Which countries have the most tourists?

Aug 20, 2015

José Santiago

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China receives roughly 10 times more tourists than Bahrain, but why are they harder to spot in Beijing than in Manama? It’s because China has 1,000 times Bahrain’s population – which means Bahrain has about 100 times more tourists as a share of its population.

FiveThirtyEight analysed data collected by the World Bank to figure out which countries have the most international tourists on an average day, taking into account the country’s existing population.

Vatican City, with a population of nearly 900, ranks first, with a tourist percentage of 83.6%.

Below, we show you the 15 countries with the most tourists:

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Author: José Santiago, Digital Content Specialist, Public Engagement at the World Economic Forum.

Image: Tourists walk in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican REUTERS/Tony Gentile

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