Sustained growth since the post-COVID recovery
After the 2020 collapse, when the pandemic cut arrivals to just 2.85 million (−81% against the 15.1 million of 2019), the Canary Islands began an unprecedented recovery. By 2022 the archipelago was back above 15 million, restoring pre-pandemic levels. 2023 and 2024 set successive highs — 16.2M and 17.8M — until 2025 broke the psychological 18-million barrier.
| Year | Tourists | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 15,115,709 | — |
| 2020 | 2,846,806 | −81,2% |
| 2021 | 8,307,165 | +191,8% |
| 2022 | 15,671,683 | +88,7% |
| 2023 | 16,210,911 | +3,4% |
| 2024 | 17,767,833 | +9.6% |
| 2025 | 18,386,274 | +3.5% ★ |
Tenerife leads, but the growth is archipelago-wide
Tenerife took around 7.4 million tourists in 2025, roughly 40.2% of all arrivals to the archipelago, confirming its dominant position. But the record does not rest on one island: Lanzarote and La Palma also improved on previous years, while Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura were more uneven. The full per-island breakdown is on the island-by-island page.
The strongest month of 2025 was March, with 1,731,031 tourists, while May was the weakest at 1,314,111. Seasonality stays moderate compared with mainland destinations: even the quietest month clears 1.3 million visitors.
What explains the new record?
Several factors converge in the 2025 result. First, consolidated direct air connectivity from new Central European and Nordic markets, especially into Tenerife Sur and Gran Canaria. Second, the perception of the Canaries as a safe destination with guaranteed weather, against climate uncertainty elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Third, the full recovery of the German and British markets — the two most important for the archipelago — after years of post-Brexit and post-pandemic adjustment.
The 3.5% of 2025 matters more than it looks: it lands on top of an already record-breaking 2024. Consecutive all-time highs strengthen the case that the Canaries have permanently displaced Mediterranean destinations in the European winter holiday calendar. What that volume means for residents is a separate debate, which we cover in Canary Islands overtourism: the data behind the debate.
Has the record been beaten in 2026?
Not so far. With January–June 2026 data — 9,065,922 tourists, 0.2% below the same period of 2025 — the year is tracking towards roughly 18.3 million: the second-best in history, but slightly below this record. The monthly series is in the statistics dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many tourists visited the Canary Islands in 2025?
The Canary Islands received 18,386,274 tourists in 2025, according to the official ISTAC figure. It is the archipelago's all-time record, 3.5% above the 17,767,833 of 2024.
What was the previous record?
2024, with 17,767,833 tourists. Before the pandemic the peak was 15,964,527 in 2017 — the 2025 record exceeds it by roughly 15%. The full series is in the 10-year evolution analysis.
Which island received the most tourists in 2025?
Tenerife, with around 40% of all arrivals to the archipelago, followed by Gran Canaria. The full breakdown is on the island-by-island page.
Where does this data come from?
From ISTAC (the Canary Islands Statistics Institute), FRONTUR operation, dataset E16028B_000011. It counts main tourists: those arriving from outside the archipelago, excluding inter-island trips. See our methodology page.