International tourism, number of arrivals in North America
North America: International tourism, number of arrivals was 198.71 million in 2019. ▲ Rising
International tourism, number of arrivals in North America, 1995–2019
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
Analysis
In 2019, international tourism, number of arrivals in North America stood at 198.71 million.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, number of arrivals in North America peaked at 217.20 million in 2006 and was at its lowest, 101.47 million, in 2003.
North America ranks 22nd of 46 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
International tourism, number of arrivals in North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 121.95 million | — |
| 1996 | 126.58 million | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 128.16 million | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 123.39 million | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 125.40 million | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 127.52 million | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 118.58 million | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 109.81 million | -7.4% |
| 2003 | 101.47 million | -7.6% |
| 2004 | 106.93 million | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 108.16 million | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 217.20 million | +100.8% |
| 2007 | 206.33 million | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 203.62 million | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 185.76 million | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 188.48 million | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 172.99 million | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 197.56 million | +14.2% |
| 2013 | 205.05 million | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 204.45 million | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 205.02 million | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 206.04 million | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 206.06 million | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 201.37 million | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 198.71 million | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 125.10 million | 121.95 million | 128.16 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 148.54 million | 101.47 million | 217.20 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 198.57 million | 172.99 million | 206.06 million | 10 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 19 Egypt 13.03 million compare
- 20 Germany 12.45 million compare
- 21 Switzerland 11.82 million compare
- 22 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 11.10 million compare
- 23 Ireland 10.95 million compare
- 24 United States Virgin Islands 8.61 million compare
- 25 Kyrgyzstan 8.51 million compare
More private sector data for North America
- Merchandise trade 20.6% (2025)
- Food imports 7.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 77.9% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 4.09 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 10.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 52.8% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 2.74 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 7,145 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0828 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 4.2 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, number of arrivals in North America?
- International tourism, number of arrivals in North America was 198.71 million in 2019, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, number of arrivals recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 217.20 million in 2006.
- What is the lowest international tourism, number of arrivals recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 101.47 million in 2003.
- How does North America rank for international tourism, number of arrivals?
- North America ranks 22nd out of 46 groups with data for 2019.
- Is international tourism, number of arrivals rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, number of arrivals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.