Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in United States
United States: Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes was 8.05 million trips in 2021. ▲ Rising
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in United States, 1997–2021
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 United States is 8.05 million trips, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 34.8% on the previous year and down 64.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in United States peaked at 33.41 million trips in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.97 million trips, in 2020.
That places United States 29th out of 179 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in United States, year by year
| Year | trips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 16.86 million trips | — |
| 1998 | 16.52 million trips | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 17.28 million trips | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 17.84 million trips | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 15.37 million trips | -13.9% |
| 2002 | 13.32 million trips | -13.3% |
| 2003 | 12.56 million trips | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 14.16 million trips | +12.7% |
| 2005 | 15.11 million trips | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 15.10 million trips | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 16.65 million trips | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 18.45 million trips | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 18.43 million trips | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 20.59 million trips | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 22.55 million trips | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 23.94 million trips | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 27.22 million trips | +13.7% |
| 2014 | 28.84 million trips | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 31.42 million trips | +9.0% |
| 2016 | 31.27 million trips | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 31.94 million trips | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 32.90 million trips | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 33.41 million trips | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 5.97 million trips | -82.1% |
| 2021 | 8.05 million trips | +34.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 8.05 million trips is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.47 million trips, 3.3× the median. (63 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in United States 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 | -82.1% | 33.41 million trips | 5.97 million trips |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.89 million trips | 16.52 million trips | 17.28 million trips | 3 |
| 2000s | 15.70 million trips | 12.56 million trips | 18.45 million trips | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.41 million trips | 20.59 million trips | 33.41 million trips | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.01 million trips | 5.97 million trips | 8.05 million trips | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in United States?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in United States was 8.05 million trips in 2021, 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 33.41 million trips in 2019.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.97 million trips in 2020.
- How does United States rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes?
- United States ranks 29th out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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 — 25 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.