Arrivals of tourists from abroad in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Arrivals of tourists from abroad was 38.23 million arrivals in 2024. ▲ Rising
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in United Kingdom, 1995–2024
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in arrivals.
Analysis
In 2024, arrivals of tourists from abroad in United Kingdom stood at 38.23 million arrivals.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad in United Kingdom peaked at 39.54 million arrivals in 2017 and was at its lowest, 6.29 million arrivals, in 2021.
That places United Kingdom 7th out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | arrivals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 21.72 million arrivals | — |
| 1996 | 22.94 million arrivals | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 23.21 million arrivals | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 23.71 million arrivals | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 23.34 million arrivals | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 23.21 million arrivals | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 20.98 million arrivals | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 22.31 million arrivals | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 22.79 million arrivals | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 25.68 million arrivals | +12.7% |
| 2005 | 28.04 million arrivals | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 30.65 million arrivals | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 30.87 million arrivals | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 30.14 million arrivals | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 29.36 million arrivals | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 28.91 million arrivals | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 30.38 million arrivals | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 30.41 million arrivals | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 31.95 million arrivals | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 33.60 million arrivals | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 35.15 million arrivals | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 37.36 million arrivals | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 39.54 million arrivals | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 38.66 million arrivals | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 39.42 million arrivals | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 10.71 million arrivals | -72.8% |
| 2021 | 6.29 million arrivals | -41.3% |
| 2022 | 30.74 million arrivals | +389.0% |
| 2023 | 37.21 million arrivals | +21.1% |
| 2024 | 38.23 million arrivals | +2.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 38.23 million arrivals is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.67 million arrivals, 10.4× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 38.23 million arrivals is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.07 million arrivals, 7.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +389.0% | 6.29 million arrivals | 30.74 million arrivals |
| 2020 | -72.8% | 39.42 million arrivals | 10.71 million arrivals |
| 2021 | -41.3% | 10.71 million arrivals | 6.29 million arrivals |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.98 million arrivals | 21.72 million arrivals | 23.71 million arrivals | 5 |
| 2000s | 26.40 million arrivals | 20.98 million arrivals | 30.87 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.54 million arrivals | 28.91 million arrivals | 39.54 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.64 million arrivals | 6.29 million arrivals | 38.23 million arrivals | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arrivals of tourists from abroad in United Kingdom?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad in United Kingdom was 38.23 million arrivals in 2024, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 39.54 million arrivals in 2017.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.29 million arrivals in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad?
- United Kingdom ranks 7th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 30 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.