21+ Solo Travel Statistics for 2024

Welcome to our curated and vetted list of 21+ solo travel statistics for 2024.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what we’ll cover:

Top Solo Travel Statistics

The #solotravel hashtag has over 6.5B views on TikTok and 9M posts associated with it on Instagram.
Most people first travel solo at ages 22 to 30.
Solo trip expenses typically range from $1,000 to $2,000.

Solo trip expenses typically range from $1,000 to $2,000

First-time solo travelers usually choose trips lasting 7–10 days.
The #1 reason to travel solo is the desire to see the world without waiting for others at 74%.
With an index score of 7.45, Spain is considered the safest country for female solo travelers.

Solo Travel: Demographics, Preferences, and Trends

01. Global Google searches for “solo travel” have risen by 74% in the past two years, as per Exploding Topics.

02. The #solotravel hashtag has over 6.5B views on TikTok and 9M posts associated with it on Instagram.

03. Most people first travel solo at ages 22 to 30.

At What Age Did Your First Solo Trip Happen? (In %)	Women	Men
Less than 16	4	2
17–21	17	20
22–25	28	41
26–30	23	24
31–40	23	8
41–50	17	4
51–60	0	1
61+	0	<1

04. The #1 reason to travel solo is the desire to see the world without waiting for others at 74%.

Reasons to Travel Solo	In %
I want to see the world, and I don’t want to wait for others	74
I want to do what I want when I want	63
I like the feeling of freedom and independence	52
I want to meet new people	42
I have different interests than my friends	40
Personal growth	36
My partner does not want to travel as much as I do	11

05. US solo travelers typically opt for domestic destinations (41%) for their first solo trip.

Did You Travel Domestically or Internationally on Your First Solo Trip?	In %
Domestically	41
Internationally	30
Both	29

06. About 77% of solo female travelers prioritize destinations with cultural and historical attractions.

What Solo Female Tourists Prioritize in Destination Choices	In %
Cultural/historical attractions	77
Beauty of the destination	69
Safety/crime rate of the destination	67
Appealing local cuisine and food	63
Access to nature	61
The friendliness of the locals	59
Good weather/climate	58
The destination’s reputation	57
Destination’s value for money	55
Availability of adventure activities	44
The destination’s accessibility	43
Novelty of the destination	30
The destination’s COVID regulations	30
The destination’s healthcare system	24
Availability of small group tours	23
Speaking the language	19
Popularity of the destination	14
Instagram-worthy photos	11
Closeness to home	3

07. Mountains (18%) are the top destination choice for solo travelers.

What Are Your Favorite Types of Places for Solo Trips?	In %
Mountains	18.26
Iconic cities (e.g., Paris, New York)	14.19
Wilderness areas	13.84
Cultural/historical heritage areas	13.72
Sites known for nightlife and entertainment	13.26
Coasts/beaches	10.93
Areas known for sports activities (e.g., water or winter sports)	10.58

08. The primary activities for female solo travelers include cultural sightseeing (74%), exploring nature and wildlife (71%), and cultural immersion (64%).

Solo Female Travelers’ Favorite Activities	In %
Cultural sightseeing	74
Nature and wildlife	71
Cultural immersion	64
Adventure activities	55
Going to the beach	53
Culinary activities	49
Health and wellness	36
Creative workshops/activities to learn a skill	32
Volunteering work	22
Nightlife	21
Shopping	15

09. First-time solo travelers usually choose trips lasting 7–10 days.

What Was the Duration of Your First Solo Trip?	In %
7–10 days	35
3–5 days	30
10–14 days	17
14–30 days	10
1–2 days	5
1–2 months	2
3–6 months	1
Over 6 months	1

10. Hotels (17%) are the preferred accommodation choice for most solo travelers, followed by hostels (11%) and vacation rentals (11%).

What Type of Lodging Do You Usually Choose for Your Solo Trips?	In %
Hotels	16.74
Hostels	11.28
Vacation rentals	11.16
Mountain lodges	10.58
Guest houses	10.35
Motels	10.23
Cottages	9.53
My own (e.g., a tent)	8.26
Couchsurfing	8.02

11. 82% of solo travelers also go on trips with others.

Sources: ePassportPhoto, Exploding Topics, Instagram, Solo Female Travel, Solo Traveler, TikTok Hashtags

Economic Aspects of Solo Travel

12. Cost (61%) is the deciding factor for solo female travelers in selecting a travel provider.

Key Considerations for Selecting a Travel Provider for Solo Trips	In %
Price	61
Eco-friendliness and care for the environment	37
Local ownership	35
Social responsibility or a charitable focus	26
Female ownership or supporting of women	16
Established brand I recognize	14
Affinity with me (e.g., same race, religion, ethnicity)	5

13. Solo trip expenses typically range from $1,000 to $2,000.

What’s Your Typical Budget for a Solo Trip?	In %
$1,000–2,000	48
$500–1,000	24
$2,000–5,000	19
$100–500	5
More than 5,000	4

14. Solo travelers spend the majority of their budget on food (20%), transportation (19%), and lodging (17%).

What’s the Biggest Expense in Your Solo Travel Budget?	In %
Food	20
Transportation	19
Accommodation	17
Miscellaneous	14
Activities	13
Souvenirs	10

Sources: ePassportPhoto, Solo Female Travel

Challenges of Solo Travel

15. Solo travelers’ top concerns are trip planning (15%), higher expenses (14%), and having to stay extra cautious (13%).

What Are Your Typical Challenges in Solo Travel?	In %
Trip planning	15.47
Higher expenses	13.95
Having to stay extra cautious	13.49
Finding suitable accommodation	13.37
Loneliness	12.09
Repetitive social interactions	11.74

16. Concerns over personal safety (65%) deter female travelers from traveling alone.

Key Barriers for Women to Embark on Solo Trips	In %
Personal safety	65
Higher costs	59
Changing travel restrictions	39
Language barriers	37
Feeling lonely	33
Getting lost	31
Something bad happening	30
Having to plan everything on my own	21
Dining alone	19
Feeling embarrassed	18
Getting COVID	16
Being bored	15
Being judged by my community	9

17. A safer solo travel experience is something 27% of solo female travelers want from the travel industry.

18. The top safety concerns for solo travelers are mugging (15%), road accidents (14%), and scams (13%).

What Is Your Primary Safety Concern While Traveling Solo?	In %
Mugging	14.77
Road accidents	13.84
Scams	12.56
Pickpocketing	11.74
Getting lost	11.51
Dangerous animals or insects	10.47
Diseases	9.07

19. About 54% of solo female travelers endorse Europe as the perfect first solo trip destination for women.

20. With an index score of 7.45, Spain is considered the safest country for female solo travelers.

Safest Countries for Solo Female Travelers (as of September 2023)	Index Score
Spain	7.45
Norway	7.41
Netherlands	7.14
Ireland	6.92
Austria	6.83
Slovenia	6.74
Switzerland	6.65
Belgium	6.56
Portugal	6.25
Sweden	5.94

21. Americans prioritize safety (19%) when choosing accommodation for a solo trip.

What Criteria Do You Typically Prioritize When Looking for Accommodation for Your Solo Trips?	In %
Safety	19
Location	15
Amenities	14
Convenience	14
Standard	13
Privacy	12
Price	8

Sources: Bounce, ePassportPhoto, Solo Female Travel

Stacking It All Up

That concludes our deep dive into solo travel statistics.

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Max Woolf

As a Digital PR specialist and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), I have 5+ years of writing experience.
Over the course of my career, my 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.