Global museum attendance is steadily rebounding, yet the recovery remains uneven. In 2025, total visits to the top 100 art institutions surpassed 200 million, marking a strong rise from pandemic-era lows. However, the figure still falls short of the 230 million peak recorded in 2019.
Paris’s Musée du Louvre retained its position as the most visited museum worldwide, drawing more than 9 million people. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Museum of Art led attendance in the United States with around 6 million visitors. Notably, the reopening of its Michael C. Rockefeller Wing played a key role in boosting these numbers.
Asia’s Rising Influence
At the same time, the latest data highlights a significant shift toward Asia’s expanding museum landscape. The National Museum of Korea recorded a 70% year-over-year increase, reaching approximately 6.5 million visitors. As a result, the institution has strengthened its global presence and reflects the region’s growing cultural momentum.
Uneven Recovery Across the West
However, several major Western institutions continue to lag behind pre-2020 levels. London’s British Museum recorded a solid 6.4 million visits, yet others show more noticeable gaps. For instance, the Tate Modern remains 26% below its 2019 attendance. Similarly, the National Gallery of Art saw a 28% decline, reinforcing how uneven the global recovery continues to be.