Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Amusement and theme parks worldwide - statistics & facts
While many people can’t stomach the dramatic heights, sudden drops, and dizzying loops of roller coasters, amusement and theme parks often have much more to offer. Fairground games, fried food, and even live shows are also a big part of their appeal. Of course, some parks are more popular than others, and in 2023 four out of five of the most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide were owned by the prolific mass media and entertainment company, Disney.
What are the leading amusement and theme parks worldwide?
With approximately 17.7 million visitors, the Magic Kingdom theme park in Florida, U.S., had the highest attendance of theme parks in North America and worldwide. Meanwhile, Disneyland Park, France, was the most visited amusement park in Europe and Beto Carrero World, in Brazil, was the leading Latin American amusement park in 2023.What is the fastest roller coaster in the world?
In 2024, the fastest roller coaster in the world was Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in the United Arab Emirates, with a top speed of 149.1 miles per hour (around 240 kilometers per hour). Meanwhile, runner-up, and fastest roller coaster in the U.S., was Kingda Ka, which is located at the Six Flags Great Adventure Park. Despite not being the fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka was the highest roller coaster in the world at 456 feet (around 139 meters) tall.How old are amusement and theme parks?
The bright lights, mechanical marvels, and blaring speakers often associated with amusement and theme parks give them a modern image; however, these attractions have been around for hundreds of years. The oldest amusement park worldwide that still exists today, Bakken, was founded in the late 1500s in Denmark. Meanwhile, the oldest running roller coaster in the world is the Scenic Railway which has been running since the early 1900s in Luna Park in Melbourne, Australia. The longevity of some of these parks shows that the amusement and theme park industry is not only going strong but will also appeal to thrill and amusement seekers in the future.
