Solo travelers - statistics & facts
Independent and intrepid, solo travelers are driven by the quest for new adventures. The freedom to travel the world without waiting for others is particularly important for those who enjoy the experience of traveling alone, ranking as the main motivation to travel solo worldwide. There has been a renewed popularity in this trend of late, with interest levels in solo travel worldwide remaining consistently high in 2024, showing growth over the previous year.
Beyond a shared wanderlust and craving for independence, solo travelers can vary hugely, from their budgets to their motivations. That said, regardless of age, gender, or nationality, most solo travelers worldwide seem to agree on one thing: the most important item for a solo trip is a powerbank.
How much do travelers spend on solo trips?
Defining the right budget is even more important for solo travelers, as they generally have to bear all the expenses alone. Nearly half the respondents in a survey on the weekly spending of solo travelers worldwide reported spending an average of under 2,000 U.S. dollars a week on their trips. In contrast, less than 10 percent spent over 4,000 U.S. dollars a week. Budgets can also differ depending on gender. When asked about the intended budget for a solo trip, around a third of surveyed women in the United States planned to spend over 2,000 U.S. dollars, compared to over 45 percent of men. Meanwhile, a 2024 global survey showed that affordability and low cost of living were the main factors influencing the choice of a solo trip destination.What are the main obstacles to solo travel?
While traveling solo is exciting for some, not everyone feels comfortable with the idea of hitting the road alone. In 2024, when looking at the main reasons in the U.S. for not traveling solo, safety concerns ranked second, after preferring to go with a companion. When focusing on just women’s main obstacles for going on a solo trip, personal safety became an even bigger issue, with roughly six out of 10 respondents flagging up this concern. Cultural differences can also play a role when it comes to travel planning. In 2024, the share of Europeans planning a solo trip was higher in Western European countries, like Switzerland and the Netherlands, than in Southern European ones, like Italy or Spain.Beyond a shared wanderlust and craving for independence, solo travelers can vary hugely, from their budgets to their motivations. That said, regardless of age, gender, or nationality, most solo travelers worldwide seem to agree on one thing: the most important item for a solo trip is a powerbank.
