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Destinations Where Tourists Outnumber Locals
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Key Takeaways
- Microstates and small territories dominate the list, with Andorra averaging over 52 tourists per resident and Macao at 24.
- Tourism brings economic benefits but can also spark local concerns over overdependence and lifestyle impacts.
The data for this map comes from UN Tourism. It compares the number of annual tourist arrivals with resident population, producing a “tourists per resident” measure. This ratio is a useful lens for understanding the intensity of tourism pressure on a destination.
Malta, for example, welcomes 3.56 million visitors per year, over six times its population.
Worth noting that our map excludes the Vatican, the world’s smallest sovereign nation, which has around 800 residents but can receive over 6 million visitors per year—equivalent to roughly 7,500 tourists per resident.
Microstates Lead the Rankings
Andorra tops the list with more than 52 tourists per resident each year, followed by Macao at 24. These microstates have limited populations but high visitor appeal, from Andorra’s ski resorts to Macao’s casinos.
| Country | Tourist Arrivals (millions) | Population (thousands) | Tourists per Resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra | 4.17 | 80 | 52.13 |
| Macao SAR | 16.4 | 680 | 24.12 |
| Turks & Caicos | 0.73 | 40 | 18.25 |
| Aruba | 1.42 | 110 | 12.91 |
| British Virgin Islands | 0.31 | 30 | 10.33 |
| Cook Islands | 0.17 | 20 | 8.5 |
| Malta | 3.56 | 520 | 6.85 |
| Cayman Islands | 0.44 | 70 | 6.29 |
| N. Mariana Islands | 0.23 | 50 | 4.6 |
| Bahamas | 1.87 | 410 | 4.56 |
| Guam | 0.74 | 170 | 4.35 |
| Albania | 11.29 | 2800 | 4.03 |
| Montenegro | 2.45 | 620 | 3.95 |
| Maldives | 2.05 | 520 | 3.94 |
| Bahrain | 6.62 | 1780 | 3.72 |
| Austria | 32.2 | 9000 | 3.58 |
| Seychelles | 0.35 | 100 | 3.5 |
| Greece | 35.95 | 10400 | 3.46 |
| Cyprus | 4.04 | 1200 | 3.37 |
Island Economies Depend on Visitors
Places like Turks and Caicos, Aruba, and the British Virgin Islands each see more than 10 tourists for every local resident. Their economies rely on hospitality, cruise arrivals, and luxury travel. This dependency, however, means global shocks—like pandemics or hurricanes—can have outsized impacts.
Tourism Pressure on Larger Nations
Even mid-sized countries like Austria and Greece see tourist ratios above 3 per resident. Albania, with 11.29 million visitors, stands out as the only large-population country in the top rankings for tourists per resident.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The 25 Richest Countries in the World (Depending on What’s Measured) on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.