Solo Travel Statistics - Trends And Facts In 2024 | WaytoStay (2024)

Exploring the world alone might seem daunting, but it shouldn’t be. More and more people are choosing solo travel over traveling with a partner, with friends, or even as part of a group tour, given the number of benefits this travel style offers. While it might seem reassuring to have someone by your side when in a foreign country, someone to share the planning with and perhaps support you when things get a little stressful, the advantages of solo travel far outweigh the disadvantages, and if you don’t believe me, keep on reading.

As someone who has spent most of her adult life as a solo female traveler, I can safely and honestly say that this type of travel is one of the best – if not the best ways to see the world. I am a huge advocate for getting out into the world, finding your feet, and meeting new people, and by traveling solo, you will find that this comes easier than you first thought and certainly requires a little nudge out of your comfort zone – but that’s what life is all about.

So, if you have been planning a solo adventure or are a data nerd wanting to know the facts and figures related to solo travel trends, this article is for you.

I will not only give you my honest experience of solo travel, but I will also include 50+ solo travel statistics proving that this trend is getting popular with budding nomads.

What is Solo Travel?

Solo travel is pretty self-explanatory since it consists of you traveling by yourself. That’s right, solo travel means that you are not traveling with friends as part of a group tour or a partner, but instead, you take on your world adventures on your own. While there is a common misconception that being a solo traveler means you will be lonely or won’t meet anyone for the duration of your trip, the truth is that this is a myth, and it is quite the opposite in reality.

Statistics show that more and more people are choosing this way of traveling because they want to reap the benefits, such as meeting more people, personal growth, and, most importantly, stepping out of their comfort zone. As a solo traveler, you embark on the journey alone, but that is not to say that it is a lonely road; it is a much easier way to meet people, especially others traveling solo.

What are the Benefits of Travelling Solo?

So, what are the key benefits of being a solo traveler? I thought you’d never ask.

• Self-Discovery & Personal Growth
• You embrace more responsibility
• You quickly meet people since you appear more approachable as a solo traveler
• You have the freedom to do whatever you want and change your plan at any time
• Empowerment and independence
• Enhanced or newfound problem-solving skills
• It’sIt’s easier to integrate into local cultures and meet local people

And many more!

The Top Countries for First-Time Solo Travellers

• Australia
• Thailand
• Canada
• New Zealand
• United States
• Iceland

Solo Travel Versus with Others

Many people wonder about the most significant differences between solo travel and traveling with others, apart from the obvious reasons. Firstly, traveling alone means you are entirely reliant on yourself and responsible for solving your problems and finding solutions to travel issues. You are also the primary planner, so everything you do and see is your responsibility, which can evoke a strong sense of independence and empowerment, especially if you have never experienced this kind of freedom.

Solo travel differs from traveling with others since you are more approachable to locals and solo travelers, meaning you tend to meet more people than in your comfort zone. Traveling alone means you have much more flexibility and freedom to change your plans at the last minute, decide what to visit, where to eat, what activities to undertake, and where to stay, without compromising with someone else.

Some other key differences are that instead of sharing the “workload,” you have full responsibility, which can evoke more stress than traveling with others, the costs can be shared with fellow travelers, and there is a sense of safety and security when traveling with friends or in a group. There are benefits to both traveling styles, but here we will discuss solo travel and the statistics that go with it.

What Are the Best Ways to Meet People as a Solo Travel

• In your hostel/accommodation
• On excursions like walking tours or boat trips
• Online platforms like Facebook groups or forums
• Cafes and public spaces
• Events and workshops

50+ Solo Travel Statistics

With that in mind, you might be interested in emerging solo travel trends. So, let’s look at 50+ solo travel statistics to give you an insight into this ever-popular travel style.

1. According to a survey carried out by Kayak, online searches for solo-traveler flights are 36% higher this year (2023) than in 2022. (Kayak)

2. A survey by Skyscanner shows that 29% of travelers are considering a solo trip in 2023. (Skyscanner)

3. It was revealed that 52% of them choose to go their way because family and friends don’t share their travel interests. (Skyscanner)

4. This same Skyscanner survey showed that 51% of U.K. travelers cited a solo trip as necessary for their mental health wellness, with one week deemed the perfect duration. (Skyscanner)

5. Singles (57%) and Divorcees (59%) ranked amongst the highest in their readiness to embark on a solo holiday in 2023, setting a new solo travel trend. (Skyscanner)

6. According to a Solo Traveler Reader Survey, 16% of Americans took a solo trip in 2022, and in 2023, 25% of Americans are considering a solo trip. (Source)

7. In addition, 70% of solo travelers take a tour to destinations that they are not confident in going to themselves. (Source)

8. It also revealed that 66% of solo travelers opt to take a group tour because the details are all handled, and the tour company handles all the planning. (Source)

9. The survey showed that more than 40% of solo travelers surveyed take a group tour because some adventures are only available on a planned tour. (Source)

10. Regarding safety, 41% of solo travelers opt for a tour because they feel safer. (Source)

11. In 2021, Google data showed that post-pandemic solo travel had risen by 761.15%, with that number increasing annually. (Source)

12. According to Intrepid Travel, 60% of their tours are being booked by solo travelers (Intrepid Travel)

13. According to this 2023 report by The Wandering R.V, one in six people in the U.S.U.S. have taken a vacation alone (Report)

14. It also revealed that Australia was the number one destination for solo travelers, with 71% visiting the country. (Report)

15. In terms of distribution, 84% of solo travelers were women (Report)

16. Regarding solo travel trends, the solo travel hashtag was 5.2 million in 2020. (Report)

17. As of August 2023, the solo travel hashtag has totaled 8.7 million, while the solo traveler hashtag totaled 2.6 million (Instagram)

18. According to a 2022 solo travelers readers survey, 74% of people revealed they wanted to see the world without waiting for others when asked their reasons for solo traveling (Survey)

19. While 63% preferred the flexibility and freedom of solo traveling (Survey)

20. When asked how they prefer to travel as a solo traveler, 73% preferred to go it alone (Survey)

21. While 50% chose to join a group tour (Survey)

22. The survey, which asked 1560 people how much they spend on solo trips, revealed that 36% spent between $1000 – $2000, the highest percentage (Survey)

23. Regarding their chosen destinations, 30% of these solo travelers picked Europe. (Survey)

24. Booking.com revealed the most common travel trends for 2023 included out of comfort zone 73% (Booking.com)

25. Their data also shows that pre-pandemic, only 14% of travelers were going it alone, while this doubled to 23% by mid-2021. (Source)

26. Exodus Travels has seen an increase of 9% in solo travelers booking their trips (Source)

27. Solo travel is set to dominate the global leisure travel market due to social media influence, different preferences and interests, and psychographic traits. (Source)

28. Regarding working while on vacation as a solo traveler, this Skyscanner survey showed that only 5% of divorcees or single travelers plan to do any work on a holiday. (Skyscanner)

29. Compared to the 40% of travelers married or in a relationship, who intend to break away from their partners while on holiday for work-related matters (Skyscanner)

30. This same survey showed that 39% of Divorcee travelers are beach-bound for their solo trips (Skyscanner)

31. While 25% of singletons prefer city breaks for their solo trip (Skyscanner)

32. Statista revealed that in the U.S, Gen Xers are the most likely to take a solo trip (Statista)

33. It revealed that the average spend of European solo travelers per travel transaction was around 285 euros in 2020. (Statista)

34. In a solo travel survey by Statista, 20% of people said they are motivated by the ability to meet like-minded solo travelers. (Statista)

35. Statista revealed that only 6% of solo travelers spend over $4000 weekly on solo trips. (Statista)

36. It revealed that 20% of men are more likely to camp on a solo trip than women. (Statista)

37. According to this recent ranking, Japan was revealed to be the safest destination for solo travelers in 2023, with a safety index of 76.9/100 (Source)

38. Followed by Switzerland at 76.4, Slovenia at 75.8, and Croatia at 75.4, while Iceland, which has ranked number one in previous years, was ranked as the fifth safest at 75.1 (Source)

39. According to these solo travel statistics regarding solo female travel, the most dangerous country for women to travel alone to is South Africa (Source)

40. With Brazil, Russia, Mexico, and Iran making the list of unsafe countries for solo female travelers (Source)

41. Solo travelers travel three or more times per year and makeup 11% of the travel industry (Source)

42. Regarding post-pandemic solo travel trends, the most considerable increase in solo travel in 2022 came from female solo travelers aged 65 and older, going from 4% in 2019 to 18% in 2022 (Source)

43. According to Klook, solo travel was the number one travel trend in 2019 (Klook)

44. Data collected by travel company Go Ahead Tours shows that Spain, Italy, Greece, New Zealand, and Australia are the top trend are the top trending destinations for solo travelers in 2023. (Source)

45. Travel company Kuoni has seen a 25% increase in solo travel post-pandemic to destinations such as Italy, France, Armenia, Turkey, and Egypt. (Source)

46. Regarding solo travel trends, this travel style is estimated to account for 17% of all global travel post-pandemic. (Source)

47. According to recent research by the founder of The Flashpacker website, the average age of a solo traveler is 47. (Source)

48. 73% of solo female travelers worry about safety – and it’s the main reason that prevents women from traveling (Source)

49. In light of this statistic, Hostelworld has launched a new app called The Solo System for solo travelers can connect since safety is a fear for many solo travelers, especially women (Hostelworld)

50. Hostelworld revealed that over half of their customers are solo travelers, and the demand for this app was high (Hostelworld)

51. Their research showed that 72% feel nervous ahead of their trip (Hostelworld)

52. while 30% dread introducing themselves first (Hostelworld)

53. According to Hostelworld, the top U.S destinations for solo travelers in 2023 are Truro, Massachusetts, Silverthorne, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico (Hostelworld)

54. Some other solo traveler-friendly destinations worldwide included Kilkenny in Ireland, El Nido in The Philippines, and Cat Ba Island in Vietnam. (Hostelworld)

55. There was a 131% increase in Google searches for ‘solo travel’ between 2016 and 2019. (Source)

Conclusion

As you might have guessed, solo travel is on the rise, with more and more people being influenced by social media, word of mouth, and current travel trends. With the bonus of specialized tours catered to solo travelers, Hostelworlds dedicated a ‘Solar System’ app to help solo travelers connect, and more countries offering safe surroundings for solo female travelers, solo traveling is becoming much more accessible.

From these statistics, we can see that more people are adamant about seeing the world rather than waiting on others to join them, while others see it as a necessary step to keep their mental health in check. Solo travel is here to stay, and we can see it growing increasingly popular as the years go on and people become more curious about the world, expanding their horizons and putting themselves first.