Curious where solo travel really stands in 2026? Here’s your shortcut.
Below is a vetted, organized list of the latest solo travel statistics worth paying attention to.
Key Solo Travel Statistics
- The global solo travel market was valued at about $482.34B in 2024 and is expected to reach roughly $1.07T by 2030.
- The US solo travel market is expected to grow at a 12.5% CAGR from 2025 to 2030.
- The starting price for a one-year solo trip worldwide is $20,000 (per person).
- 59% of solo female travelers said they’d travel independently again.
- The hashtag #solotravel has over 11.1M posts on Instagram as of November 2025.
- 72% of women in the US have traveled solo.
- Most people (61%) travel solo to relax and unwind.
- 49% of solo travelers are worried about getting lonely.
Who Solo Travelers Are
- 38% of solo travelers are between the ages of 18 and 24, and 68% are under the age of 31.
| Age Group | Share of Solo Travelers |
|---|---|
| 18–24 years old | 37.7% |
| 25–30 years old | 29.4% |
| 31–35 years old | 12.3% |
| 36–40 years old | 6.5% |
| 40+ | 14.1% |
- Most solo travelers work full-time, at 38%.
| Employment Status | Share of Solo Travelers |
|---|---|
| In full-time employment | 38% |
| College/university student | 20% |
| Not currently working | 15% |
| Between college/university and starting a job | 10% |
| In part-time employment | 9% |
| In between school and college/university | 8% |
Why They Travel (and What They Enjoy)
- 11% of solo travelers participate in sporting events when traveling.
- 12% of solo travelers engage in extreme sports.
- Approximately 11% of solo travelers enjoy volunteering for non-profit organizations.
- Independence and freedom drive solo travel for 75% of respondents, followed by a desire to connect with other cultures and people at 45%, and a lack of family or friends available at 35%.
- Nearly 55% of solo travelers report that meeting interesting people is what makes a trip truly stand out.
| Reason for Enjoyment | Percentage of Solo Travelers |
|---|---|
| Meeting interesting people along the way | 55% |
| The opportunity to see/visit places I’ve never seen before | 41.2% |
| Discovering new and unexpected experiences | 38.2% |
| Delicious food and culinary experiences | 32.8% |
| Checking off a bucket list or dream destination | 31.2% |
| Meaningful connections I made with locals and experienced their culture | 27.9% |
| Participating in local and typical festivities/events unique to the destination | 14.6% |
| Enjoying the perfect weather conditions | 13.9% |
- In 2024, nearly 76% of affluent American travelers reported being extremely or somewhat open to taking a solo international trip in the next three years.
Where They Go and What Shapes Their Choices
- At least 21% of solo travelers prefer to travel to urban areas.
- Thailand is the top pick for solo travelers.
| Destination | Share of Solo Traveler Bookings |
|---|---|
| Thailand | 7.4% |
| Spain | 6.5% |
| Italy | 5.4% |
| Australia | 5.4% |
| Vietnam | 4.8% |
| Indonesia | 4.2% |
| USA | 3.4% |
| Mexico | 3.3% |
| Germany | 3.3% |
- About 50.6% of solo travelers say affordability or a low cost of living shapes where they go.
| Factor Influencing Destination Choice for Solo Travelers | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Affordability or low cost of living | 50.6% |
| Weather conditions | 49.6% |
| Exploring renowned landmarks or natural/historical marvels | 40.7% |
| Seasonal discounts or deals (e.g., cheap flights, accommodation) | 39.7% |
| Available activities (e.g., surfing, diving, wildlife) | 38.2% |
- Japan topped bucket-list picks, with 23.3% of solo travelers naming it as a desired destination.
| Bucket List Destination | Percentage of Solo Travelers |
|---|---|
| Japan | 23.3% |
| Australia | 14.4% |
| New Zealand | 13.3% |
| Italy | 12.2% |
| Thailand | 11.3% |
- Europe held 37.4% of the global solo travel market in 2024.
- North America held 26.9% of solo travel revenue in 2024.
Challenges, Safety, and How They Prepare
- Safety worries (41%) and loneliness are the most significant sources of hesitation for independent travelers.
| Challenge | Percentage of Solo Travelers |
|---|---|
| Safety concerns | 41% |
| Lack of companionship for special moments | 37% |
| Difficulty meeting new people/making friends | 34% |
| Fear of getting sick | 32% |
- Solo travelers most often address safety concerns by sharing their location with friends and family, at 30%.
| Tactic to Adress Safety Concerns | Percentage of Solo Travelers |
|---|---|
| Informing friends and family about their location | 30% |
| Researching places in advance | 25% |
| Avoiding going out or walking alone at night | 23% |
| Meeting other travelers and staying in groups | 15% |
- About 66% of solo travelers ensure to bring a power bank.
| Item | Percentage of Solo Travelers |
|---|---|
| Powerbank | 66.4% |
| Reusable water bottle | 55% |
| Paper journal, and a pen | 40.6% |
| Laptop | 23.2% |
| Kindle ebook reader | 21.7% |
- Approximately 45% of solo travelers utilize finance apps to manage their budgets.
- Nearly 90% of solo travelers save specifically for their trips, and 16% say they’d consider loans or credit cards to help fund it.
- Almost 10% of solo travelers take on local jobs, such as fruit picking or hospitality, to help fund their trips.
Learn More
Looking for more statistics? Check out these:
- Fun Facts About Traveling
- Known & Unknown Facts About America
- Cruise Industry Statistics
- Interesting Facts About Airplanes & Air Travel
- Vacation Sex Statistics
- Vacation Rental Statistics
- Adventure Tourism Statistics
- Statistics on How Social Media Affects Travel
- Tourism in Europe Statistics
- US Tourism Statistics
- Online Travel Booking Statistics
- Hospitality Industry Statistics
- Car Rental Statistics
- Airline Industry Statistics
- International Tourism Statistics
- Bleisure Statistics
- UK Tourism Statistics
- Airbnb Statistics
- Travel Statistics
- Workation Statistics
- Sustainable Travel Statistics
- Tripadvisor Statistics
Sources
- A Little Drift, “A Little Rtw Budget… How Much Does It Cost to Travel the World for a Year?”
- ABTA, “More Holidaying Alone in Order to Do What They Want”
- Agoda, “Whether for Business, Leisure or ‘Bleisure’, Travelers Are Going Solo”
- Astute Analytica, “Global Leisure Travel Market”
- Ballard J., “What Americans Think of Solo Travel”
- Booking.com, “Do Not Disturb: More Than Half of American Women Travelers Are Going Solo”
- Elliot A., “Why Are So Many of Us Now Choosing to Travel Alone?”
- Hostelworld, “State of Solo Travel Report”
- Karantzavelou V., “Solo Travel Soars in Popularity”
- Klook, “Unpacking Solo Travel: Klook’s Global Survey Uncovers Our Love-Hate Relationship with Solo Travel”
- Kensington Tours, “Travel Trends Report”
- Statista, “Main Obstacles for Female Travelers to Go on a Solo Trip Worldwide”
- Statista, “Motivation for Solo Travel Among Older Generations in the US”
- Statista, “Solo Traveler and All Traveler Activities on Overseas Leisure Trips Worldwide”
- Statista, “Solo Travelers Weekly Spending Worldwide”
As a Digital PR specialist and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Max has 5+ years of writing experience.
Over the course of his career, Max’s work has garnered significant attention, with features in numerous prominent publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, BBC, TechRepublic, Glassdoor, and G2.
