Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in China
China: Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes was 42.83 million trips in 2019. ▲ Rising
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in China, 2002–2019
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in trips.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in China is 42.83 million trips, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 156.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in China peaked at 42.83 million trips in 2019 and was at its lowest, 8.50 million trips, in 2003.
That places China 7th out of 179 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in China, year by year
| Year | trips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 10.22 million trips | — |
| 2003 | 8.50 million trips | -16.8% |
| 2004 | 13.07 million trips | +53.8% |
| 2005 | 15.66 million trips | +19.8% |
| 2006 | 16.66 million trips | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 19.15 million trips | +14.9% |
| 2008 | 18.65 million trips | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 16.70 million trips | -10.4% |
| 2010 | 19.93 million trips | +19.3% |
| 2011 | 20.79 million trips | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 20.91 million trips | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 20.10 million trips | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 20.96 million trips | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 20.61 million trips | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 25.69 million trips | +24.6% |
| 2017 | 37.25 million trips | +45.0% |
| 2018 | 41.80 million trips | +12.2% |
| 2019 | 42.83 million trips | +2.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 42.83 million trips is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.32 million trips, 32.6× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- China's 42.83 million trips is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 466,300 trips, 91.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.83 million trips | 8.50 million trips | 19.15 million trips | 8 |
| 2010s | 27.09 million trips | 19.93 million trips | 42.83 million trips | 10 |
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 arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in China?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in China was 42.83 million trips in 2019, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 42.83 million trips in 2019.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.50 million trips in 2003.
- How does China rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes?
- China ranks 7th out of 179 countries with data for 2019.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 156.4%. 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 for personal purposes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 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.