Arrivals of tourists from abroad in France
France: Arrivals of tourists from abroad was 48.40 million arrivals in 2021. ▲ Rising
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in France, 1995–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in arrivals.
Analysis
In 2021, arrivals of tourists from abroad in France stood at 48.40 million arrivals.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.1% on the previous year and down 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad in France peaked at 90.91 million arrivals in 2019 and was at its lowest, 41.68 million arrivals, in 2020.
That places France 5th out of 203 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in France, year by year
| Year | arrivals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 60.03 million arrivals | — |
| 1996 | 62.41 million arrivals | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 66.59 million arrivals | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 70.11 million arrivals | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 73.15 million arrivals | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 77.19 million arrivals | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 75.20 million arrivals | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 77.01 million arrivals | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 75.05 million arrivals | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 74.43 million arrivals | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 74.99 million arrivals | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 77.92 million arrivals | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 80.85 million arrivals | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 79.22 million arrivals | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 76.76 million arrivals | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 76.65 million arrivals | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 80.50 million arrivals | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 81.98 million arrivals | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 83.63 million arrivals | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 83.70 million arrivals | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 84.45 million arrivals | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 82.68 million arrivals | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 86.76 million arrivals | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 89.32 million arrivals | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 90.91 million arrivals | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 41.68 million arrivals | -54.2% |
| 2021 | 48.40 million arrivals | +16.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 48.40 million arrivals is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.67 million arrivals, 13.2× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- France's 48.40 million arrivals is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.07 million arrivals, 9.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad in France 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 | -54.2% | 90.91 million arrivals | 41.68 million arrivals |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.46 million arrivals | 60.03 million arrivals | 73.15 million arrivals | 5 |
| 2000s | 76.86 million arrivals | 74.43 million arrivals | 80.85 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.06 million arrivals | 76.65 million arrivals | 90.91 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.04 million arrivals | 41.68 million arrivals | 48.40 million arrivals | 2 |
Countries ranked near France
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arrivals of tourists from abroad in France?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad in France was 48.40 million arrivals in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 90.91 million arrivals in 2019.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.68 million arrivals in 2020.
- How does France rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad?
- France ranks 5th out of 203 countries with data for 2021.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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 — 27 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.