9. THAILAND ~ 32.5 million visitors |
| 10. TURKEY ~ 30.3 million visitors |
| Most visited countries in the world, based on touristic visits made during 2022. |
Most visited countries in the world in 2023, based on tourist visits made during 2022. All international visits for touristic purposes are counted, regardless of the length of stay.