International tourism, number of arrivals in Turkey
Turkey: International tourism, number of arrivals was 15.97 million in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, number of arrivals in Turkey, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
Analysis
Turkey recorded 15.97 million for international tourism, number of arrivals in 2020.
That represents a change of down 69.1% on the previous year and down 51.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, number of arrivals in Turkey peaked at 51.75 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 7.49 million, in 1999.
That places Turkey 15th out of 201 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International tourism, number of arrivals in Turkey, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 7.73 million | — |
| 1996 | 8.61 million | +11.5% |
| 1997 | 9.69 million | +12.5% |
| 1998 | 9.75 million | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 7.49 million | -23.2% |
| 2000 | 10.43 million | +39.3% |
| 2001 | 11.62 million | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 13.26 million | +14.1% |
| 2003 | 14.03 million | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 17.52 million | +24.9% |
| 2005 | 21.12 million | +20.6% |
| 2006 | 19.82 million | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 27.21 million | +37.3% |
| 2008 | 31.14 million | +14.4% |
| 2009 | 31.76 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 33.00 million | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 36.77 million | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 37.72 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 39.86 million | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 41.63 million | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 41.11 million | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 30.91 million | -24.8% |
| 2017 | 37.97 million | +22.9% |
| 2018 | 46.11 million | +21.4% |
| 2019 | 51.75 million | +12.2% |
| 2020 | 15.97 million | -69.1% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 15.97 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 778,000, 20.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 15.97 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.60 million, 4.4× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.65 million | 7.49 million | 9.75 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 19.79 million | 10.43 million | 31.76 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.68 million | 30.91 million | 51.75 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.97 million | 15.97 million | 15.97 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More private sector data for Turkey
- Merchandise trade 40.0% (2025)
- Food imports 7.0% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 60.5% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 365.37 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 58.00 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 74.5% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 273.36 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 122.32 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 3,183 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, number of arrivals in Turkey?
- International tourism, number of arrivals in Turkey was 15.97 million in 2020, 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 Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 51.75 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest international tourism, number of arrivals recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.49 million in 1999.
- How does Turkey rank for international tourism, number of arrivals?
- Turkey ranks 15th out of 201 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, number of arrivals rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey 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.