Arrivals of tourists from abroad in China
China: Arrivals of tourists from abroad was 7.97 million arrivals in 2020. ▲ Rising
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in China, 1995–2020
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in arrivals.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arrivals of tourists from abroad in China is 7.97 million arrivals, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 87.9% on the previous year and down 85.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad in China peaked at 65.72 million arrivals in 2019 and was at its lowest, 7.97 million arrivals, in 2020.
China ranks 39th of 203 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in China, year by year
| Year | arrivals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 20.03 million arrivals | — |
| 1996 | 22.77 million arrivals | +13.6% |
| 1997 | 23.77 million arrivals | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 25.07 million arrivals | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 27.05 million arrivals | +7.9% |
| 2000 | 31.23 million arrivals | +15.5% |
| 2001 | 33.17 million arrivals | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 36.80 million arrivals | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 32.97 million arrivals | -10.4% |
| 2004 | 41.76 million arrivals | +26.7% |
| 2005 | 46.81 million arrivals | +12.1% |
| 2006 | 49.91 million arrivals | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 54.72 million arrivals | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 53.05 million arrivals | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 50.88 million arrivals | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 55.66 million arrivals | +9.4% |
| 2011 | 57.58 million arrivals | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 57.73 million arrivals | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 55.69 million arrivals | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 55.62 million arrivals | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 56.89 million arrivals | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 59.27 million arrivals | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 60.74 million arrivals | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 62.90 million arrivals | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 65.72 million arrivals | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 7.97 million arrivals | -87.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 7.97 million arrivals is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.49 million arrivals, 5.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 7.97 million arrivals is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 727,000 arrivals, 11.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad 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 | -87.9% | 65.72 million arrivals | 7.97 million arrivals |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.74 million arrivals | 20.03 million arrivals | 27.05 million arrivals | 5 |
| 2000s | 43.13 million arrivals | 31.23 million arrivals | 54.72 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.78 million arrivals | 55.62 million arrivals | 65.72 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.97 million arrivals | 7.97 million arrivals | 7.97 million arrivals | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 36 Switzerland 9.16 million arrivals compare
- 37 South Africa 8.92 million arrivals compare
- 38 Dominican Republic 8.54 million arrivals compare
- 40 Uzbekistan 7.96 million arrivals
- 41 Taiwan 7.86 million arrivals
- 42 Vietnam 7.55 million arrivals compare
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 arrivals of tourists from abroad in China?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad in China was 7.97 million arrivals in 2020, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 65.72 million arrivals in 2019.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.97 million arrivals in 2020.
- How does China rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad?
- China ranks 39th out of 203 countries with data for 2020.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Arrivals of tourists from abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of trips by visitors who arrive from abroad and stay overnight.