Airbnb Statistics You Need To Know

The popularity of Airbnb can’t be denied. In relatively short order, it has completely changed how people vacation and find accommodations. Before diving into the numbers, let’s examine how Airbnb started and the company’s history.

A Little History of Airbnb

Airbnb, an online marketplace for lodging and tourism experiences, was founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk. The idea was born out of necessity when Chesky and Gebbia, unable to afford their rent in San Francisco, decided to rent out their living room as makeshift lodging for a design conference in town. They set up a website, “AirBed & Breakfast,” offering visitors a place to sleep and breakfast in the morning.

This initial concept tapped into an unmet need in the market for more affordable, homely accommodation compared to traditional hotels. The founders soon realized the potential and expanded their ideas.

In 2009, the company was renamed Airbnb and received its first significant funding, which allowed it to grow rapidly. Airbnb’s growth was not without challenges. It faced regulatory hurdles in various cities, concerns over safety and property damage, and issues of discrimination among hosts.

Despite these obstacles, Airbnb continued to expand globally, diversifying its offerings to include rooms and apartments, castles, treehouses, and even igloos.

The company’s success lies in its innovative business model, which disrupted the traditional hospitality industry. It leverages technology to connect people looking to rent out their spaces with those looking for accommodations. This peer-to-peer platform has expanded its scope over the years to include experiences like tours and activities, further enhancing its appeal.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 posed significant challenges for Airbnb, as travel restrictions severely impacted the travel industry. The company adapted by focusing on local experiences and longer-term stays, demonstrating its resilience and flexibility.

Airbnb’s journey from a modest idea to a global phenomenon reflects the power of innovative thinking in meeting consumer needs and the impact of digital platforms in transforming traditional industries. As of 2023, Airbnb remains a leading share economy figure, continuously evolving and influencing travel and hospitality trends worldwide.

Airbnb Statistics

Here are some key statistics about Airbnb:

Listings Worldwide: Airbnb has grown exponentially since its inception, boasting millions of listings worldwide. These listings span over 220 countries and regions, showcasing its global reach.

Guest Arrivals: Before the pandemic, Airbnb had seen hundreds of millions of guests since it started, indicating its popularity as an alternative to traditional hotel stays.

Company Valuation: As of its IPO in December 2020, Airbnb’s valuation soared, reflecting investor confidence in its business model and future growth prospects. The IPO was one of the biggest in 2020, marking a significant milestone for the company. In 2023, the company will be worth over $80 billion.

Diversity of Listings: Airbnb’s listings range from shared rooms to luxury villas and even unique accommodations like treehouses and castles. This variety appeals to a broad range of travelers seeking different experiences. There are 6.6 million listings available every day.

Economic Impact: Airbnb significantly impacts hosts who earn income through the platform and local economies where guests spend money during their stays. The average host earns just over $13,000 a year.

User Base: The platform has a large user base of both hosts and guests. The platform’s ease of use and community-driven aspect contribute to its growing user base. Estimates reach up to 150 million active users.

Revenue: Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Airbnb managed to generate substantial revenue, indicating the company’s resilience and the strong demand for its services. The company currently claims almost $9 billion in yearly income.

These statistics illustrate Airbnb’s significant role in the travel and hospitality industry. Its model revolutionized how people travel and stay in different locations and created a new economy of hosts and travelers, influencing local economies and travel habits worldwide.

Airbnb Biggest Markets

Europe dominates Airbnb with almost 5 million listings in 2021. Asia Pacific is in second place with over 3 million listings, while North America is in third place with around 2.5 million listings yearly. Latin America sits in a solid fourth with over 1 million listings. Africa is the smallest regional market, with just over 350,000 active listings.

The city with the most listings is London, England, with 156,111. Paris, France, is the second highest, with 107,241. New York City has the third most listings, with 94,198. The next in order are Shanghai, Bali, Sydney, and Los Angeles.

Nights Stayed

Airbnb averages around $160 per night, and most guests stay for around four days. The company has grown so much that in 2020, there were around 150 million nights stayed, and in 2023, there were almost 400 million.

Europe and North America boast the highest number of nights stayed out of any region. In Europe, this equates to around 144 million nights stayed. In North America, the number sits just above 110 million.

Airbnb Revenue

Airbnb makes over $3 billion a year in Europe, while North America has over $2.3 billion. Asia Pacific generates almost $800 million, while Latin America sits around $500 million. Revenue has grown by over 75% since 2020, going from $3.88 billion to $6.85.

Europe and North America combine for about 80% of all active Airbnb users for the regions that earn the most. However, the top three countries for listings are the United States, France, and China. This means that the Asian market shows continued growth and increasing prominence.

Regarding which country generated the most revenue, the United States generates as much as the next 9 countries combined. In 2021, that revenue reached over $21 billion dollars. The United States also has the highest per-night rate, which averages over $200.

The city that generated the most revenue is San Diego, California. In 2021, San Diego generated almost $380 million in revenue. London, UK, came in second with almost $360 million. Austin, Texas, came in third with over $340 million in revenue. It should be noted every city in the top ten saw a notable increase in revenue from 2020 to 2021.

Airbnb Hosts

The average host makes just over $13,000 per year on Airbnb. The fastest-growing host demographic is senior citizens. There are currently over 400,000 senior citizens who act as hosts for Airbnb.

Women currently account for around 56% of hosts. Around 22% of hosts say that they only became hosts after being Airbnb guests.

Guest Demographics

Regarding demographics, most Airbnb guests are female, at around 54%. For age, most are between the ages of 24 and 35, with 36% of all guests falling in this age bracket. By comparison, only 5% of Airbnb guests are over the age of 65. The second largest age demographic is the 35-44 year old population, with 23% of all guests.

Ninety-five percent of Airbnb guests said they chose the service because of the secure and easy payment options. Seventy-seven percent of guests say that they like to experience an area like locals do. Sixty-four percent of guests thought that home-sharing was more ecologically friendly. Fifty-eight percent of millennials say they choose Airbnb based on social media worthiness.

Airbnb Corporate Stats

Most Airbnb employees work from home. This allows them to work and live anywhere in the world. Fifty-two percent of Airbnb employees are male, and there are over 6,100 individuals currently employed by Airbnb. 12.3% of employees at Airbnb are from underrepresented communities.

Workers rated Airbnb at 3.8 out of 5. They provide good benefits, like most tech companies, and 75% of Airbnb employees said their pay was fair.

One of the biggest challenges to Airbnb is that it operates in so many different countries. This means that Airbnb has to comply with local, regional, and national laws that are all different. It is also true that Airbnb collects and pays billions in tourism taxes every year.

In a Nutshell

Airbnb has had a tumultuous three years since the Covid-19 pandemic. The company weathered these storms and has emerged with increasing revenues and profits. Demand has only increased, which made 2022 their first profitable year after costs are factored in.

Airbnb hosts continue to have great returns on investment, and the increasing demand is only going to make Airbnb more profitable. There are rising competitors, but none have the reach or market dominance that Airbnb has shown year after year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Airbnb’s largest market?

The United States. It’s not even close. The United States earns more than the next 9 countries combined. The US generates over $22 billion in gross income every year.