[Travel] The ranking of the 67 countries where it is possible to ski in the world in 2024

If you were asked what Kazakhstan, Morocco and Greenland have in common, you probably wouldn't answer: their ski infrastructure. And yet, these three destinations are among the 67 countries in the world where it's possible to ski! In this study, based on data compiled by consultant Laurent Vanat in his report “2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism”, we offer you an overview of ski destinations, some of which are sure to surprise you.

Expert advice

Alexandre Desoutter, editor-in-chief of HelloSafe in te USA:
"The United States is a major player in the global skiing scene, with a vast number of ski resorts across the country, especially in regions such as Colorado, Utah, and California. The U.S. has approximately 15 million skiers, making it one of the largest markets for winter sports. The country boasts some of the world’s most iconic ski resorts, such as Aspen, Vail, and Jackson Hole, which offer a wide range of terrain for skiers of all levels. With more than 450 ski areas, the U.S. provides diverse skiing options, from the large, well-known resorts to smaller, local hills. In addition to its natural mountain terrain, the U.S. is home to several indoor snow facilities, such as the Big Snow American in New Jersey, further encouraging participation in the sport. Skiing in the U.S. is also heavily supported by a robust infrastructure, with extensive lift systems, top-tier snowmaking technology, and a large market for ski equipment and tourism. The country’s ski culture is diverse, with a mix of recreational and competitive skiing, and the accessibility to snow sports year-round further strengthens its skiing tradition".

The USA are the 2nd country in the world with the most ski lifts

This ranking highlights the global disparities in infrastructure related to winter sports, particularly downhill skiing. Leading countries such as France, the USA and Austria, each with over 2,900 ski lifts, testify to a strong tradition of winter sports and massive investment in mountain tourism. The Alpine countries dominate, confirming the importance of this region as the world's heart of winter sports.

Beyond Europe and North America, Japan (5th) and China (12th) stand out in Asia, reflecting the growing power of these markets. On the other hand, countries such as Australia and South Korea, despite limited geographical conditions, feature thanks to an infrastructure focused on specific zones. Finally, the significant gap between the leaders and the bottom of the top 20 shows that winter sports remain a regionalized sector, favored by the geography and history of local tourism.

Source: Laurent Vanat - 2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism

The full ranking of the 67 countries offering ski resorts worldwide

This data highlights an unexpected diversity of ski destinations around the world, thanks in particular to countries less often associated with the sport. While giants such as France, the USA and China dominate in terms of the number of resorts and ski lifts, countries such as Turkey (60 resorts), Greece (22 resorts), and even Iran (22 resorts) are surprisingly present, revealing the existence of winter sports niches in regions with varied climates.

South Africa and Lesotho, with their handful of resorts, bear witness to the adaptation of skiing to the southern hemisphere, as does New Zealand, which combines spectacular mountains with a reverse season. Countries like Lebanon and Morocco, in the heart of the Middle East and North Africa, show that skiing can thrive even in regions perceived as hot or arid.

The appearance of emerging destinations such as Kazakhstan, Georgia and India also underlines a trend towards the internationalization of skiing, far beyond the traditional Alps. These places, often with fewer facilities but unique landscapes and cultures, could attract customers looking for new experiences. This table shows that skiing is no longer just a sport of the Alpine countries, but a booming leisure activity in a wide range of geographical contexts.

PositionCountryTotal number of resortsResorts with more than 5 liftsTotal number of lifts
1
China77886669
2
Germany498551,554
3
Japan4971291,847
4
United States4703532,970
5
Russia35457611
6
Italy3492162,127
7
France3172353,113
8
Canada28073922
9
Poland26434704
10
Austria2532002,930
11
Sweden22868840
12
Norway21340655
13
Czech Republic19153765
14
Switzerland181811,364
15
Slovakia10739456
16
Finland7630374
17
Turkey607159
18
Ukraine549141
19
Romania516122
20
Slovenia4424217
21
Spain3228384
22
Bulgaria327110
23
Serbia31377
24
Latvia26577
25
New Zealand239109
26
Argentina2210145
27
Iran22572
28
Greece226111
29
Chile219127
30
Kazakhstan19225
31
Kyrgyzstan19129
32
Korea, South1816168
33
Bosnia-Herzegovina18450
34
Hungary15655
35
India15122
36
Australia139167
37
Croatia13125
38
Iceland13252
39
Lithuania11019
40
United Kingdom105126
41
Albania1001
42
Estonia9117
43
Macedonia8134
44
Georgia8242
45
Belgium7011
46
Belarus6011
47
Lebanon6446
48
Morocco5110
49
Korea, North5011
50
Montenegro4223
51
Denmark304
52
Armenia318
53
Uzbekistan3111
54
Kosovo3112
55
Andorra33140
56
Greenland202
57
Pakistan208
58
Azerbaijan2116
59
Israel1110
60
South Africa116
61
Cyprus104
62
Mongolia104
63
Tajikistan102
64
Iraq101
65
Portugal1129
66
Liechtenstein115
67
Lesotho103
Source: Laurent Vanat - 2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism

Focus on 14 countries around the world that could one day have ski resorts

The study of ski destinations highlights often unexpected countries where skiing could develop in the years or decades to come. Although non-traditional, these regions have snow-capped mountains, glaciers or peaks that are subject to occasional snowfalls, offering untapped potential for skiing and winter tourism. While some of these destinations are still at a rudimentary stage, others are already planning resort projects, paving the way for a diversification of world skiing. The data presented below is taken from Laurent Vanat's 2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism:

Geographic clusters
Himalayas and Southeast Asia
Bhutan, Indonesia and Myanmar
This region is home to snow-capped mountains such as those in Bhutan and on Myanmar's Himalayan border, where a ski resort project is currently underway. These areas are underdeveloped for skiing, but have great potential thanks to their spectacular landscapes and favorable winter conditions.
Central and East Africa
DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
Africa surprises with snow-capped peaks and glaciers on high mountains, as in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. These areas remain little-known but could become unique destinations for adventure or niche skiing, capitalizing on their exoticism.
South and Central America
Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela
Tropical glaciers and snow-capped peaks, as in Peru and Ecuador, offer opportunities to diversify ski experiences in this region. With limited infrastructure, these countries could attract off-the-beaten-track ski enthusiasts.
Europe
Moldavia
In Moldavia, poorly-equipped hills are evidence of local interest in skiing, but lack modern facilities. This country is a typical example of a region where small investments could boost the winter offer.
Middle East
Syria
Before the civil war, Syria was planning a ski resort in its snow-capped mountains. This underlines the region's untapped potential to become a unique destination, combining history and snowy landscapes.
Source: Laurent Vanat - 2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism

With 25 million skiers, the United States is the country with the most ski practitioners in the world

This data on the total number of skiers per country reveals a significant geographical diversity, transcending the boundaries of traditional mountain areas. The United States, with over 25 million skiers, and China, with 13 million, demonstrate the scale of the North American and Asian markets, driven by their vast populations and winter sports development initiatives. In Europe, Germany dominates with over 14 million skiers, despite a less favorable topography compared to countries like France and Austria.

Interestingly, nations without major mountain ranges such as the UK (6.34 million) and Belgium (1.25 million) also post high figures, illustrating the impact of travel to the Alps or other international resorts. Finally, countries such as Japan, South Korea and Russia confirm the worldwide interest in winter sports, even in regions less historically associated with this activity. This diversity underlines the universal appeal of skiing, and the importance of infrastructure and tourist access in developing the sport.

Source: Laurent Vanat - 2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism

The US ranked 1st in the world for cumulative ski visits in 2022

These data offer a fascinating insight into skiing practices around the world, highlighting unexpected destinations and particular trends in skiers' habits. The USA and Austria dominate in terms of cumulative ski days, but it's countries like Andorra (92% foreign skiers) and Liechtenstein (50% foreign) that surprise us: these small nations attract massive numbers of visitors thanks to their strategic location and well-equipped resorts.

China, despite its efforts to develop winter sports, remains dominated by a local clientele (only 1% foreigners), while countries like Chile and Lebanon, although non-traditional, welcome a surprising number of international skiers, underlining their unique appeal. Lesotho, while having a low total volume (12,000 days), is remarkable for its exceptional proportion of foreign visitors (95%), demonstrating the exoticism of its slopes.

Finally, emerging regions such as Kazakhstan and Georgia, and even lesser-known skiing nations such as India and Morocco, bear witness to the sport's global expansion. The proportions of skiers per total population vary considerably, with very low figures in developing countries or atypical destinations, but this underlines the growth potential for markets that are still maturing.

RankCountryTotal annual number of cumulative ski daysProportion of foreign skiersTotal annual number of cumulative ski days (foreigners)Total number of skiers in the countryProportion of skiers in the total population
1
United States55,492,0006%3,329,52025,017,0007.48%
2
Austria43,580,00066%28,762,8002,960,00033.41%
3
France40,656,00027%10,977,1208,574,00012.64%
4
Italy22,320,00035%7,812,0007,266,00012.26%
5
Switzerland21,967,00035%7,688,4502,959,00033.64%
6
Canada18,466,00012%2,215,9204,307,00011.16%
7
China17,862,0001%17913,050,0000.92%
8
Russia9,467,0005%4734,275,0003.02%
9
Sweden9,200,00015%1,380,0001,824,00017.45%
10
Norway7,650,00047%3,595,5001,181,00021.73%
11
Germany7,020,00010%70214,607,00017.57%
12
Poland5,531,00015%8304,937,00013.08%
13
Czech Republic4,960,00030%1,488,0002,236,00020.89%
14
Spain4,528,00010%4532,329,0004.91%
15
South Korea3,765,00010%3772,937,0005.67%
16
Slovakia3,696,00025%92497918.03%
17
Japan2,656,60010%26611,411,0009.08%
18
Finland2,559,00017%4351,264,00022.81%
19
Andorra1,985,00092%1,826,2001518.99%
20
Australia1,813,0002%361,002,0003.83%
21
Romania1,695,0005%856863.22%
22
New Zealand1,577,00036%5683065.89%
23
Argentina1,500,00025%3751,065,0002.32%
24
Ukraine1,400,0005%701,114,0003.03%
25
Turkey1,200,00015%1808070.95%
26
Bulgaria1,200,00025%3003495.35%
27
Slovenia1,090,00017%18529914.19%
28
Serbia800,00020%1602113.12%
29
Latvia800,00015%12019410.31%
30
Greece800,00010%802152.07%
31
Iran750,0001%88120.91%
32
Chile685,00042%2885172.69%
33
Bosnia and Herzegovina500,00050%2501755.43%
34
Hungary400,00010%405876.09%
35
Georgia400,00020%80932.52%
36
Macedonia300,00010%301567.51%
37
Lebanon300,0005%151222.30%
38
Kazakhstan250,0002%52661.39%
39
Montenegro250,00025%636210.00%
40
Kyrgyzstan200,00020%40550.77%
41
India200,0001%21340.01%
42
Lithuania200,00010%201415.16%
43
Iceland159,0005%86316.80%
44
Croatia150,00010%152275.91%
45
Belarus150,00025%381902.00%
46
Estonia125,0005%6634.74%
47
Belgium100,00040%401,253,00010.69%
48
Morocco100,00010%10330.09%
49
Uzbekistan100,00015%15570.16%
50
Kosovo100,0006%6552.95%
51
Azerbaijan100,00010%10720.71%
52
Armenia90,0002%2592.11%
53
Liechtenstein90,00050%451435.00%
54
United Kingdom88,0001%8806,340,0009.36%
55
Denmark50,0000%066711.24%
56
Portugal50,0000%02062.03%
57
Korea, North30,0000%0150.06%
58
Lesotho12,00095%115000.02%
59
Albania10,00010%1291.03%
60
Pakistan10,0005%500970.04%
GreenlandData not availableData not availableData not availableData not availableData not available
IsraelData not availableData not availableData not availableData not availableData not available
South AfricaData not availableData not availableData not availableData not availableData not available
CyprusData not availableData not availableData not availableData not availableData not available
MongoliaData not availableData not availableData not availableData not availableData not available
TajikistanData not availableData not availableData not availableData not availableData not available
IraqData not availableData not availableData not availableData not availableData not available
Source: FIS, Laurent Vanat - 2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism

Methodology

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