International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in United States of America
United States of America: International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons was 8.05 million trips in 2021. ▲ Rising
International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in United States of America, 1997–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in trips.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in United States of America is 8.05 million trips, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 34.8% on the previous year and down 64.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in United States of America peaked at 33.41 million trips in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.97 million trips, in 2020.
That places United States of America 29th out of 179 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in United States of America, year by year
| Year | trips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 16.86 million trips | — |
| 1998 | 16.52 million trips | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 17.28 million trips | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 17.84 million trips | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 15.37 million trips | -13.9% |
| 2002 | 13.32 million trips | -13.3% |
| 2003 | 12.56 million trips | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 14.16 million trips | +12.7% |
| 2005 | 15.11 million trips | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 15.10 million trips | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 16.65 million trips | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 18.45 million trips | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 18.43 million trips | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 20.59 million trips | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 22.55 million trips | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 23.94 million trips | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 27.22 million trips | +13.7% |
| 2014 | 28.84 million trips | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 31.42 million trips | +9.0% |
| 2016 | 31.27 million trips | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 31.94 million trips | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 32.90 million trips | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 33.41 million trips | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 5.97 million trips | -82.1% |
| 2021 | 8.05 million trips | +34.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.89 million trips | 16.52 million trips | 17.28 million trips | 3 |
| 2000s | 15.70 million trips | 12.56 million trips | 18.45 million trips | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.41 million trips | 20.59 million trips | 33.41 million trips | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.01 million trips | 5.97 million trips | 8.05 million trips | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More reference data data for United States of America
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in United States of America?
- International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons in United States of America was 8.05 million trips in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 33.41 million trips in 2019.
- What is the lowest international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.97 million trips in 2020.
- How does United States of America rank for international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons?
- United States of America ranks 29th out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
- Is international trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of International trips for personal vs. business and professional reasons. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of international trips where the main purpose is personal (leisure, visiting friends and relatives, health, etc.) and the visitor stays overnight.