International tourist departures in China
China: International tourist departures was 20.33 million departures in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International tourist departures in China, 1995–2020
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in departures.
Analysis
China recorded 20.33 million departures for international tourist departures in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 86.9% on the previous year and down 64.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourist departures in China peaked at 154.63 million departures in 2019 and was at its lowest, 4.52 million departures, in 1995.
That places China 11th out of 112 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International tourist departures in China, year by year
| Year | departures | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 4.52 million departures | — |
| 1996 | 5.06 million departures | +12.0% |
| 1997 | 5.32 million departures | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 8.43 million departures | +58.3% |
| 1999 | 9.23 million departures | +9.6% |
| 2000 | 10.47 million departures | +13.4% |
| 2001 | 12.13 million departures | +15.9% |
| 2002 | 16.60 million departures | +36.8% |
| 2003 | 20.22 million departures | +21.8% |
| 2004 | 28.85 million departures | +42.7% |
| 2005 | 31.03 million departures | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 34.52 million departures | +11.3% |
| 2007 | 40.95 million departures | +18.6% |
| 2008 | 45.84 million departures | +11.9% |
| 2009 | 47.66 million departures | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 57.39 million departures | +20.4% |
| 2011 | 70.25 million departures | +22.4% |
| 2012 | 83.18 million departures | +18.4% |
| 2013 | 98.19 million departures | +18.0% |
| 2014 | 116.59 million departures | +18.7% |
| 2015 | 127.86 million departures | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 135.13 million departures | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 143.03 million departures | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 149.72 million departures | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 154.63 million departures | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 20.33 million departures | -86.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 20.33 million departures is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.36 million departures, 15.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- China's 20.33 million departures is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96,970 departures, 209.7× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where International tourist departures in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -86.9% | 154.63 million departures | 20.33 million departures |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.51 million departures | 4.52 million departures | 9.23 million departures | 5 |
| 2000s | 28.83 million departures | 10.47 million departures | 47.66 million departures | 10 |
| 2010s | 113.60 million departures | 57.39 million departures | 154.63 million departures | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.33 million departures | 20.33 million departures | 20.33 million departures | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourist departures in China?
- International tourist departures in China was 20.33 million departures in 2020, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest international tourist departures recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 154.63 million departures in 2019.
- What is the lowest international tourist departures recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.52 million departures in 1995.
- How does China rank for international tourist departures?
- China ranks 11th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourist departures rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of International tourist departures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of trips by country's residents who travel abroad and stay overnight.