how much of france's gdp is tourism

• Espace presse

Insee Focus · April 2023 · n° 297 Due to the health crisis, the share of tourism in France's GDP falls from 4.1% in 2019 to 3.0% in 2021

Mélanie Chassard (Insee)

In 2021, as in 2020, tourism GDP represented 3.0% of France's GDP. Before the Covid-19 health crisis, it amounted to 4.1% of GDP. The restriction of travel, the mandatory closures have strongly affected the activity of accommodation, transport, restaurants and beverage-serving services, as well as cultural, sports and leisure activities, which are characteristic of tourism. The decline in activity was sharper in tourism in 2020 than in the rest of the economy and was not offset by the recovery in 2021.

How do we measure the economic weight of tourism in France?

In 2021, tourism contributed 3.0% of the wealth created by the French economy, i.e. 75.7 billion euros. This was more than 4.0% before the health crisis. To measure this tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP), Insee applies the concepts and methods recommended at the international level. The calculation consists of evaluating the value added by tourism in each of the sectors of activity. It first involves distinguishing between tourism expenditure and non-tourism expenditure. Then intermediate consumption and imports of goods and services must be subtracted. The resident visitor contributes more to the tourism GDP than the non-resident visitor coming from abroad, before and during the health crisis.

What does tourism represent in the French economy? How does its weight compare with other countries? How does it evolve from year to year? In order to answer these questions and thus provide reliable data to all tourism stakeholders and, more broadly, to citizens who are interested in the subject, Insee has developed a tourism satellite account . This is based on the system of national accounts.

Tourism represents 3.0% of GDP in 2021

Until now, Insee has only measured tourism consumption, which allowed for an understanding of what tourism represents in the French economy, but was not sufficient to evaluate its share in total wealth creation. It is only since April 2023 that we have a measure of the French direct tourism gross domestic product (TDGDP), thanks to work carried out by Insee in line with internationally standardized concepts and methods.

As a result, in 2021 the creation of wealth associated with tourism, i.e. TDGDP, represents 3.0% of France’s total GDP [ Chassard M ., 2023]. The same method was used to measure the economic weight of tourism in 2020 and 2019. This was higher in 2019, before the health crisis that strongly affected tourism: 4.1% of total GDP. The value added attributable to tourism activities in France was estimated in 2017 at 4.4 percent of GDP, using a similar method by the Ministry of the Economy’s General Directorate of Enterprises [ Lomonaco , 2019]. While France is in the top three in terms of the number of tourists, these indicators place it in the middle of the European Union countries in terms of the share of tourism value added in total value added (4.5% for the whole of the Union in 2019). This illustrates a lower dependence of the economy on tourism in France than in other countries such as Croatia (11.8%), Portugal (8.1%), Spain (6.9%) or Italy (6.2%).

Not every activity is 100% tourism

But how does one arrive at the evaluation of this aggregate, the TDGDP? The first step is to isolate, in each sector of activity, the tourism expenditure, i.e. French or non-resident visitors (tourists and day-trippers), during or with a view to the trips they have made in France or from French territory (see diagram). For example, not all expenditure in restaurants and cafés is by tourists. In 2021, 20% of spending in restaurants was by tourists. As far as accommodation is concerned, 100% of spending in hotels and campsites is considered to be tourism spending ; to this is added 12% of spending on accommodation in the residential stock as a whole, corresponding mainly to second homes, giving a total of 16% of “accommodation” spending (hotels, campsites and residential stock) attributable to tourism. This tourism rate changes every year. In restaurants, it was higher before the health crisis: 24% in 2019. In each sector, it is evaluated with various statistical sources [ Chassard , 2023].

Diagram – Method of calculating the economic weight of tourism in 2021

Tourism direct GDP accounts for half of tourism expenditure

Not everything that tourists spend can be equated with the wealth creation associated with tourism. For example, the price paid for a night in a hotel with breakfast is partly used to pay for the food that the hotel needs to serve breakfast, but also for cleaning products for the household, energy for heating, etc., which constitute intermediate consumption. These intermediate inputs must therefore be removed from the amount of tourism expenditure in order to measure the value added directly produced by the hotel.

In addition, some tourism expenditures are for goods and services that were not produced in France but were imported. These imports are much smaller than intermediate consumption, so the amount of these imports must also be removed to calculate value added. For example, a souvenir that a visitor buys during his or her stay in France may have been manufactured abroad, and only the difference between its selling price and its import price counts in the value added.

In total, the TDGDP corresponds to the sum of the value added directly linked to tourism in each sector of activity, i.e. tourism expenditure minus intermediate consumption and imports, plus taxes and minus subsidies. In 2021, tourism expenditure, also known as “domestic tourist consumption”, is estimated at 140 billion euros. If we remove intermediate consumption and imports of goods and services, we end up with the TDGDP of tourism, estimated at 75.7 billion euros.

If we take the example of the restaurant industry, this sector will create 32.9 billion euros of added value in 2021. Considering that 20% of the restaurant business is tourism in that year, the tourism direct gross value added for restaurants and cafés is thus 6.7 billion euros.

Domestic customers has generated three quarters of the tourism GDP in 2021

How much of TDGDP is generated by domestic customers, i.e., resident tourists who consume in France, and how much by non-resident tourists, who come from abroad? Non-resident tourists spend more than resident tourists, for example in the restaurant business. But since there are far fewer of them, tourist spending depends mostly on resident customers: in 2021, they will contribute 72% of tourist spending. This was 64% in 2019, as foreign customers were partially absent due to the health crisis in 2021. The domestic clientele thus generates the bulk of the TDGDP.

Two reference guides to evaluate the economic weight of tourism

To ensure that the data are comparable between countries and over time, Insee applies methods that conform to international recommendations. In the 1990s, several countries used economic variables from their national accounts to try to estimate the economic weight of tourism. This work has been progressively taken up and synthesized by international organizations (UNWTO, OECD, European Union), resulting in two reference guides: one specifying the concepts and scope of tourism (IRTS) and another defining a tourism satellite account (TSA-RMF). The concepts and methods of economic measurement of tourism have thus been stabilized at the international level since 2008. ■

Additionnal information

• Chassard M., 2023, “ Méthode d’élaboration du compte satellite du tourisme “, Document de travail Insee , April
• Chassard M., 2023, “ Avec la crise sanitaire, la part du tourisme dans le PIB de la France tombe de 4,1 % en 2019 à 3,0 % en 2021 “, Insee Focus no. 297, April
• Chassard M., Mainguené A., 2022, “ La consommation touristique en France chute d’un tiers entre 2019 et 2020 “, Insee Focus no. 262, February
• Lomonaco J-C., 2019, “ La croissance de la consommation touristique en France se confirme en 2018 “, 4 pages de la DGE no. 91, December
• Nations Unies, “ Compte satellite du tourisme : recommandations concernant le cadre conceptuel 2008 “.

Photo credits: © fottoo – stock.adobe.com

Plus d'articles

Grâce à l’Union européenne, davantage de données pour les décideurs publics

Utiliser les données bancaires pour disposer d’instantanés sur la situation financière des ménages

Population immigrée, entrées sur le territoire, titres de séjour… S’y retrouver dans les chiffres de l’immigration

Le dynamisme démographique de la Guyane est-il sous-estimé ?

Auteurs/autrices.

European and American tourists to France brought record revenues in 2022

After years plagued by Covid-19, France has seen a major return of European and American visitors who helped bring in record revenues in 2022. 

Issued on: 02/03/2023 - 07:00

At the end of December 2022, international tourism revenue in France was at €58 billion, up by €1.2 billion compared to 2019, according to a report published by France's national tourism development agency  Atout .

This is explained by "the return of European and American customers" but also by price increases, which "mechanically increases revenue in value", says the report.

Nationals of three neighbouring European countries were among the foreign customers who spent the most in France in 2022 - Belgium (€7.3 billion), Germany (€6.5 billion) and the United Kingdom (€6.2 billion) - while he United States ranked fifth with €5.6 billion.

"France is strengthening its attractiveness in terms of tourism: there is a return of international tourists who have spent more money here," Tourism Minister Olivia Gregoire told the AFP news agency.

In terms of revenue from international tourism , Spain regained first place in Europe in 2022 - reaching €64.8 billion by the end of November.

To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.

"The whole challenge for France is to strengthen the offer qualitatively so that we manage to increase the spending budget without losing the number of tourists," Grégoire said.

"We must also respond to the new expectations of tourists: sustainable tourism, four-season tourism in the mountains, 'savoir-faire' and so on," she added.

• France lifts Covid testing requirement for travellers from China

She insisted that heritage tourism packages across the country could be better developed with the "same level of quality in each of the regions".

For 2023, France, like the rest of the world, is looking forward the return of Asian tourists who were absent in 2022 (-31 percent compared to 2019).

France should also benefit from another tourist asset for the second half of the year: the 2023 Rugby World Cup  due to start in September.

Daily newsletter Receive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.

• Go to the main menu
• Go to the mobile menu
• Go to main content
• Press Room Press Room

• Increase text size
• Decrease text size
• Add our RSS feed

Tourism in France

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Partager sur Linkedin

Tourism is a major part of the French economy, representing close to 8% of GDP and 2 million direct and indirect jobs. It is also a recognized soft power asset abroad, and F rance has been the world’s leading tourist destination for years. A record 90 million international tourists visited France in 2019, including its overseas communities.

A sector affected by COVID-19

In 2020, the sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 public health crisis, leading international tourist revenue to drop by almost half in the first seven months of the year .

Globally, Europe is the second hardest-hit region, behind the Asia-Pacific, seeing a drop in visits of 66% in the first half of the year. The drop in French and foreign tourist spending in France over 2020 is estimated at between 30% and 35%. However, France does appear to be resisting better than its European neighbours , thanks to its solid domestic market.

France’s support to the sector

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs promotes and supports the tourism sector through innovative measures suited to the industry’s needs . This cooperative approach led to the creation of the Tourism Sector Committee (CFT) in January 2020, chaired by the Minister of State, Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

Its aim is to jointly design effective tourism policies, working on four themes: jobs and training , sustainable development , digitalization , and regulations and competitiveness .

The work carried out at the CFT should lead to the signing of a tourism sector contract to provide effective responses suited to the industry’s needs.

A concerted response to the crisis

The CFT has been particularly useful and effective in addressing the concertation and emergency needs caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Since the beginning of the public health crisis, the committee has met almost weekly.

Its work has helped analyse the challenges and priority needs of the sector in order to seek appropriate solutions. It has helped highlight how numerous and diverse tourism-dependent businesses are , each with its own issues.

Various tools and measures have been established during the crisis:

• A monthly Atout France/Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau barometer;
• Webinars, benchmarks, surveys and studies by Atout France;
• The “This summer I’m visiting France” campaign from June to September 2020 in order to promote domestic tourism;
• An interactive map of tourism venues and services, carried out with ADN Tourisme, to provide information to more than 10 million people on social media. This initiative contributed actively to promoting stays in France among tourists from both France and neighbouring countries.

The measures adopted to safeguard the tourism sector during the public health crisis

Alongside the CFT’s work since the beginning of the crisis, the Minister of State has also met with institutional and private stakeholders from each French region in order to best adapt the Government’s support to the sector.

Tourism companies have enjoyed all the emergency measures adopted by the Government in response to the pandemic’s economic consequences:

• Support for jobs, through the partial employment measure, which the sector has used widely;
• Support for companies’ cash flow through the Government-guaranteed loan (PGE) and the solidarity fund, open until the end of 2020, as well as certain social contribution exemptions;
• Cancellation of instalments of rent and fees for use of public land for SMEs, particularly during administrative closure.

The Government has also announced the creation of a “season PGE”, capped at the turnover of the best three months of 2019, and the postponement of bank repayment instalments over 12 months.

These discussions also contributed to drafting a specific Government plan for the sector’s recovery , totalling €18 billion. The specific recovery plan was announced by the Prime Minister on 14 May 2020, during the fifth meeting of the Interministerial Tourism Committee (CIT). It includes the creation of an investment fund of €1.3 billion managed by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and Bpifrance in order to foster the emergence of more sustainable tourism, more digital and better distributed across the country. The France Tourisme Ingénierie programme, managed by Atout France, has also been granted increased capacity of €29 million in order to support local authorities and private stakeholders wishing to improve the tourism offering.

Moreover, the recovery plan presented by the Government in early September 2020 includes the c reation of a sustainable tourism fund with €50 million to foster the adaptation of tourism activities. Restaurants and tourist accommodation providers will receive financial support (grants) in order to cover the costs of investments for the transition and development of sustainable tourism projects. The French Agency for the Ecological Transition (ADEME) will be the leader for the deployment of this fund, in close liaison with local government in order to address specific needs.

The plan has since been strengthened, particularly as regards the implementation of support measures for the sector such as widening the list of companies eligible under the tourism plan, extending 100% coverage of payroll costs under partial employment, enhancement of the solidarity fund and expansion of the scope of the “season PGE” programme, in constant dialogue with industry stakeholders.

Download the press kit from the Interministerial Tourism Committee (CIT) meeting of 12 October 2020 (in French)

• Atout France • Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) • Bpifrance • French Agency for the Ecological Transition (ADEME)

Updated: October 2020

On the same topic

Ministry actions to promote tourism

Destination Inspiration

• An unforgettable adventure
• Educational excellence in France
• Study at the heart of Europe
• Enjoy numerous benefits
• Industrial dynamism and French innovation
• The art of living à la française

• French system
• Higher education institutions
• French degrees, LMD system and equivalences
• Cost of studies
• Quality of degrees and institutions
• Online or distance programme
• Scholarships programmes
• Scholarships for French students or students living in France
• Welcoming of students and researchers in exile

• Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC)
• Reception services in your city
• Prepare your budget
• Bank account
• Working while studying in France
• Learning French
• Finding a student sponsor
• Organising your stay as a scholarship holder
• Being a student with a disability in France

• French regions
• French language
• Getting around
• Join the France Alumni network
• Finding work in France
• How to start a company in France

• Le séjour de recherche
• The role of Campus France
• The tools of Campus France for international researchers
• Research Labs
• Mapping French research
• Outstanding French researchers
• Overview of French research by field
• Excellence of French research in videos
• Accueil des étudiants et des chercheurs en exil

• What is involved in a Doctorate in France?
• Doctoral Schools directory
• PhD subjects
• Pre-Doctorate programmes
• How to enrol in a Doctorate
• How to finance your Doctorat (PhD)
• Use the "Research" portal
• FAQ – Doing my Doctorate in France

• Study in a Post-Doctorate in France
• Join a summer school
• Come to France with the status of invited professor

• Reception programmes and doctoral student associations
• Apply for your visa / Validate your residence permit
• Prepare for your arrival in France
• Finding accommodation in France
• Social Security for doctoral students and researchers
• Living in France

• Programs with Sub-Saharan Africa countries
• Programs with Asian countries
• Programs with European countries
• Programs with Oceania countries
• Programs with American countries

• Campus France missions
• Campus France organisation
• Campus France activities by geographic area
• Events organised by Campus France
• Public procurement
• Mobile applications

• Operation and governance
• Joining the Forum
• Member benefits
• Committees and workshops
• Updating your information online

• France Alumni network
• European projects
• Choose France, La stratégie d'attractivité des étudiants internationaux
• The French+Sciences program

• Campus France expertise
• Make Our Planet Great again
• Le programme « Partenariats avec l’enseignement supérieur africain »
• Le programme de bourses IsDB-France
• Scholarships program for Syrian students in exile in France
• Pakistan: Higher Education Commission scholarships programmes
• Les bourses pour les étudiants français ou résidant en France

• L'accueil des étudiants internationaux
• Label Bienvenue en France
• Nos événements
• Le réseau des responsables de l'accueil
• L'accueil des étudiants réfugiés et en exil
• L'accueil des étudiants en situation de handicap
• Les mémos de Campus France
• Afrique du Sud
• Burkina Faso
• Congo - Brazzaville
• Côte d'Ivoire
• République Démocratique du Congo
• Corée du Sud
• Ouzbékistan
• Philippines
• Territoire de Taïwan
• Biélorussie
• République tchèque
• Royaume-Uni
• Arabie Saoudite
• Émirats arabes unis
• République dominicaine
• Resources center

Tourism: 2023, a record year for France

Before 2024, a year that may be exceptional, 2023 may be a record year for France in terms of tourism attractiveness! Atout France has published a trend keynote explaining that in late November, revenues of international tourism in France reached about 59 billion euros (+12% compared with 2019). The year 2023 may be a record year, with an overall total of 63 billion euros in international revenues. This trend may be due to several factors: a sharp growth of clients from North America, a confirmed pick-up for European clients, a positive impact of the Rugby World Cup and a gradual comeback from Asian markets.

The keynote was released during the second Destination France summit held on 12 January in the Chantilly palace. French president Macron presided the event, and seized the opportunity to remind “ the strategic nature of tourism industry for France ”, which welcomed millions of international travellers in 2023 .

Tourism, a strategic sector of French economy

President Macron welcomed about 200 business leader and decisionmakers from the biggest international and French groups in tourism industry during the second Destination France summit. As the government website explains, the Summit was held “ in the light of an exceptional year for French tourism and the soft power of our country ”, a year that will be marked by several highlights: the commemoration of the Normandy landing, the reopening of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Francophonie Summit planned in autumn.

The Summit was indeed the perfect opportunity to present “ the assets of France for investments in terms of tourism and the economic rearmament and attractiveness policy ”. The idea is to maintain “ France in the first place in terms of tourism destination worldwide ” and keep “ the first place in terms of attraction of foreign investments in Europe ”, while having the ambition of “ becoming the first sustainable nation in the world ”. And the government website reminds that tourism industry is a strategic sector of the industry reaching about 2 million jobs in France (across all job denomination) and represents about 7.5% of French GDP .

Growth trend

While waiting for 2024, which may well be an exceptional year , the previous year was just as buoyant. In detail, the account of the balance of payments in tourism industry reached a record 16.5 billion euros in late November . In total, out of the first 11 months of 2023, 58.9 billion euros in international revenue were recorded, i.e. 9% more than in 2022 and 3% compared with 2019 (the year before the health crisis). Such figures show the growth of European clients and the comeback of Asian clients :

• for “neighbour” Europe: +37% for the Belgians, +21% for the Dutch, +20% for the British;
• for the Asian area: +36% for Japan, +20% for China.

Regarding the international air traffic , in spite of a slight decline, North America (Canada and Mexico in particular) and destinations from Asia present a strong growth compared with 2019 and 2022. As such, bookings made in December confirm the “growth trend” mostly for Japan and Canada, but also Spain and Italy.

Key sector in terms of employment

In economic terms and in the accommodation and catering, the tourism industry records an overall +7% increase of the number of business creations compared with 2022 and +4% compared with 2019 .

With a total 38,700 jobs created over one year , the tourism industry “is again the first recruiting industry in France”, says the keynote And more precisely, in the 3rd quarter of 2023, the accommodation and catering sector recorded 1.3 million employees in the private sector , a +1.3% increase compared with 2022 and a +12% increase compared with 2019. Some 15,000 jobs were created in the 3rd quarter of 2023, while the average salary increased by 3.5% compared with 2022, i.e. an 8 billion euros total payroll .

Related contents

• The Destination France Summit on the Elysée palace website https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2024/01/11/deuxieme-edition-du-sommet-destination-france
• The Destination France Summit on Atout France website https://www.atout-france.fr/actualites/sommet-destination-france-2eme-edition
• Atout France Trend Keynote about tourism in late 2023 https://www.atout-france.fr/sites/default/files/imce/note_conjoncture_dec2023.pdf

Recommended News

Follow the main steps to come study in France

International tourism, expenditures (current US$) - France

Selected Countries and Economies

All countries and economies.

• Privacy Notice
• Access to Information

This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. To learn more about cookies, click here.

France Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 25 June 2024

For over 30 years, France has consistently held the title of the world’s most visited destination, and it’s no wonder why. Known for its romantic cities, iconic landmarks, world-renowned cuisine, art, culture and fashion, France has long captured the imaginations of travellers from across the globe.

How many tourists visit France each year?

• In 2019, France welcomed 90.91 million international visitors.
• Visitors number declined to 41.68 million in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, France saw a slight recovery in 2021 with 48.40 million international visitors.
• This trend continued to rise resulting in 93.20 million international visitors in 2022, indicating a 124% increase compared to 2020 and 3% higher than 2019 (pre-pandemic).
• Over 100 million tourists travelled to France in 2023. 1
• International arrivals in France for the first half of 2024 are expected to be at 93% of the same period in 2019. 2

How many tourists are expected to visit France in 2024? 

• International visits to France are expected to reach a new record of over 100 million in 2024, largely influenced by the 2024 Paris Olympics . Previously recorded highs include 100 million visits in 2023 and 90.91 million in 2019.

• Read more: France Tourism Statistics: 2024 Forecasts

How much do people spend in France each year?

• From $63.5 billion in 2019, international tourism expenditure dropped to $32.6 billion (a 51% decrease) in 2020 due to border closures and travel restrictions.
• France saw signs of recovery in 2021 with $40.8 billion and in 2022 with $59.7 billion in tourist revenue.
• In 2023, France generated $68.6 billion in tourist revenue. 3 This marked a 110% increase in tourist expenditure compared to 2020 and an 8% increase compared to 2019.

Where do visitors to France come from?

The United Kingdom has traditionally been the leading source of tourists to France. In 2018, the number of tourists from the United Kingdom amounted to 13 million , followed closely by Germany with 12.3 million and Belgium with 11.6 million . 4

How many people visited France in 2022?

• In 2022, over 93.2 million tourists visited France, indicating a strong rebound from pandemic years and a 3% increase compared to the 2019 peak.

How much did people spend in France in 2022?

• France generated $59.7 billion in international tourism revenue in 2022, indicating an 83% increase compared to 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, but still 6% less than the 2019 peak.

How long do visitors stay in France?

• International visitors spent an average of 6.4 nights in France in 2018. For domestic visitors within France, the average stay was slightly longer at 8.2 nights .

How popular is France as a tourist destination?

• With over 85 million visitors every year, France has been consistently ranked as the top global tourist destination for over 30 years.

France Travel Resources

• Car rental prices in France
• Car rental prices in Paris – comparison

Economic Impact – France Tourism Statistics

• Tourism is a major contributor to France’s economy. Combining tourism-related spending from both domestic and international visitors, the tourism sector accounted for 7.5% of GDP in 2019.
• In 2019, almost 91 million international tourists visited France, accounting for 21% of France’s service exports. 5

Coronavirus Impact – France Tourism Statistics 2020-2021

France saw a big drop in international arrivals in 2020 and 2021 due to global travel restrictions. 

• International arrivals in France dropped to 41.68 million in 2020, a decrease of 54% from the previous year, before slightly recovering to 48.4 million visitors in 2021.
• Tourism’s contribution to GDP fell by 34% to EUR 114.5 billion , or 5.3% of the economy in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

France Inbound Travel Statistics for 2019 – International & Domestic Tourism

• In 2019, France welcomed over 90.91 million international visitors with tourists spending over $63.5 billion in that year alone.
• The top sources of international visitors have remained largely consistent, with the UK , Germany , Belgium , Italy , Spain , the US and Switzerland making up over half of all foreign tourists annually. 
• In addition, France recorded 186.3 million domestic tourism trips and 306.6 million overnight domestic stays in 2019. 6

Is France still the most visited country?

France remains the world’s leading tourist destination, with over 100 million people from other countries visiting it in 2023, and reports say it will stay number one until at least 2025 .

Why do people visit France?

Most tourists come to France for a holiday , with the number growing from 94.2 million in 2019 to 98.7 million in 2022 . These tourists enjoy France’s rich history, great food, and famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum.

• A large number of tourists travel to France to visit friends and relatives , with the number reaching 87.1 million in 2022. 
• France hosts millions of visitors for business reasons, with 23 million visitors travelling for business in 2022. Major cities like Paris and Lyon hold important global business events that draw professionals from all over the world.
• People also visit France for other personal reasons like attending special events, education, or healthcare, with around 20.2 million visits in 2022. 

What are the top attractions to visit in France?

In 2017, the top five most visited destinations in France were Disneyland Paris (14.86 million visitors), the Louvre Museum (8.02 million visitors), Versailles Palace (7.71 million visitors), the Eiffel Tower (6.20 million visitors), and the Pompidou Centre (3.38 million visitors).

• Disneyland Paris : Considered to be Europe’s leading tourist destination, it is also the driving force behind the urban and economic development of the Val-d’Europe conurbation.
• Louvre Museum : The Louvre is the largest museum in the world, and the glass pyramid marking its entrance has become a global symbol of priceless art.
• Versailles Palace : The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Embellished by several generations of architects, sculptors, decorators, and landscape architects, it provided Europe with a model of the ideal royal residence for over a century.
• The Eiffel Tower : Located in the 7th arrondissement, this immense iron monument, a true architectural and technical feat, is now the symbol of Paris and France.
• Pompidou Centre : Primarily a museum and centre for the visual arts of the 20th and 21st centuries, the Pompidou Centre houses many separate services and activities.

France Outbound Tourism Statistics for 2019

Before the unprecedented events of 2020, 2019 marked a significant year for outbound tourism.

• Over 30.4 million French residents travelled internationally in 2019, contributing  $50.51 billion to the global tourism industry. 
• French residents primarily visited other European countries like Spain ( 6.2 million visits), Italy (3.8 million visits), Belgium (2 million visits), Portugal ( 1.9 million visits ), and Germany ( 1.5 million visits ).

The purposes varied widely, encompassing leisure vacations, business trips, visits to friends and relatives, and participation in cultural or educational programs.

France Travel Statistics Resources

• Disneyland Paris Statistics
• Eiffel Tower Statistics
• Louvre Museum Statistics
• Paris Statistics 2024 – Olympic Games Impact
• Paris Olympic Games 2024 Facts and Statistics
• France Statistics 2024 – Olympic Games Impact

Europe Travel Statistics Resources

• Germany Statistics
• Greece Statistics
• Iceland Statistics
• Italy Statistics
• Norway Statistics
• Portugal Statistics
• Singapore Statistics
• Spain Statistics
• Sweden Statistics
• United Kingdom Statistics
• UNWTO : France Inbound Tourism Arrivals ↩︎
• WTTC : Latest Analysis from WTTC and ForwardKeys – France 2023 ↩︎
• UNWTO : France Inbound Tourism Receipts ↩︎
• EGFR : Tourist in France – 2018 ↩︎
• OECD : Tourism Trends and Policies – France ↩︎
• UNWTO : France Domestic Tourism Trips & Overnights ↩︎
• Français ( French )
• 日本語 ( Japanese )
• Español ( Spanish )

France Tourism Revenues

Tourism revenues in france increased to 5853 eur million in april from 4056 eur million in march of 2024. tourism revenues in france averaged 4114.61 eur million from 2008 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 8069.00 eur million in august of 2023 and a record low of 763.00 eur million in april of 2020. source: banque de france,   markets,   gdp,   labour,   prices,   money,   trade,   government,   business,   consumer,   housing,   taxes,   energy,   health,   climate.

Tourism in France

Development of the tourism sector in france from 1995 to 2021.

World famous landscapes

Côte d'azur, loire valley, revenues from tourism.

All data for France in detail

Tourists will spend a record €800 billion in Europe this summer

Record summer temperatures, exorbitant luxury hotel rates and overcrowded hot spots: Nothing is getting in the way of a European summer vacation. At least, not yet.

A new report from the  European Travel Commission  on tourism spending and travel trends published in the second quarter of 2024 and shared exclusively with Bloomberg confirms that demand for the region is continuing to soar.

International tourists are projected to spend a record €800 billion in Europe this year, the report shows—that’s a 37% increase over pre-pandemic levels of €583 billion, per  United Nations World Tourism Organization  data. Overseas visitor arrivals are also up 6% over 2019 thus far, the report reveals, marking a fresh record for Europe.

Driving this year’s European tourism boom are Americans, the report adds, and 72% of the record tourism spend has so far taken place in western European destinations. Further revenue boosts have come from intra-regional visitors and returning East Asian tourists, notably from China, though Chinese travelers’ spend contribution was not immediately available, ETC said.

“For now, we can see that southern European and Mediterranean destinations remain firm favorites for travelers in Europe,” said Eduardo Santander, chief executive officer at European Travel Commission, in an emailed statement. That’s because tourists continue to prioritize warm weather and value-for-money, he added, both of which can still be found in parts of southern Europe.  

That’s the case with Greece, for example, despite experiencing  increased climate impacts  including heat waves this year and wildfires last year. The latter haven’t had any impact on the destination’s appeal, the report states. Indeed,  the country has seen fancy-yet-affordable hotel options  proliferate this year, most of them away from the pricier haunts of Santorini and Mykonos. 

But northern destinations are fast gaining market share. In fact, the data confirm a shift in European tourism patterns is already underway: More visitors flocked to destinations with temperate weather and fewer crowds in the first half of this year. This  ongoing rise in “coolcations ” has led to notable increases in international overnight stays for Denmark (+38%), Norway (+18%) and Sweden (+9%), year-to-date relative to 2019. 

There’s also a growing preference for  lesser-visited or less-crowded European destinations  in the south, the report shows: Overseas tourist arrivals for Croatia and Malta rose 7.6% and 37% above 2019 levels, respectively, while Albania’s share of overnight tourist arrivals has risen by 86% compared with 2019 levels.

Places with a favorable currency exchange are soaring in popularity, too, whether they’re off-the-beaten-track or not—Bulgaria (+29%), Serbia (+40%) and Turkey (+22%) experienced double-digit growth in international tourist arrivals over pre-pandemic levels. 

As far as online perceptions of Europe, which the report also tracks, the region scored higher than others around the world, according to the ETC, with a score of 46 out of 100 for the second quarter of 2024. In second and third place were the Middle East and Asia Pacific, with scores of 45 and about 35, respectively. Social sentiment measurements are a result of tracking discussions and information on destinations shared on social media, forums, blogs, company websites and online reviews. Zero is considered the middle point, with equally positive and negative mentions.

One thing travelers have soured on is  overtourism  in popular destinations. But the challenge in some places has resulted in opportunity for others. That explains why places such as Magerøya in Norway,  Bornholm in Denmark  and Iona in Scotland are gaining attention. 

Encouraging tourists to venture to under-the-radar locations is key to spreading the benefits brought in by international travelers across Europe, says Santander, especially as small businesses face economic pressures, including higher operational costs and staffing shortages. 

Latest in Lifestyle

Luxury gym CEO scopes out new locations for his $318-a-month fitness centers by standing outside train stations and grading potential members

How cheap properties are behind the ‘White Lotus renaissance’ of Italy’s rural economy 

The German billionaire behind the ‘Olympics on steroids’ is a dinosaur egg-collecting film producer who takes mushroom trips twice a year

A former Nazi bunker in Hamburg just relaunched as a hip new attraction with restaurants and a hotel after a €100 million revamp

Delta is losing $100 million because tourists don’t want to go to the Paris Olympics

Love Island stars prove they’re all about the content and not the crime as they plead not guilty to FX allegations

Most popular.

Millennials and Gen X will inherit $83.5 trillion in the next two decades—but not before spouses of the wealthy obtain their $9 trillion

Citigroup has now been fined more than half a billion dollars for risk issues. CEO Jane Fraser has staked her tenure on fixing the bank

Women can’t fix the ‘broken rung’ unless they acknowledge the role they play in workplace bullying and discrimination

Trump assassination attempt makes election win more likely, and Americans’ willingness to use political violence may be highest since the Civil War, Ian Bremmer says

Jamie Dimon: Prices will be higher for longer

Tesla walks back Robotaxi reveal, sending its stock plummeting

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Contribution of tourism consumption to French GDP 2010-2018

Share of domestic tourism consumption in france's gross domestic product (gdp) from 2010 to 2018.

Additional Information

Show sources information Show publisher information Use Ask Statista Research Service

January 2020

The source indicates the following information: “Base 2014.” “Domestic tourism consumption measures the consumption of French and foreign visitors to France. It groups together internal consumption, which concerns visitors residing in France, and receiving consumption, for visitors residing abroad. " *Data for 2011 and 2012 have been previously published by the source.

Other statistics on the topic

• Most visited Latin American countries 2023

Accommodation

• RevPAR of Marriott International hotels worldwide 2010-2023, by region
• Latin America: top hotel companies 2020, by number of hotels
• Inbound tourism volume in Latin American regions 2010-2021
• Immediate access to statistics, forecasts & reports
• Usage and publication rights
• Download in various formats

* For commercial use only

Basic Account

• Free Statistics

Starter Account

• Premium Statistics

Professional Account

• Free + Premium Statistics
• Market Insights

1 All prices do not include sales tax. The account requires an annual contract and will renew after one year to the regular list price.

Statistics on " Travel and tourism in Latin America "

• Total tourism GDP in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019-2021
• Total tourism GDP in Latin American countries 2021
• Share of total tourism contribution to GDP in Latin American countries 2022
• Total contribution of tourism to employment in Latin America & Caribbean 2019-2021
• Share of tourism in total employment in Latin American countries 2022
• COVID-19 impact on tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean 2020
• Evaluation of the tourist safety and security in Latin American countries 2021
• Inbound tourism spending in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019-2021
• Domestic tourism spending in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019-2021
• Share of tourism spending in Latin America 2021, by purpose
• Share of tourism spending in Latin America 2021, by traveler origin
• Share of inbound tourism in Latin American exports 2020, by country
• Most competitive Latin American countries for tourism 2021
• Leading Latin America city destinations 2023, by traveler ratings
• Cheapest Latin American city destinations for backpackers 2024
• Most competitive Latin American cities for business events 2021
• Average expense of Latin American business travel destinations Q4 2021, by category
• Latin American and Caribbean cities with the highest restaurant price index 2021
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Latin America and the Caribbean 2021, by type
• Quarterly number of hotel projects in Latin America 2021, by project phase
• Latin American countries with most hotel rooms under construction Q4 2021
• Latin American cities with most hotel rooms under construction Q4 2021
• Hotel chains with largest project pipelines in Latin America Q4 2021

Other statistics that may interest you Travel and tourism in Latin America

• Basic Statistic Total tourism GDP in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019-2021
• Basic Statistic Total tourism GDP in Latin American countries 2021
• Basic Statistic Share of total tourism contribution to GDP in Latin American countries 2022
• Basic Statistic Total contribution of tourism to employment in Latin America & Caribbean 2019-2021
• Basic Statistic Share of tourism in total employment in Latin American countries 2022
• Basic Statistic COVID-19 impact on tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean 2020
• Premium Statistic Evaluation of the tourist safety and security in Latin American countries 2021

Tourism volume and expenditure

• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in Latin American regions 2010-2021
• Premium Statistic Most visited Latin American countries 2023
• Basic Statistic Inbound tourism spending in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019-2021
• Basic Statistic Domestic tourism spending in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019-2021
• Basic Statistic Share of tourism spending in Latin America 2021, by purpose
• Basic Statistic Share of tourism spending in Latin America 2021, by traveler origin
• Premium Statistic Share of inbound tourism in Latin American exports 2020, by country

Main destinations

• Premium Statistic Most competitive Latin American countries for tourism 2021
• Basic Statistic Leading Latin America city destinations 2023, by traveler ratings
• Premium Statistic Cheapest Latin American city destinations for backpackers 2024
• Premium Statistic Most competitive Latin American cities for business events 2021
• Premium Statistic Average expense of Latin American business travel destinations Q4 2021, by category
• Premium Statistic Latin American and Caribbean cities with the highest restaurant price index 2021
• Premium Statistic UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Latin America and the Caribbean 2021, by type

Lodging industry

• Premium Statistic Quarterly number of hotel projects in Latin America 2021, by project phase
• Premium Statistic Latin American countries with most hotel rooms under construction Q4 2021
• Premium Statistic Latin American cities with most hotel rooms under construction Q4 2021
• Premium Statistic Hotel chains with largest project pipelines in Latin America Q4 2021
• Premium Statistic Latin America: top hotel companies 2020, by number of hotels
• Basic Statistic RevPAR of Marriott International hotels worldwide 2010-2023, by region

Further related statistics

• Premium Statistic Employee compensation and benefits at Deutsche Bank 2006-2022
• Premium Statistic Music tourist spending at concerts and festivals in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2016
• Basic Statistic Consumer expenditure on live entertainment in the U.S. 1999-2013
• Basic Statistic Consumer expenditure on photo studios in the U.S. 1999-2013
• Premium Statistic Passenger traffic at Dubai Airports from 2010 to 2020*
• Basic Statistic Importance of BRICS countries to UK tourism businesses 2011
• Premium Statistic Coal consumption in South Africa 1998-2022
• Premium Statistic Selling, general and administrative expenses of McDonald's globally 2008-2023
• Basic Statistic Number of Marriott International hotels worldwide 2009-2023
• Premium Statistic Import volume of cobalt in the U.S. 2010-2023

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

• Employee compensation and benefits at Deutsche Bank 2006-2022
• Music tourist spending at concerts and festivals in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2016
• Consumer expenditure on live entertainment in the U.S. 1999-2013
• Consumer expenditure on photo studios in the U.S. 1999-2013
• Passenger traffic at Dubai Airports from 2010 to 2020*
• Importance of BRICS countries to UK tourism businesses 2011
• Coal consumption in South Africa 1998-2022
• Selling, general and administrative expenses of McDonald's globally 2008-2023
• Number of Marriott International hotels worldwide 2009-2023
• Import volume of cobalt in the U.S. 2010-2023

Why are people protesting against tourists in Barcelona?

Thousands of protesters have hit the streets of central Barcelona to denounce mass tourism and its effect on Spain's most visited city, the latest in a series of similar marches around the country.

The protesters stopped in front of hotels and restaurants to confront tourists, symbolically taping off some businesses and carrying signs reading "Barcelona is not for sale" and "Tourists go home".

Footage showed demonstrators shooting colourful water pistols at tourists eating outdoors at restaurants, with some soggy diners awkwardly shuffling to a different table.

"I have nothing against tourism, but here in Barcelona we are suffering from an excess of tourism that has made our city unliveable," said Jordi Guiu, a 70-year-old sociologist.

The group of protesters marching along a waterfront district in Barcelona on Saturday was some 2,800 strong, police said.

Here's what has led to the locals' frustrations bubbling over in the incredibly popular travel destination.

Housing costs in the heart of tensions

The key driver behind the protests is the rising cost of housing due to mass tourism, while the negative effects on local commerce and working conditions also play a role.

Housing costs in Barcelona have increased significantly, with rents up 68 per cent and the cost of buying a house up 38 per cent in the past decade , according to local authorities.

In the past year alone, rents in the city rose by 18 per cent, according to property website Idealista.

"Local shops are closing to make way for stores that do not serve the needs of neighbourhoods. People cannot afford their rents," Isa Miralles, a 35-year-old musician who lives in the Barceloneta district, told AFP.

Short-term holiday rentals under scrutiny

Barcelona's mayor Jaume Collboni announced last month that it was banning tourist apartment rentals by 2028 to combat the "negative effects of mass tourism".

The plan is to scrap the licenses of the 10,000-plus apartments currently approved as short-term rentals and put them back on the local housing market .

"We are confronting what we believe is Barcelona's largest problem," Mr Collboni told a city government event.

The announcement could lead to a legal battle and is opposed by Barcelona's tourist apartments association, APARTUR, which says it will feed the black market.

"Collboni is making a mistake that will lead to [higher] poverty and unemployment," APARTUR said in a statement.

Inside Airbnb, a website providing data about the impact of the vacation rentals platform on residential communities, says there are over 18,000 listings in Barcelona .

More than half of the listings were entire homes or apartments , as opposed to a host renting out a room or section of a property they live in, according to the website. About one in three were unlicensed .

Nearly three quarters of hosts in the city had multiple listings .

Restrictions on short-term rentals have been announced by local governments around the world as residents increasingly get priced out of popular travel destinations due to gentrification and owner preference for lucrative tourist rentals over long-term rentals for locals.

Tourism-reliant economy questioned

Spain has long been a popular holiday destination for its warm weather, rich history and sunny beaches.

But the country is struggling to balance promoting tourism, a key driver of its economy, and addressing citizens' concerns over housing availability and costs.

Spain was the second most-visited country in the world in 2023, behind France, according to World Tourism rankings by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

It received 85 million foreign visitors in 2023, an increase of nearly 20 per cent from the previous year, according to the National Statistics Institute.

The most-visited region of Spain was Catalonia, with 18 million foreign visitors. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia.

The coastal city alone, with its many internationally famous sites such as La Sagrada Familia, received more than 12 million tourists last year, according to local authorities.

The protesters in Barcelona are aware of the importance of tourism to the economy, but want to see that change.

A protester told Reuters one of the reasons she was attending the demonstration was to protest "against the economic model based on mass tourism."

"This model makes us poorer and more dependent," said Nuria Suarez.

Tensions on the rise around Spain

Barcelona isn't the only place in Spain where tourism is creating tension in the local community.

The Barcelona protests come after similar demonstrations in other tourist hotspots such as Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and the Canary Islands, some attended by tens of thousands of people.

Seasonal hospitality workers struggle to find accommodation, with many resorting to sleeping in caravans or even their cars.

The national government is taking notice, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announcing last week that the government would create a registry of holiday rental properties in a bid to limit the number of listings .

Housing Minister Isabel Rodriguez said the registry would be ready by the end of 2025 at the earliest. When that happens, online platforms will have to provide data about hosts to verify if they are allowed to rent their homes.

The government is also looking to take steps to curb mid-term rentals ranging from one to 11 months, and may give neighbours in apartment blocks a say over whether an owner can list their property on platforms, the minister said.

But some don't feel the measures are enough.

"The rise of tourist rentals is a major problem and these measures are not serious," said Victor Palomo, leader of the Madrid Tenants' Union after meeting with the housing minister.

"It can't be that it's only neighbours that are in charge of regulating them," he said, calling for landlords to pay more taxes.

• X (formerly Twitter)

Related Stories

Why aussies sipping aperol in the 'euro summer' sun may not get a warm welcome.

Top Spanish tourist destination plans to scrap holiday rentals

As locals are being priced out of popular tourist towns, a radical solution is being proposed to help them stay

New York is cracking down on Airbnbs. Here's how The Big Apple and other cities are tackling short-term rentals

• Tourism and Leisure Industry

Barcelona to Tackle Overtourism with Increased Tourist Tax

Barcelona, Spain’s most visited city, is taking a major step to address its overtourism problem.

The city has decided to raise its tourism significantly. This change could affect Barcelona’s tourism landscape and might influence other popular places facing the same issue.

Barcelona’s new tourism tax structure

Barcelona’s city council has decided to significantly increase its tourist ta x starting in October 2024.

This is an important change in how the city manages its growing tourism industry.

Right now, visitors to Barcelona pay two tourist taxes : one for the region and one for the city.

The regional tax depends on the type of accommodation. It ranges from €1.70 for four-star hotels to €3.50 for luxury five-star hotels.

Short-term rental accommodations like Airbnb are charged €2.25 per night.

The city tax, which is charged for up to seven nights, is currently €3.25 per night. In October 2024, this will go up to €4 per night, an increase of €0.75.

For those staying in high-end accommodations, the total tax will be substantial. Guests in five-star hotels will pay €7.50 per night, which adds up to €52.50 for a week-long stay, compared to the current €47.25.

Impact on visitors and city’s coffers

This tax increase is expected to have a significant impact on both tourists and the city's finances.

Barcelona's authorities believe that the higher tax will raise tourism-related income from €95 million to €115 million in 2024.

Deputy Mayor Jaume Collboni explained the reason for this decision.

“The economic data for tourism in 2019 is already increasing, not in the number of tourists, but in the amount of income from tourism in Barcelona. It was the objective sought: to contain the number of tourists and increase tourist income because our model is no longer mass tourism but quality tourism, which adds value to the city.”

The city plans to use the extra revenue to improve infrastructure, such as roads, bus services, and escalators.

A growing trend across Europe

Barcelona is not the only place using tourist taxes to manage visitor numbers and their impact. Other popular destinations in Spain and across Europe are doing the same.

In Spain, the Balearic Islands (including Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera) charge a nightly fee of €1 to 4 for each holidaymaker aged 16 and over.

This “Sustainable Tourism Tax” is used to promote better tourism practices and conserve the islands' natural resources.

In Europe, cities like Venice are also taking action.

After years of debate, Venice has introduced a €5 entry fee for day-trippers , which applies on weekends and busy days between April and mid-July.

Other European countries with tourist taxes include:

Austria: An accommodation tax of about 3% of the hotel bill per person

Belgium: A general tourist tax of around €7.50 per night

Bulgaria: A tourist tax of approximately €1.50 per night

Croatia: A seasonal tourist tax of about €1.5 per person per night during summer

France: Variable e-tax fees on hotel bills, with Paris increasing its tax by 200% ahead of the 2024 Olympics

Broader context of combatting overtourism

Barcelona’s decision to raise its tourist tax is part of a larger plan to deal with the challenges caused by overtourism.

The city, which gets about 32 million visitors each year , has been struggling with the negative effects of mass tourism for years.

In 2022, Barcelona introduced measures to reduce disruptions from guided tours, such as noise restrictions and one-way systems in popular areas.

The recent tax increase is another step towards managing the number of tourists and promoting “quality” tourism over just having a large number of visitors.

A spokesperson for Barcelona en Comú, one of the parties that voted for the October increase, stated that “tourism has reached its limit,” showing how urgent the situation is.

Impact on EU visitors

The increase in Barcelona’s tourist tax will affect not only short-term visitors but also European Union (EU) citizens planning longer stays or considering moving to the city. 

While the tax mainly targets tourists, it may impact various travelers and potential immigrants.

For those planning extended stays, such as digital nomads , students, or those on work assignments, the higher cost of accommodation could add up over time.

However, the tourist tax only applies to a maximum of seven nights, which may lessen its effect on long-term residents.

Families thinking about moving to Barcelona for work or lifestyle reasons should consider these additional costs when budgeting for their initial stay.

Similarly, investors in Barcelona’s real estate market might need to think about how the higher tourist tax could affect the profitability of short-term rental properties.

Influence on immigration

Barcelona’s strategy of using taxes to manage tourism could influence immigration policies in the EU.

Although the tourist tax is different from immigration rules, it shows a trend of using economic methods to control the number of people visiting popular places.

This approach aligns with systems like the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) , which aims to improve security and manage travel within the Schengen Area.

ETIAS is mainly a pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers, but both ETIAS and tourist taxes help monitor and manage visitor numbers.

How well Barcelona’s increased tourist tax works could impact future policies in other EU countries facing similar issues.

If it successfully promotes “quality tourism” and controls visitor numbers, other cities might adopt similar measures, which could affect not just short-term visitors but also longer-term residents and immigrants.

However, it is important to remember that tourist taxes and immigration policies operate under different laws.

While cities can implement tourist taxes, immigration policies are usually set at the national level and must follow EU regulations.

The future of tourism in Barcelona and beyond

Barcelona's decision to raise its tourist tax is an effort to balance the benefits of tourism with the need to keep the city livable for residents.

Deputy Mayor Collboni said the goal is to limit the number of tourists while increasing the income from tourism. This strategy could change the future of tourism in the city.

This move raises important questions about the future of popular tourist destinations. Can higher taxes manage visitor numbers without stopping tourism completely? Will other cities copy Barcelona, creating a new way to handle mass tourism?

As Barcelona starts this new tax system, many people will be watching. The success or failure of this plan could affect how cities worldwide deal with the challenges of too many tourists in the future.

For now, visitors to Barcelona should expect higher costs, while residents hope for a more sustainable and balanced approach to tourism.

This site uses cookies only for analytics purposes. Opt-out on the cookie policy page. Or agree and continue

World Bank country classifications by income level for 2024-2025

Eric metreau, kathryn elizabeth young, shwetha grace eapen.

The World Bank Group assigns the world’s economies [1]  to four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high. The classifications are updated each year on July 1, based on the GNI per capita of the previous calendar year. GNI measures are expressed in United States dollars [2]  using conversion factors derived according to the  Atlas method , which in its current form was introduced in 1989 [3] . The World Bank’s income classification aims to reflect a country’s level of development, drawing on  Atlas GNI per capita  as a broadly available indicator of economic capacity. The classification of countries into income categories has evolved significantly over the period since the late 1980s. In 1987, 30% of reporting countries were classified as low-income and 25% as high-income countries. Jumping to 2023, these overall ratios have shifted down to 12% in the low-income category and up to 40% in the high-income category.  The scale and direction of these shifts, however, varies a great deal between world regions. Here are some regional highlights:

• 100% of South Asian countries were classified as low-income countries in 1987, whereas this share has fallen to just 13% in 2023.
• In the Middle East and North Africa there is a higher share of low-income countries in 2023 (10%) than in 1987, when no countries were classified to this category.
• In Latin America and the Caribbean , the share of high-income countries has climbed from 9% in 1987 to 44% in 2023.
• Europe and Central Asia has a slightly lower share of high-income countries in 2023 (69%) than it did in 1987 (71%).  

These changing compositions are depicted visually in the diagram below, which shows country classifications by region and over time since 1987.  

Classification changes

The updated country income classifications for FY25, based on the GNI per capita of 2023, are available  here .

From a statistical perspective, classifications can change for two reasons:

• Changes to Atlas GNI per capita : In each country, factors such as economic growth, inflation, exchange rates, and population growth can all influence the level of Atlas GNI per capita. Revisions to improve methods and data can also have an impact. Updated data on Atlas GNI per capita for 2023 can be accessed  here .
• Changes to classification thresholds : To keep income classification thresholds fixed in real terms, they are adjusted annually for inflation using the  Special Drawing Rights (SDR) deflator , a weighted average of the GDP deflators of China, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Euro Area. The new thresholds for Atlas GNI per capita (in US$) are as follows:  

The chart below shows the economies moving to new income categories this year:  

This year, three countries—Bulgaria, Palau, and Russia—moved from the upper-middle-income to the high-income category:

• Bulgaria  has been steadily approaching the high-income threshold with modest growth throughout the post-pandemic recovery period, which continued in 2023 as real GDP grew 1.8%, supported by consumption demand.
• Palau  also continued its post-pandemic recovery as GDP returned to previous levels, growing by 0.4% in real terms. With inflation (as measured by the GDP deflator) at 8.1%, nominal GNI increased 10.0%.
• Economic activity in  Russia  was influenced by a large increase in military related activity in 2023, while growth was also boosted by a rebound in trade (+6.8%), the financial sector (+8.7%), and construction (+6.6%). These factors led to increases in both real (3.6%) and nominal (10.9%) GDP, and Russia’s Atlas GNI per capita grew by 11.2%.  

Algeria, Iran, Mongolia, and Ukraine all moved up from the lower-middle-income to the upper-middle-income category this year: 

• While the  Algeria n economy grew 4.1% in 2023, the main reason for the upward reclassification was a comprehensive revision to national accounts statistics undertaken by the Algerian authorities (Office National des Statistiques) to align with current international standards. This realignment resulted in an upward revision to the level of GDP (on average 13.3% higher over the 2018-2022 period) due, for example, to the expansion of investment estimates to include research and development, improved methods for measuring production in public administration, and improved coverage of the non-observed economy.
• Iran ’s economy grew 5.0% in 2023, driven mainly by oil exports and supported by gains in services and manufacturing. GNI jumped 39.5% in nominal terms which, combined with the depreciation of the Iranian rial, resulted in a 17.6% increase of the Atlas GNI per capita.
• Mongolia  continued its recovery after the pandemic, with real GDP increasing 7.0% in 2023. Growth was driven by expansions in mining of 23.4%, along with higher export prices which boosted exports by 53.4%.
• Ukraine ’s upward change in classification resulted from a resumption of economic growth in 2023 (real GDP grew 5.3%, following a drop of 28.8% in 2022) along with a continued decline in population, which has fallen more than 15% since the invasion from Russia began. These factors were further amplified by price increases of domestically produced goods and services to result in a large increase in nominal Atlas GNI per capita of 18.5%. While Ukraine’s economy was significantly impaired by Russia’s invasion, real growth in 2023 was driven by construction activity (24.6%), reflecting a sizable increase in investment spending (52.9%) supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction effort in the wake of ongoing destruction.

West Bank and Gaza was the only country whose classification moved downward this year. The conflict in the Middle East began in October 2023, and while the impact on West Bank and Gaza was limited to the fourth quarter, its scale was nonetheless sufficient to lead to a 9.2% drop in nominal GDP (-5.5% in real terms). Since West Bank and Gaza’s economy was close to the threshold (it entered the upper-middle-income category only last year), these declines brought Atlas GNI per capita back down to the lower-middle-income category.

More information

Detailed information on how the World Bank Group classifies countries is available  here . The  country and lending groups  page provides a complete list of economies classified by income, region, and World Bank lending status and includes links to prior years’ classifications. The classification tables include World Bank member countries, along with all other economies with populations greater than 30,000. These classifications reflect the best available GNI figures for 2023, which may be revised as countries publish improved final estimates. Data for  GNI ,  GNI per capita ,  GDP ,  GDP PPP , and  Population  for 2023 are now available on the World Bank's Open Data Catalog. Note that these are estimates and may be revised. For more information, please contact us at  [email protected] .  

[1]  The term country, used interchangeably with economy, does not imply political independence but refers to any territory for which authorities report separate social or economic statistics. [2]  In countries where dual or multiple exchange rates are in use, the exchange rate used to convert local currency units to US$ is an average of these exchange rates, provided necessary data are available. [3]  For data beginning in reference year 1987. The authors are pleased to acknowledge the essential contributions of our colleagues,  Charles Kouame , and  Tamirat Yacob to the preparation of this piece. Please note: The country classification described here aims to serve analytical purposes and changes have no direct impact on the eligibility for World Bank resources. In the classification used for World Bank operational purposes, a range of additional criteria are considered to determine country eligibility and the terms and conditions of Bank financing. For more information, please see the  IBRD Financial Products web page.

• East Asia and Pacific
• Europe and Central Asia
• Latin America & Caribbean
• Middle East and North Africa
• The World Region

Get updates from Data Blog

Thank you for choosing to be part of the Data Blog community!

Your subscription is now active. The latest blog posts and blog-related announcements will be delivered directly to your email inbox. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Senior Economist

Economist, Development Data Group, Development Economics

Consultant, Development Data Group, World Bank

Join the Conversation

• Share on mail
• comments added

Barcelona locals furious over tourism's socioeconomic, environmental 'impact on city and population'

Issued on: 13/07/2024 - 14:40 Modified: 13/07/2024 - 14:42

To display this content from , you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.

For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the Barcelona's inhabitants' fury over the dark side of the tourism industry and the toll it is taking on the locals and their overall quality of life, Gavin Lee is joined by Daniel Pardo Rivacoba, Member of the Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth (Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic). Spain's tourism minister has condemned the actions of a small group of protesters who sprayed visitors to Barcelona with water pistols last weekend, saying on Thursday they did not represent the country's culture of hospitality. Activists protesting against the effects of mass tourism on the city marched through the city centre over the weekend chanting slogans such as "tourists go home". Some surrounded restaurants and a small group of fewer than a dozen squirted at people they identified as foreign tourists with water guns. Jordi Hereu, who previously served as Barcelona's mayor, told reporters that while the demonstrators' actions were reprehensible, the incident was exaggerated by the international media.

• Economic crisis
• political crisis
• FRANCE 24 guest

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Photography
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Macron keeps France’s prime minister in place for ‘stability of the country’ after chaotic election

A coalition of the French left that quickly banded together to beat a surging far right in legislative elections won the most seats in parliament but not a majority, according to polling projections Sunday. The most prominent of the leftist coalition’s leaders, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, hailed the projected result. Far-right National Rally President Jordan Bardella rued ‘the dishonorable alliance.’ And French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said he would resign.

French police dispersed election night crowds in Paris and Nantes with tear gas on Sunday evening, even though gatherings were largely peaceful across the country.

Surprise polling projections in France showed a leftist coalition that came together to try to keep the far right from power has won the most parliamentary seats in Sunday’s runoff elections.

Elected parliament member Aurelien Rousseau, of the leftist coalition New Popular Front, arrives at the National Assembly, Monday, July 8, 2024 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Monday, in the wake of a chaotic election result that left neither left, right, nor center with a majority in the National Assembly. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

• Copy Link copied

Demonstrators set off smoke flares as they react to projected results after the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Nantes, western France. Polls have closed in France, and polling projections say a coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly has won the most parliamentary seats in the pivotal runoff elections after a high turnout among voters. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)

Far-left France Unbowed party member Mathilde Panot arrives to meet reporters outside the party headquarters Monday, July 8, 2024 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Monday, in the wake of a chaotic election result that left neither left, right, nor center with a majority in the National Assembly. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Far-left La France Insoumise - LFI - (France Unbowed) founder Jean-Luc Melenchon delivers a speech at the party election night headquarters, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. A coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly ahead of France’s snap elections won the most parliamentary seats in the vote, according to polling projections Sunday. The surprise projections put President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance in second and the far right in third. At left is LFI’s Mathilde Pant and at center Manuel Bompard. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

People wave French flags as they react to projected results after the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Nantes, western France. Polls have closed in France, and polling projections say a coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly has won the most parliamentary seats in the pivotal runoff elections after a high turnout among voters. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the voting booth before voting for the second round of the legislative elections in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France, Sunday July 7 2024. (Mohammed Badra, Pool via AP)

A voter casts his ballot during the second round of the legislative elections, in Lyon, central France, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Far-right National Rally party president Jordan Bardella reacts as he delivers a speech after the second round of the legislative election, Sunday, July 7, 2024 at their election night headquarters in Paris. A coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly ahead of France’s snap elections won the most parliamentary seats in the vote, according to polling projections Sunday. The surprise projections put President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance in second and the far right in third. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Olivier Faure, First Secretary of the Socialist Party, clenches his fist after the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024, at the party election night headquarters in Paris. A coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly ahead of France’s snap elections won the most parliamentary seats in the vote, according to polling projections Sunday. The surprise projections put President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance in second and the far right in third. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

People react to the projection of results during the second round of the legislative elections, near Republique Plaza in Paris, France. Polls have closed in France, and polling projections say a coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly has won the most parliamentary seats in the pivotal runoff elections after a high turnout among voters.(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

People react to the projection of results during the second round of the legislative elections, near Republique Plaza in Paris, France, Sunday, July 7, 2024. Polls have closed in France, and polling projections say a coalition on the left that came together unexpectedly has won the most parliamentary seats in the pivotal runoff elections after a high turnout among voters. Sign reads “The extreme right shall not pass. From Gaza to Paris Intifada”. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A couple walks past electoral posters showing far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella during second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Mittelschaeffolsheim , eastern France. France votes Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision — or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Far-left France Unbowed party member Manuel Bompard, with Mathilde Panot at left, speaks to reporters outside the party headquarters Monday, July 8, 2024 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Monday, in the wake of a chaotic election result that left neither left, right, nor center with a majority in the National Assembly. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Far-left France Unbowed party member Manuel Bompard arrives to meet reporters outside the party headquarters Monday, July 8, 2024 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Monday, in the wake of a chaotic election result that left neither left, right, nor center with a majority in the National Assembly. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Far-left France Unbowed party member Manuel Bompard speaks to reporters outside the party headquarters Monday, July 8, 2024 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal Monday, in the wake of a chaotic election result that left neither left, right, nor center with a majority in the National Assembly. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of France’s prime minister, asking him on Monday to remain temporarily as the head of the government after a chaotic election result left the government in limbo.

Voters split the legislature on the left, center and far right, leaving no faction even close to the majority needed to form a government. The results from Sunday’s vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union’s second-largest economy.

Macron gambled that his decision to call an early election would give France a “moment of clarification,” but the outcome showed the opposite, less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics , when the country will be under an international spotlight.

The French stock market fell upon opening before quickly recovering, possibly because markets had feared an outright victory for the far right or the leftist coalition.

Far-left La France Insoumise - LFI - (France Unbowed) founder Jean-Luc Melenchon, right, clenches his fist with other party members after the second round of the legislative elections Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

People stand in Republique Plaza as they react to the projection of results during the second round of the legislative elections, in Paris, France, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

People gather at the Republique plaza after the second round of the legislative election, Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

People gather at the Republique plaza after the second round of the legislative election, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal delivers a speech after the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen answers reporters after the second round of the legislative election, Sunday, July 7, 2024 at the party election night headquarters in Paris. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Bicycles burn during tensions near Republique plaza following the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

People react to the projection of results during the second round of the legislative elections, near Republique Plaza in Paris, France, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had said he would remain in office if needed, but offered his resignation Monday morning. Macron, who named him just seven months ago, immediately asked him to stay on “to ensure the stability of the country.” Macron’s top political allies joined the meeting with Attal at the presidential palace, which ended after about 90 minutes.

On Sunday, Attal made clear that he disagreed with Macron’s decision to call the surprise election. The results of two rounds of voting left no obvious path to form a government for the leftist coalition that came in first, Macron’s centrist alliance or the far right.

Over 50 countries go to the polls in 2024

• The year will test even the most robust democracies. Read more on what’s to come here .
• Take a look at the 25 places where a change in leadership could resonate around the world.
• Keep track of the latest AP elections coverage from around the world here.

Newly elected and returning lawmakers on Monday gathered at the National Assembly to begin negotiations over a new government in earnest. Macron himself will leave midweek for a NATO summit in Washington .

Talks over who should form a new government and who should lead the foreign, interior and finance ministries among others, are expected to be extremely difficult and lengthy given that political parties negotiating a deal have diametrically opposing policies and contempt for one another.

“We are in a situation that is totally unprecedented,” said Jean-Didier Berger, a newly elected lawmaker from the conservative Republicans party.

Aurélien Rousseau, a newly elected lawmaker from the New Popular Front and former minister in Macron’s government acknowledged disagreements within the leftist alliance over the government formation, but said the alliance could eventually reach an agreement.

“We need to build compromises, but we need to take time to discuss, to know what we agree on or disagree within the left,” Rousseau said.

Another New Popular Front lawmaker, Jérôme Guedj of the French Socialists party, said the leftist alliance won’t buckle under pressure to name its candidate for the next prime minister who could govern alongside Macron.

“This is a confusing moment (and) we’re not going to add anxiety, unnecessary division at a moment when we need to find the right path,” Guedj said.

Political deadlock could have far-ranging implications for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine , global diplomacy and Europe’s economic stability. Still, at least one leader said the result was a relief.

“In Paris enthusiasm, in Moscow disappointment, in Kyiv relief. Enough to be happy in Warsaw,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council president, posted on X late Sunday.

According to official results released early Monday, all three main blocs fell far short of the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the most powerful of France’s two legislative chambers.

The results showed just over 180 seats for the New Popular Front leftist coalition, which placed first, to beat Macron’s centrist alliance, with more than 160 seats. The far-right National Rally part of Marine Le Pen and its allies were restricted to third place, although their more than 140 seats were still way ahead of the party’s previous best showing of 89 seats in 2022.

Macron has three years remaining on his presidential term.

Rather than rallying behind Macron as he’d hoped, millions took the vote as an opportunity to vent anger about inflation, crime, immigration and other grievances, including his style of government.

The New Popular Front’s leaders immediately pushed Macron to give them the first chance to form a government and propose a prime minister. The faction pledges to roll back many of Macron’s headline reforms, embark on a costly program of public spending, and take a tougher line against Israel because of the war with Hamas . But it’s not clear, even among the left, who could lead the government without alienating crucial allies.

“We need someone who offers consensus,” said Olivier Faure, head of the Socialist Party, which joined the leftist coalition and was still sorting out how many seats it won on Monday.

Macron warns that the left’s economic program of many tens of billions of euros in public spending, partly financed by taxes on wealth and hikes for high earners, could be ruinous for France, already criticized by EU watchdogs for its debt.

A hung parliament is unknown territory for modern France, and many people reacted with a mix of relief and apprehension.

“What pollsters and the press were telling us made me very nervous so it’s a huge relief. Big expectations as well,” said Nadine Dupuis, a 60-year-old legal secretary in Paris. “What’s going to happen? How are they going to govern this country?”

The political agreement between the left and center to block the National Rally was largely successful. Many voters decided that keeping the far right from power was more important than anything else, backing its opponents in the runoff, even if they weren’t from the political camp they usually support.

“Disappointed, disappointed,” said far-right supporter Luc Doumont, 66. “Well, happy to see our progression, because for the past few years we’ve been doing better.”

Le Pen, who was expected to make a fourth run for the French presidency in 2027, said the elections laid the groundwork for “the victory of tomorrow.”

Racism and antisemitism marred the electoral campaign, along with Russian disinformation campaigns , and more than 50 candidates reported being physically attacked — highly unusual for France.

Unlike other countries in Europe that are more accustomed to coalition governments, France doesn’t have a tradition of lawmakers from rival political camps coming together to form a majority. France is also more centralized than many other European countries, with many more decisions made in Paris.

Barbara Surk in Nice, and John Leicester, Diane Jeantet and Nicolas Garriga in Paris, contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s global election coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections

More than three million travellers pass through US security, a record

Agents checked 35 passengers per second as travel surged to a new high on Sunday, July 7.

More than three million people passed through United States airport security on Sunday, the first time that number of passengers have been screened in a single day as travel surges, according to the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The record, which was widely predicted to happen at some point over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, topped the June 23 mark of more than 2.99 million screened passengers. Eight of the 10 busiest days in TSA’s history have come this year as the number of travellers tops levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keep reading

What the outcome of france’s snap election means, boeing agrees to plead guilty over 737 max crashes, avoids trial, colombia deforestation fell to historic low last year, texas energy firms assess damage after hurricane beryl batters gulf coast.

TSA was created after the attacks on the US on September 11, 2001, and replaced a collection of private security companies that were hired by airlines. The agency operates under the Department of Homeland Security, which said that agents on Sunday checked 35 passengers every second.

While Americans continue to grapple with inflation, travel costs including airline tickets and hotel prices have eased significantly from a year ago. Hotel rooms were 1.2 percent cheaper in May compared with a year ago, according to recent government inflation data. Those costs have been trending lower since the beginning of the year.

While most US airlines lost money in the first quarter — traditionally the weakest time of year for travel — they were all expecting a summer of full planes.

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said they expected solid second-quarter profits. They joined Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in giving an upbeat outlook for the April-through-June period, which includes the start of peak season for carriers.

Delta reports its second-quarter earnings on Thursday, with analysts predicting sales of $15.5bn, nearly $1bn more than the same period a year ago. Next week, United and American issue their quarterly results, with Wall Street forecasting higher revenue from a year ago for both carriers.

Increasingly full planes since the pandemic shut travel down four years ago have brought one downside for airlines: complaints .

The US Department of Transportation said last week that it received nearly 97,000 complaints in 2023, up from about 86,000 the year before. The department said there were so many complaints that it took until July to sort through the filings and compile the figures.

That’s the highest number of complaints about airlines since 2020, when airlines were slow to give customers refunds after the pandemic shut down air travel.