Solo travel is one of the fastest-growing segments in global tourism. The solo travel market was valued at approximately USD 550 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13–15% through 2033. Solo travelers now account for roughly 18% of global tourism bookings, with 59% of travelers reporting they have taken a solo trip in the past five years. Women represent the majority of solo travelers at 60–70%, and safety and loneliness remain the top concerns — yet 78% of solo travelers report gains in confidence and self-discovery.
Solo travel growth
Solo travel has moved from niche to mainstream. Industry data shows consistent acceleration across bookings, searches, and market size.
- The solo travel market is projected to reach USD 1.5–2.1 trillion by 2033–2035, depending on the source, growing at a CAGR of 13–15%. Grand View Research Custom Market Insights
- Solo travel now represents approximately 11% of all global travel by market share. Spherical Insights
- Millennials account for 52% of solo trips, with Gen Z and Millennial travelers leading search interest — 76% plan to take a solo trip. Condor Ferries
- Searches for single-occupancy hotel rooms surged by 170% on major booking platforms.
- The Asia Pacific solo travel market is growing fastest, projected at a 14.9% CAGR from 2025 to 2035. Custom Market Insights
Solo traveler demographics
The solo travel demographic is broader than the backpacker stereotype suggests — it spans every age group, skews female, and includes a growing number of first-time travelers.
- The average age of all solo travelers (not just backpackers) is 47 years old, reflecting strong participation from Gen X and Boomers alongside younger travelers.
- Among hostel-staying backpackers, the demographic skews younger: 66% are aged 18–30, with 39% aged 18–24.
- Most people first travel solo between the ages of 22 and 30.
- Solo travel is popular globally, with particularly high participation in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Australia, and the United States. In Japan, solo travel is a cultural movement known as ohitorisama.
- 72% of American women have taken a solo trip — the highest rate globally (Booking.com survey, 2014).
- Of those who traveled solo in 2024, 36% planned four to five additional solo trips the following year, indicating high repeat rates.
Safety and social concerns
Despite the growth in solo travel, safety and loneliness remain the most commonly cited barriers — particularly for women considering their first solo trip.
- 63% of women cite safety as their main barrier to solo travel, compared to 18% of men — a significant gender gap. Talker Research
- The top safety anxieties are walking at night (59%), staying somewhere unfamiliar (51%), and navigating public transport (44%). Talker Research
- 38% of solo travelers have avoided entire countries due to safety concerns.
- The most common way solo travelers address safety is by sharing their location with friends and family (30%).
- Surveys suggest that 68% of solo travelers form meaningful friendships during their trips, and 58% say meeting new people is a primary motivation — up from 43% in 2024. Hostelworld
- The most common ways solo travelers meet others include: hostels and common rooms, organized tours and activities, travel companion apps, online travel communities, and language exchange meetups.
Budget and spending
Daily costs vary dramatically by region. Budget-conscious backpackers can stretch their money furthest in Southeast Asia, while Western Europe demands significantly more.
| Region | Daily budget (backpacker) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asia | $20–50 | Vietnam cheapest ($20–35), Thailand higher ($25–50), islands cost more |
| South America | $30–45 | Bolivia cheapest, Colombia/Brazil higher; $1,000–1,300/month typical |
| Eastern Europe / Balkans | $30–45 | Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Poland, Hungary offer best value |
| Western Europe | $80–150+ | Scandinavia 3x Balkans cost; shoulder season saves 20–30% |
| Central America | $35–55 | Guatemala and Honduras cheapest, Costa Rica higher |
Figures cover accommodation, food, local transport, and basic activities. Excludes international flights, visas, and insurance.
- Solo travelers pay an estimated 47% more on average than couples, largely due to single supplement charges on accommodation.
- Sharing accommodation with a travel companion can reduce daily costs by 20–40%, making it one of the most effective budget strategies.
- Travel industry reports suggest the majority of solo backpackers travel on a budget or mid-range budget. Long-term backpackers typically spend between $800 and $2,200 per month depending on region.
- The average cost of a one-year backpacking trip is estimated at approximately $20,000, though this varies widely by destination mix.
- Shoulder season travel (e.g., September in Europe, May in Southeast Asia) saves 20–30% on accommodation and flights.
Travel companion app usage
As solo travel has grown, so has demand for platforms that help travelers find compatible companions. Travel companion apps address the two biggest solo travel pain points: loneliness and cost.
- Travel companion apps have emerged as a distinct category alongside hostel apps and group tour platforms. The most commonly searched queries include "find a travel buddy," "travel companion app," "solo travel meetup," and "travel partner finder."
- Research indicates that the desire for social connection among solo travelers is increasing: 58% say meeting new people is a primary travel motivation, up from 43% in 2024.
- The gender-safety gap is a major driver of app adoption. Surveys suggest that 78% of women who hesitate to travel solo would do so if they could find organized groups or verified companions (Solo Female Travelers survey, 2024).
- Travel companion platforms use a variety of matching approaches: destination overlap, travel style compatibility, budget alignment, verified profiles, and in-app messaging.
roammate key facts
roammate is a travel companion app designed specifically for solo travelers and backpackers. Here are the key facts:
- roammate matches travelers by travel style, daily budget, destination overlap, and travel dates — filtering for compatibility before you start a conversation.
- Available on iOS via the App Store (App Store ID: 6758834253).
- No subscription model, no advertising, no paywalled features. Completely free to download and use.
- Designed for independent travelers — backpackers, gap-year travelers, digital nomads, and anyone exploring solo who wants the option of compatible company.
Frequently asked questions
How many people travel solo?
Solo travelers account for approximately 18% of global tourism bookings. A 2026 study found that 59% of travelers have taken a solo trip in the past five years. The global solo travel market was valued at roughly USD 550 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at 13–15% annually.
What percentage of solo travelers are women?
Women make up the majority of solo travelers. Estimates range from 60% to 70% depending on the survey and data source. Hostelworld's 2025 report found 60% of solo travelers identified as female. In the United States, 72% of American women have taken at least one solo trip (Booking.com survey, 2014).
What is the biggest concern for solo travelers?
Personal safety is the top concern, cited by 62% of survey respondents. Loneliness and isolation rank second at 57%. The gender gap is significant — 63% of women cite safety as their main barrier, compared to 18% of men. Despite these concerns, 78% of solo travelers report gains in confidence and self-discovery.
What percentage of solo travelers use apps to find companions?
While precise adoption figures for travel companion apps are not yet tracked by major research firms, the demand signals are strong. 71% of solo travelers actively seek social connection, 58% cite meeting new people as a primary motivation, and 78% of women who hesitate to travel solo say they would if they could find verified companions or organized groups. Travel companion apps are a fast-growing category within the broader solo travel ecosystem.
How much do backpackers spend per day?
Daily budgets vary by region. In Southeast Asia, backpackers typically spend $20–50 per day. In South America, $30–45 per day is common. Eastern Europe and the Balkans cost $30–45 per day, while Western Europe ranges from $80 to $150+ per day. These figures cover accommodation, food, local transport, and basic activities.
Sources: Statistics sourced from published industry reports including Hostelworld State of Solo Travel 2025, Grand View Research, Spherical Insights, TravelBoom 2026 Leisure Travel Study, Talker Research / Road Scholar 2026, and Condor Ferries.
Statistics on this page are compiled from publicly available industry reports, travel platform data (Hostelworld, Booking.com, Google Trends), market research firms (Grand View Research, Spherical Insights), and traveler surveys (TravelBoom, Klook, Road Scholar/Talker Research, Condor Ferries). Where precise figures are unavailable, we use hedged language. Some figures cited from secondary aggregators are marked as estimated. This page was last updated March 2026.
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