25 Least-Visited Countries in the World

If you’ve battled the crowds of Dubrovnik, elbowed your way down the Great Wall or shuffled past selfie-takers through Venice’s Piazza San Marco, you may be tempted to see what it’s like to visit a destination few have made it to. 

The least-visited countries in the world are highly remote, often with just one way in or out and, as such, are some of the most authentic places you can visit today. It must be said as well that many are under-visited because they are recovering from catastrophe, whether natural or man-made. And while these destinations are, in fact, very beautiful, it is important to pay attention to travel advisories to know if and when they are visitable.

With that said, here are the world’s 25 least-visited countries. They extend from tiny flecks of land in the vast South Pacific to the mountains of central Europe to the tropical climes of the Caribbean. Add them to your bucket list for an experience you won’t soon forget. 

376,000 annual visitors*

It seems the word is getting out on Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world, but one of the most difficult to visit. In one year, the island saw an increase of 2,000 visitors — and it’s not hard to understand why. 

*Note: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have used 2019 tourism numbers, per the UN World Tourism Organization’s 2020 “International Tourism Highlights” report. Some nations did not provide information for the report. In this cases, 2018 numbers were used. 

This island destination is a haven for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife aficionados looking to interact with extraordinary creatures like the lemur and rare species of frogs, turtles, sharks and whales. Astonishingly, 92 percent of Madagascar’s mammals and 95 percent of its reptiles exist nowhere else on Earth. 

Adventurists can get their thrill by enjoying off-road driving, kite surfing and diving, while those seeking peace and quiet can head to the country’s pristine (and rarely visited) national parks, including Tsingy de Bermaraha, known for its unique limestone forests. 

For visitors, Madagascar still presents a challenge, with rare flights costing a pretty penny and roads that are still nearly impossible to drive. But those willing to make the trek will be richly rewarded.

*Travel times sourced via Kayak to the destination’s biggest (or biggest nearest) airport. Travel guides are not shown for countries with a Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”) U.S. State Department Travel Advisory.

320,000 annual visitors

As with the British Virgin Islands, it’s surprising to see St. Maarten, a picture-perfect tropical island, on this list. But it, too, fell victim to both Hurricanes Irma and Maria at the end of 2017, bringing tourism to a halt. 

Fortunately, the island has been working hard to make a full recovery and today is bringing tourists back by the plane-full.