Museums continued to attract consistently large audiences in 2025, although the reasons for growth varied significantly by region. In 2024, TEA Global Experience Index broadened the definition of museums to include selected leading historic sites that have significant museum components. This year they widened its application of that definition, resulting in several first-time entrants to the lists.
North American attendance increased modestly, although the results in the U.S. were heavily affected by the federal government shutdown in the busy fall 2025 season. Outside Washington, results were considerably stronger. The Metropolitan Museum of Art increased attendance 4.5%, buoyed by the reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. The Museum
of Modern Art grew 5.4%, and the Art Institute of Chicago increased 13.3%, boosted by major exhibitions.
See how North American Museums fared in 2025 compared to previous years:
Top 20 Museums in North America |
Rank |
Museum, Location |
Change |
2025 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
1 |
The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York, NY, USA |
4.5% |
5,984,000 |
5,727,000 |
5,364,000 |
3,209,000 |
| 2 |
Museo Nacional De Antropologia,
Mexico City, Mexico |
33.5% |
5,049,000 |
3,782,000 |
2,640,000 |
–– |
3 |
American Museum of Natural History,
New York, NY, USA |
-7.4% |
5,000,000 |
5,400,000 |
5,000,000 |
–– |
4 |
Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island,
New York, NY, USA |
-4.9% |
3,538,000 |
3,722,000 |
–– |
–– |
| 5 |
National Museum of Natural History,
Washington, DC, USA |
-15.4% |
3,300,000 |
3,900,000 |
4,400,000 |
3,900,000 |
| 6 |
National Gallery of Art,
Washington DC, USA |
-28.9% |
2,800,000 |
3,937,000 |
3,830,000 |
3,256,000 |
7 |
Museum of Modern Art,
New York, NY, USA |
5.4% |
2,800,000 |
2,657,000 |
2,840,000 |
2,190,000 |
8 |
Chapultepec Castle (National Museum of History),
Mexico City, Mexico |
1.9% |
2,676,000 |
2,625,000 |
–– |
–– |
9 |
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
New York NY, USA |
0.0% |
2,400,000 |
2,400,000 |
–– |
–– |
10 |
Museo Soumaya,
Mexico City, Mexico |
-4.3% |
2,200,000 |
2,300,000 |
–– |
–– |
11 |
National Air and Space Museum,
Washington, DC, USA |
0.0% |
1,900,000 |
1,900,000 |
1,900,000 |
419,000 |
12 |
National Museum of American History,
Washington, DC, USA |
-14.3% |
1,800,000 |
2,100,000 |
2,100,000 |
1,800,000 |
13 |
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex,
Merritt Island, FL, USA |
New |
1,551,000 |
–– |
–– |
–– |
14 |
Houston Museum of Natural Science,
Houston, TX, USA |
-1.1% |
1,529,000 |
1,547,000 |
1,800,000 |
1,700,000 |
| 15 |
Griffin Museum of Science & Industry,
Chicago, IL, USA |
2.9% |
1,519,000 |
1,476,000 |
1,476,000 |
1,134,000 |
| 16 |
The Art Institute of Chicago,
Chicago, IL, USA |
13.3% |
1,500,000 |
1,324,000 |
1,322,000 |
1,037,000 |
17 |
California Science Center,
Los Angeles, CA, USA |
-11.9% |
1,497,000 |
1,700,000 |
1,700,000 |
1,694,000 |
| 18 |
National Museum of African American History and Culture,
Washington, DC, USA |
-12.5% |
1,400,000 |
1,600,000 |
1,600,000 |
1,093,000 |
| 19 |
Denver Museum of Nature & Science,
Denver, CO, USA |
1.9% |
1,385,000 |
1,358,000 |
1,306,000 |
1,151,000 |
| 20 |
Getty Center,
Los Angeles, CA, USA |
-0.1% |
1,300,000 |
1,301,000 |
1,251,000 |
909,000 |
TOP 20 TOTAL ATTENDANCE FROM 2025 AND 2024
(PUBLISHED PRIOR YEAR TOTAL) |
0.8% |
51,129,000 |
50,723,000 |
–– |
–– |
Source: 2025 TEA Global Experience Index™
TEA/ECA/TPDB
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