Metropolitan Museum of Art Tourism Statistics (2025)

Published 9 Sept 2026

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) is not only the largest art museum in the Americas, but also one of the world’s most visited cultural attractions. It features a vast array of artworks from different cultures across the centuries, including ancient Egyptian artifacts, European paintings, and modern art. It is renowned for its collection of masterpieces by artists like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Monet.

How many people visit The Met each year?

Over 5 million people visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in 2023, making it the most-visited museum in the United States.

The Met recorded 5.36 million visitors in 2023, a 58% increase from 2022 (3.4 million) and a strong recovery from pandemic lows.
The museum welcomed 3.4 million visitors in 2022, marking a 73% increase from 2021 (1.96 million) as international travel and tourism rebounded.
Pre-pandemic: The Met peaked at 7.36 million visitors in 2018, its highest-ever recorded attendance, before gradually declining to 7 million in 2019.
Pandemic years: Visitor numbers plunged in 2020, with only 1.12 million visitors, an 84% drop from 2019 due to the museum’s closure from March to August.

Bar chart of The Metropolitan Museum of Art annual visitor numbers from 2018 to 2023, peaking at 7.36 million in 2018, falling to 1.12 million in 2020, and recovering to 5.36 million in 2023 — The Metropolitan Museum tourist arrivals by year (2018–2023).

How many people visited The Met in 2023?

The Met had 5.36 million visitors in 2023, a 58% increase from 2022 and the highest attendance since the pandemic. This figure remains 27% below the 2018 peak of 7.36 million.

How many people visited The Met in 2022?

Visitor numbers reached 3.4 million in 2022, up 73% from 2021 but still 51% below 2018 levels.

How many people visit The Met per day?

On average, 15,000 people visit The Met daily. Peak days can exceed 25,000 visitors, particularly during summer weekends and major exhibitions.

How much do visitors spend each year at The Met?

Visitors contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to New York City’s economy.

In 2015, Met visitors generated $946 million in tourism spending.
Spending was estimated at $700-800 million in 2019, a slight decline from 2018.
Post-pandemic spending figures for 2022 and 2023 are not fully available, but visitor volume suggests tourism contributions recovered.

Bar chart of estimated annual tourist spending at The Metropolitan Museum of Art: $946 million in 2015, $750 million in 2019, $450 million in 2022, and $600 million in 2023 — The Metropolitan Museum tourist spending by year.

How much did visitors spend at the Metropolitan Museum in 2023?

Exact figures are unavailable, but with a 58% increase in visitors from 2022, spending likely surpassed $600 million.

How much did visitors spend at the Metropolitan Museum in 2022?

Visitor spending was estimated at $450-500 million, reflecting a gradual recovery from the height of the pandemic.

How much does it cost to visit The Met?

General Admission: $30 for adults, $22 for seniors, $17 for students.
Pay-What-You-Wish: Available for New York State residents and tri-state area students.
Free for: Members and children under 12.

Where do most visitors to The Metropolitan Museum come from?

The Met attracts visitors from around the world, with a significant portion from Europe, Asia, and North America.

Top international sources are: The United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, China, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia.
Before the pandemic, 28% of visitors were international tourists in the 2019 fiscal year.
In 2023, international visitor numbers remained below pre-pandemic levels (accounting for approximately 19% of total visitors) but showed a strong recovery.

International vs. Domestic VisitorsIn 2019, 35% of visitors were from NYC, 28% were international, 16% from the tri-state area, and 21% from other U.S. states.
Post-pandemic, domestic tourism rebounded faster than international tourism. Local New Yorker visits reached a 60% share (about a 102% recovery rate), exceeding the 2019 share of 30%.

When is the best time to visit The Met?

Busiest months: June-August (summer tourism season), late December (holiday period).
Least crowded months: January-February (winter low season), September (post-summer lull).
Best times of day: Early morning at 10 AM opening or late evening on Fridays and Saturdays until 9 PM.

How popular is The Met compared to other museums?

The Met is one of the most-visited museums in the world and is the most-visited in the U.S.

Ranked 5th-most visited art museum worldwide in 2023, following the Louvre (Paris), the Vatican Museums (Rome), the National Museum of China (Beijing), and the British Museum (London).
The Met was the most-visited U.S. museum in 2023 with 5.36 million visitors, surpassing the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. (3.8 million).

Why do people visit The Met? What are the main attractions?

The Met houses over 2 million works spanning 5,000 years of history.

Popular exhibitions:
- Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination (2018) - 1.65 million visitors, highest-attended Met exhibition.
- China: Through the Looking Glass (2015) - 815,992 visitors.
- Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011) - 660,000 visitors.
Must-see permanent collections:
- Temple of Dendur (Egyptian Wing).
- Impressionist & Post-Impressionist Art - Van Gogh, Monet, Degas.
- Arms and Armor Hall - Medieval knight armor displays.
- The Met Cloisters - Medieval art in northern Manhattan.
- The Met Roof Garden - Seasonal installations and Central Park views.

Additional Facts about The Met

Digital Reach: The Met’s website had 34 million visitors in 2023.
Social Media: Over 4.4 million Instagram followers, 4.2 million on Twitter/X.
Membership: Over 150,000 members, making it one of the largest museum membership programs.
Economic Impact: Historically, over 50% of out-of-town visitors cite The Met as a key reason for visiting NYC.

The Met continues to attract millions annually, playing a crucial role in New York City’s tourism industry.

References

The Met Tourism Statistics Data · metmuseum.org