Explore 2025 Solo Travel Trends & Statistics by Demographics, Destination, Industry & Why Solo Travel Continues to Rise!
How many people travel alone? Solo travel has seen a surge in popularity, with 58% of people planning to travel solo in 2024. The global solo travel market was worth USD 482.5 billion in 2024 and is predicted to increase to USD 1508.2 billion by 2033.
Women are still leading the way for independent travel, with 84% of solo travellers identifying as female and 54% of women expressing plans to travel alone in 2024. In addition to this, of those who traveled solo in 2024, 36% are planning another four to five solo trips in 2025.
As you'll see from the data below, solo travel is a huge market and has started to shape the industry, with some travel agents recognizing the shift and dropping single supplement fees. Solo travel statistics show that traveling alone is popular amongst millennials and Gen Z, with Instagram the hashtag #solotravel associated with 9.9 million posts to date.
TOP SOLO TRAVEL STATISTICS:
In 2024, an estimated 50% of Americans planned to travel solo.
16% of travellers took a solo trip in 2023.
43% of those surveyed traveled solo in 2024.
The global solo travel market was worth USD 482.5 billion in 2024.
The global solo travel market size is predicted to expand at a CAGR of 13.5% by 2033, with a valuation of USD 1508.2 billion.
84% of solo travelers are women.
72% of women in the US have taken a solo vacation.
#solotravel has also seen a tenfold increase in the last three years on TikTok.
#solotravel on Instagram has over 9.9 million posts.
One in six people (15%) of us have already taken a holiday alone.
59% of female solo travelers would travel alone again in the next 12 months.
Solo travelers currently make up 18% of global tourism bookings.
42% increase in solo traveler bookings over the last two years.
Of those who traveled solo in 2024, 36% are planning another four to five solo trips in 2025.
26% of those traveling alone cited the reason to simply be by themselves and explore new places.
71% of unaccompanied travelers have visited Australia, making it the number one international destination for solo travel.
16% of travellers went solo in 2023.
Around 84% of solo travelers are women.
58% of millennials have traveled solo.
96% of women who have never traveled solo before would be more likely to do so on a group tour.
87% of women travel solo for freedom and flexibility.
83% of women travel solo to escape routine and responsibilities.
72% of American women are choosing to take solo trips.
65% of US women have taken a vacation without their partner.
Women are likely to take three trips or more in a year.
55% of women said they travelled solo as they had no one to go with.
74% wanted to challenge themselves and increase their confidence.
55% of 'Solo travel' Google searches have been by women and are millennials.
Just 16% of solo travellers are men.
Travel companies are taking advantage of female solo travelers by providing women-only tours and taking advantage of the fact that women are likely to take up to 3 trips a year. Female travel is increasing in popularity with 84% of the market now made up of women, and 55% of all Google searches for 'solo travel' now being female and mostly made up of millennials. Women travel to enjoy freedom and independence, along with challenging themselves & improving their confidence.
Interestingly it's not just single women who are traveling solo, 65% of American women have taken a break without their partner in the last year.
Sources: TravelZoo, Telegraph, Booking.com
How much money do you need to solo travel?
$20,000-$30,000 is considered the average cost for a solo trip around the world for one year.
Roughly, $54 a day to cover flights, accommodation, food, insurance, and vaccinations.
Solo travellers from USA, Canada, UK & Australia spent between $1000-$2000 on average per week, during their trip, excluding airfare in 2021.
Solo travellers are spending about 20% more on travel insurance than other travellers.
A solo traveller pays an average of 47% more than someone traveling as part of a couple due to single supplement charges.
40% of travellers said the high cost is the main reason they do not travel solo.
Going solo can mean 50% extra on accommodation costs due to single supplement charges.
Laos in Asia votes the cheapest country to travel solo at just $30 a day.
Those travelling alone should budget for around $20,000 when considering a year long trip around the world, which works out at $54 a day to cover flights, hotels, food, insurance and any required vaccinations.
Solo travel statistics data shows that they spend an average of 20% more on their travel insurance and a massive 50% extra on hotel and accommodation than other travellers. The main reason being single supplement charges. In fact, it’s the biggest reason why some travellers don’t travel solo, with 50% citing the fact that it’s too expensive. Some companies like Voyages of Antiquity have reacted and removed all their single supplements on their Greek islands cruises.
If you’re looking for a solo trip on a budget then a backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, Laos has been voted that cheapest place to visit solo. Activities can cost as little as $7 for a full day tubing experience down the river Vang Vieng.
Sources: A little Drift, Lonely Planet, Bemytravelmuse.com, Solo Female Travellers,
What age groups are most popular for solo travel?
58% of millennials travel alone vs. 47% of older generations.
70% of Gen Z travelers are embracing solo adventures.
40% of Baby Boomers across the world have taken a solo trip in the last year.
86% of lone travellers are aged over 35 years.
Independent travellers have an average income of $150,000.
The average solo traveller is aged 47.
Research conducted by ABTA Consumer Survey: Holiday Habits Report, show that around 15% of us are now taking holidays alone. And this is just one of the recent reports indicating that solo travel is no longer a niche market, and its not just the younger generation ‘backpacking’ around the world.
Solo travel is most popular with Gen Z and Millennials, with reports suggesting these age groups are driven by a desire for adventure and self-discovery.
SOURCES: National Geographic, Sainsbury's Bank, ABTA
Japan was named the top solo travel destination for 2024.
71% of solo travellers have visited Australia making it the number one international destination for solo travel.
54% opt for Europe as the most popular travel destination for a first solo trip.
The safest place to travel alone is Iceland.
18% of solo female travelers recommend their country of origin as the best destination for their first solo trip.
30% of lone travellers prefer adventure travel, beating the 23% who favour urban travel.
88% of solo travellers want to go off the beaten path.
53% hope to engage with locals away from the busy tourist spots.
50% of female travelers choose Europe as a safer destination to travel alone.
54% of British females are more likely to travel alone than they were five years ago.
The 10 most popular solo travel destinations for 2024:
1. Japan
2. Argentina
3. Egypt
4. Sri Lanka
5. Colombia
6. Ecuador & the Galapagos
7. Jordan
8. Thailand
9. Philippines
10. Bali and the Gili Islands
(Forbes)
According to Flash Pack, a company offering solo adventures, they reported the above top 10 destinations as being the most popular among people in their 30s and 40s. These destinations offer unique experiences, adventures they offer in Japan, for example, include having lunch with a sumo wrestler and meditating with monks in Kyoto.
Travelling alone and as part of an organised group adventure is now much safer and easier than it was 5 years ago. Australia remains a popular travel destination, but those destinations previously deemed risky are being explored.
Sources: Travel Daily News, Check Front, Forbes
Of those who traveled solo in 2024, 36% are planning another four to five solo trips in 2025.
Online searches for "solo travel" increased by 72.6% from April 2023 to April 2024.
32% of those who travel solo start planning 6 months in advance.
37% of solo travellers planned to travel more consciously and sustainably in the future.
23% will have confirmed their destination four months prior to going.
Recommendations from Solo Female Travelers Facebook groups are the most trustworthy, in 2024, overtaking friends and family.
Only 1% of solo bookings happen during July and August, the majority of solo travel happens off-season.
This research shows that these travellers plan well in advance, with 32% of them planning their trip 6 months prior to leaving, and 23% of them making their travel decisions on the destination 4 months ahead of going.
Holiday companies should take advantage of solo market opportunities, mainly because it’s an off-peak market; according to HolidayPirates most bookings come between April to June and September to October. Their booking statistics show that only 1% of solo bookings happen during July and August. The solo travel market continues to see growth year on year with online searches for "solo travel" increasing by 72.6% from April 2023 to April 2024.
Sources: Statista, Solo Travel World, Good Trends, SqueezePod
76% of women travellers said they would feel unsafe on holiday by themselves.
30% of travellers revealed their families weren’t keen on them travelling solo.
36% of unaccompanied travellers would feel comfortable walking into a bar by themselves.
45% wouldn’t mind eating in a restaurant on their own.
21% of solo female travelers have feared for their safety in the last 12 months during a solo trip.
17% of female travelers carried self-defense items when they traveled in 2024.
Where are the safest places for women to travel?
The top 10 safest destinations to travel to are said to be:
Canada
Finland
New Zealand
Japan
Uruguay
Switzerland
Belgium
Iceland
Austria
Chile
What stops women from travelling alone?
69% said safety was their main reason for not travelling alone.
50% were concerned about getting lost.
46% didn't want to feel lonely.
There are lots of mixed reports about solo travel and how safe it is, however its more about common sense rather than facts pointing the way. Travelling with a tour is obviously safer than going independently. Most importantly it’s about careful planning and doing your homework before you travel – our biggest tip is to make sure you’ve got decent travel insurance and your covered for as many eventualities as possible.
Sources: Wellandgood.com, Solo Traveller World
36% of those surveyed traveled solo on a small group tour in the last year.
75% of women who have never traveled solo before would be more likely to do so on a group tour.
With 51% choosing a women-only tour.
90% of over 50 solo female travellers prefer to travel on a guided tour.
25% increase in solo travellers reported by river cruise line Uniworld.
170% increase in the last 12 months on Hotelscan.com of those looking for a room by themselves.
70% of solo travellers take a tour to see destinations they wouldn't feel confident going to alone.
18% of Riviera Travel customers, taking tours and river cruises, are now travelling alone.
Norwegian Cruise Line spied the opportunities in solo travel all the way back in 2010, and since then lots of travel agents and solo travel tours have cited huge increases in bookings. The likes of Riviera Travel have seen 18% of its customers now travelling alone, helped by the decision to introduce solo cabins with no single supplements across their river cruise programme. This is influenced by the over 50s, who enjoy traveling alone because if they are divorced, single, or widowed. These women are also more financially stable as 54% of affluent travelers earn over $250,000 are women.
The most dramatic spike than in any other sector is that of Hotelscan.com who saw 170% rise in searches for those looking for rooms on their own – perhaps an indication that this sector will continue to grow.
Sources: Solotravelerworld, Telegraph
74% of people want to see the world without waiting for others.
57% of solo travellers said they want to travel ‘to do what they want, when they want.'
45% enjoy the freedom that comes with travelling alone.
54% of those travelling by themselves want to get outside their comfort zone.
55% agree travelling solo is now more socially acceptable than 10 years ago.
61% found that relaxation and time to unwind for travellers was the main motivator for solo leisure travel across the world.
52% also ranked getting away from routine as a reason to travel alone.
45% wanted to explore new cultures as a top motivator.
There are lots of reasons why you should travel alone, but the emerging solo travel trends suggest that 54% of travellers want to challenge themselves and push their travel limits. Interestingly, 59% of those going alone did so to avoid frustrations of waiting for a partner to keep up with them. The rise of solo travel could be explained by the fact that 55% of people now feel that travelling solo is much more socially acceptable than it once was. 45% of those who have travelled solo enjoyed the freedom and the ability to explore new cultures and meet the locals as a top reasoning to go it alone.
Sources: Agoda
Pre-pandemic, only 14% of travelers were going solo, but by mid-2021 that number had almost doubled to 23%.
Post-pandemic data shows the number of travellers who want to travel solo has nearly doubled from 14% in 2019 to 23% in 2021.
Three-quarters of solo travelers are interested in both domestic and international travel.
54% are considering going solo in 2023.
In 2022, 16% of Americans took a solo trip and, in 2023, 25% of Americans (83 million people) are considering taking a solo trip.
Compared with pre-pandemic figures, Exodus Travels has seen solo participation in group trips increase by 9%.
74% of people go solo as they want to see the world and don't want to wait for others.
63% of people wanted to do what they want when they want.
73% want to travel independently vs. 50% who want to travel on a group tour.
Searches for single-traveler flights are 36% higher for 2023 travel than in 2022.
A Solo Traveler World survey in 2021 revealed that most people travel alone because they want to feel free, independent, and in control - all feelings that were negatively impacted by COVID-19.
The latest solo travel statistics show the effects of the pandemic have encouraged 74% of people to travel solo as they don't want to wait for others to join them, and 63% want to do what they want when they want.
Sources: Travel Media Daily , SoloTravelerWorld , Dreambig
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