2 weeks ago
Netherlands, Sweden top foreign travel; India at 3%
Imagine a big list that shows how many people from different countries have traveled to another country.
In the Netherlands and Sweden, almost everyone—99 out of 100 people—has traveled to another country.
Germany, the UK, Canada, and France are also near the top of the list.
But in India, only 3 out of 100 people have traveled abroad, and Indonesia and Nigeria also have very low numbers.
The list shows that people from rich countries travel abroad much more often.
All of the top 16 countries on the list are high-income countries.
People from poorer countries are less likely to travel to other countries.
The place where you live matters too.
Because European countries are close to each other and have good trains and planes connecting them, it is easy for Europeans to cross borders.
Countries like Japan and the United States are rich but have fewer travelers because they are big, have lots to see at home, and are far from other countries.
99% of adults in the Netherlands and Sweden have travelled abroad, the highest share recorded in the data.
India ranks at the bottom of the list, with only 3% of its population having travelled abroad.
High-income economies occupy all of the top 16 spots in the international travel ranking.
Europe dominates the top of the ranking due to short distances between nations and extensive cross-border transport networks.
Japan (65%) and the US (76%) are high-income exceptions, attributed to large domestic tourism markets and geographic separation from borders.
- Who
- Adults in countries including the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Japan and the US.
- What
- A ranking of countries by the share of adults who have travelled abroad, showing that international travel is more common in high-income economies.
- Where
- A global comparison, with Europe dominating the top end of the ranking.
- When
- The ranking is based on the World Bank's 2024-2025 country income classifications; the specific survey period is not stated.
- Why
- Financial resources drive the differences, while geography also matters—short distances and extensive cross-border transport benefit European travellers.
Key facts
- Highest travel share
- Netherlands and Sweden – 99%
- India's travel share
- 3%
- Other low shares
- Indonesia 6%, Nigeria 9%
- High-income travellers
- Germany 96%, UK 94%, Canada 92%, France 90%
- Top of ranking
- All 16 top spots held by high-income economies (World Bank 2024-2025 classifications)
- Bottom of ranking
- All 8 countries where fewer than half of adults travelled abroad are lower-middle or upper-middle income
- High-income exceptions
- Japan 65%, US 76%







