The year 2023 is about to break tourism records and many countries will once again be inundated with tourist crowds. Italy, Spain, France, Greece… It’s no secret that these countries are attracting more and more visitors. But did you know the least visited countries in the world?
A globetrotter traveled to every country on earth from 2007 to 2017 and wanted to share the list of these countries through the prism of his experiences as an explorer. A ranking based on real statistical data answers the question: What is happening in the world’s least visited countries?
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On the OneStep4ward website, the traveler notes that the 30 least visited countries are mainly divided into four categories: specific islands in the South Pacific, war zones, small African countries that are difficult to access, and police states like North Korea and Turkmenistan.
1. Somalia, less than 100 visitors per year
Somalia is often considered the most dangerous country in the world. But the globetrotter points out a geographic nuance that visitors tend to forget. Somaliland is a self-proclaimed northern state with its own currency and government. Many travelers visit this state thinking it is Somalia. However, this is not the case. Somalia as such has no fewer than 100 visitors a year, even 20, the blogger points out. However, he fully accepts that he “cheated” by visiting Somaliland.
2. Yemen, less than 500 visitors per year
Yemen’s civil war has left the country in ruins. Now almost inaccessible, this land once had a rich heritage that made it an exceptional tourist destination. The globetrotter emphasizes how difficult it is to get there.
He reports that it is necessary to travel via Cairo in Egypt or via Abu D’habit by buying airline tickets in cash. Transit across the continent is no easier, visas are rare and the journey dangerous. On the other hand, our explorer was very fascinated by the island of Socotra, always safe and accessible.
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3. Equatorial Guinea, less than 1,000 visitors per year
“Magnificent”, “Paradise”. With these words our adventurer describes his experience in this small island country on the west coast of Africa. The waterfalls of Illachis and the island of Corrisco completely seduced him. Unfortunately, getting a visa is very difficult and if you happen to find it, it is possible to get there from Paris, London or Lagos.
4. Tuvalu, 2,000 visitors per year
With an area of 26 square kilometers and no less than 11,000 inhabitants, it is the fourth smallest country in the world. Be careful, the island is so small that, according to backpackers, there’s – almost – nothing to do. The program includes walks, tanning and cocktail tasting on this island paradise. There are not enough means of transport to reach the island. You must therefore travel via Fiji and then fly to Tuvalu.
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5. Kiribati, about 4,000 visitors a year
The idyllic landscapes of the island hide a very great poverty. Like Tuvalu, there aren’t many activities on the island other than a bit of walking, swimming, or admiring the scenery while sipping a cold drink, the explorer said. However, the latter states that the flights are very expensive and arrival is only possible via Nadi, Fiji or Brisbane in Australia.
6. South Sudan, about 5,500 visitors per year
As a result of an armed struggle, South Sudan is a new country in every sense of the word. According to the backpacker’s log, this would be the most dangerous country to visit. In his report he describes his experiences with unrest and daily curfews. As for commemorative photos, forget that photography is illegal across the country.
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7. Marshall Islands, about 6,000 visitors a year
It is an archipelago lost in the vastness of the Pacific. To give you an idea, according to the traveler, the only reason to visit the island would be a sudden desire to visit all the countries in the world! As far as atmosphere goes, we’ll take it easy on doing nothing.
It still seems possible to enrich your stay with a few sea excursions for scuba diving. The famous travel diary notes that it is difficult to get around due to the lack of transportation. No difficulties to get there, almost everyone can easily get a visa.
8. Libya, about 6,000 visitors a year
Libya has long been a country whose political situation has been marked by serious irregularities. Historically it was part of the Roman Empire, passed into the hands of the Italians in the 20th century and then came under the regime of Gaddafi.
Today, various groups are demanding control of the country. Getting a visa is almost impossible and, according to the backpacker, the easiest way to enter the country is via Tunisia, Turkey or Egypt.
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9. São Tomé and Príncipe, around 8,000 visitors a year
Another island paradise! The country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975. The two islands of São Tomé and Principe, despite the low number of annual visitors, are full of tourist activities. For our dear brave adventurer it would be the “coolest country in Africa”. The reason ? Safety, beauty and accessibility would make the experience “brilliant”, we can read.
10. Turkmenistan, less than 9,000 visitors a year
Surrounded by Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, Turkmenistan is characterized by its vast plains and beautiful Turkmen culture, says the globetrotter. The latter says he has had an “incredible” adventure in this vast country where it is very difficult to get a visa. Two visas were denied before I could fly away! That means.
The rest of the list of least visited countries in the world visited by the globetrotter
11. Mali, 14,000 visitors a year
12. Afghanistan, about 20,000 visitors per year
13. Federated States of Micronesia, 19,000 visitors per year
14. Solomon Islands, 27,000 visitors per year
15. Mauritania, 30,000 visitors per year
16. Comoros, 36,000 visitors a year
17. Liberia, 45,000 visitors a year
18. Guinea, 45,000 visitors per year
19. Guinea-Bissau, 45,000 visitors per year
20. Djibouti, 51,000 visitors a year
21. Tonga, 54,000 visitors a year
22. Sierra Leone, 57,000 visitors a year
23. Dominica, 63,000 visitors per year
24. Timor-Leste, 75,000 visitors per year
25. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 80,000 visitors a year
26. San Marino, 84,000 visitors a year
27. Liechtenstein, 85,000 visitors per year
28. North Korea, about 100,000 visitors a year
29. Eritrea, 142,000 visitors per year
30. Moldova, 145,000 visitors per year
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