Museums are more than just repositories of artifacts; they are gateways to art, windows into human creativity, centers of education and inspiration. Throughout human history, museums (from the ancient Greek “museion” – “temple of the Muses” – goddesses of the arts and sciences; “muse” literally means “art” or “poetry”) have become an integral part of society, collecting, researching, preserving and displaying the world’s cultural, scientific and historical heritage.
The first known museum was the Museum of Alexandria in ancient Egypt, founded by Ptolemy I Soter, which was a state-supported community of scholars and included a library, lecture hall, and gardens.
Today, in the age of digital flows, museums continue to thrive, attracting millions of visitors each year and adapting to modern challenges.
Estimating the exact number of museums in the world is a difficult task, as definitions can vary – does it include a small local gallery or only large institutions? According to the latest UNESCO figures, there are almost 104,000 museums in the world (!). This figure represents an impressive increase from around 22,000 in 1975, reflecting a surge in efforts to preserve cultural heritage and tourism. The International Council of Museums (ICOM), a key global network, reports over 57,000 museums in 137 countries, although this total does not include non-member museums.
This boom is not uniform. Museums have proliferated in response to urbanization, educational initiatives, and cultural and historical tourism. For example, the growth of university-affiliated museums adds to this figure; in Europe alone, there are over 2,000 such institutions run by universities.
From an economic perspective, museums are of immense importance: in the US alone, they provide over 726,000 jobs and contribute $50 billion to the economy annually (!). The global museum market is projected to grow from $9.14 billion in 2025 to $20.83 billion by 2032, driven by digital exhibits and immersive experiences.
Museums are unevenly distributed around the world; their density often correlates with economic development, historical significance, and population density. North America and Western Europe dominate, with about 61% of the world’s museums concentrated, despite comprising only a fraction of the world’s population. This concentration is due to centuries of colonial collections, reliable funding, and a strong tourism infrastructure.
Leading countries by number of museums
The United States has over 33,000 museums. The main government institution is the Smithsonian Institution, which includes 19 museums and attracts millions of people from around the world each year. Most museums are funded by private philanthropy and federal support.
Germany – 6,741 museums. The country is rich in history and art museums. Berlin’s Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Japan – 5,738 museums. Emphasis on technology and natural history; Tokyo National Museum is a prime example of this.
China – 5,535 museums. The National Museum of China in Beijing receives nearly 7 million visitors annually.
Europe leads in the number of visitors to art museums, while Asia dominates in the number of science and technology exhibitions. However, Africa and South America have lower visitor densities – in many countries, fewer than five museums per million population – due to funding challenges and a historical lack of investment. Efforts are underway to bridge this gap; for example, new museums in Africa are focusing on repatriating artifacts and promoting local cultural narratives.
The most visited museums highlight this distribution: the Louvre in Paris welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024, followed by the National Museum of China (6.96 million) and the Vatican Museums (6.8 million). These popular destinations not only contribute to local economies, but also highlight the role of museums in global cultural exchange.
Museums come in a striking variety of types, each focused on a specific theme or audience. In general, they can be classified into five main categories, as defined by experts: general (encyclopedic), natural history and science, science and technology, and history and art. However, the variety goes far beyond that, encompassing niche and specialized institutions that cater to every conceivable interest.
Art museums
They focus on the visual arts, from ancient sculptures to contemporary installations. Subtypes include fine arts (e.g. paintings and drawings), contemporary art (contemporary works), decorative arts (furniture, ceramics), folk art, photography, and single-artist museums, such as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Encyclopedic museums, such as the British Museum, combine art with history, preserving vast collections from different eras and cultures.
Historical museums
Dedicated to human history, they include archaeological museums (artifacts from excavations), biographical museums (focusing on individual people), and historic house museums (preserved homes of famous figures). Heritage and local history museums often highlight regional events, such as colonial or war narratives.
Natural history and science museums
They explore the natural world, including fossils, minerals, and biodiversity. Examples include the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, with its dinosaur skeletons and gemstone collections. They often include interactive elements to teach about evolution, ecology, and astronomy.
Science and technology museums
Technical and innovative, these museums showcase inventions, engineering solutions, and scientific principles. These include aviation museums (such as the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum), artillery or military museums, and planetariums. In Asia, where science museums are particularly popular, institutions such as the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum attract visitors with exhibits on robotics and space.
Specialized and alternative museums
It is in this universal category that museums become truly unusual. Agricultural museums celebrate the history of agriculture; maritime museums showcase ships and maritime artifacts; children’s museums emphasize play-based learning; and religious museums explore faith through relics. And then there are the oddities: sports museums (like the FIFA Museum), social media museums, or even the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia, which displays memorabilia from failed romances. Architecture museums, the Cabinet of Curiosities (early precursors to modern museums), and virtual museums in the metaverse are new trends.
Museums can overlap – a general museum might include departments of art, history and science. Categories such as anthropology (cultural artifacts) and alternative (such as street art or pop culture) add additional layers.
Museums are not only educational, they are full of surprises. Did you know that the Louvre is the world’s largest art museum, covering 86,989.31 square yards, a little less than half the area of New York’s Central Park? While the St. Louis City Museum boasts the world’s largest graphite pencil, measuring 75.45 feet long and weighing 21,51 pounds. The British Museum, founded in 1753, was the first publicly funded museum and admission remains free.
The International Espionage Museum in Washington, D.C., features exhibits from the real history of espionage. In Spain, the Prado Museum once staged a simulated fire to test evacuation procedures for its priceless works of art.
The number of museums associated with UNESCO World Heritage sites exceeds 8,000, playing a key role in preserving historical heritage.
As challenges proliferate, museums are transforming to continue to have their place in the future of rapidly changing society. Museums are dynamic spaces that are constantly evolving and reflect the curiosities and concerns of society.
In a rapidly changing world, museums offer pause for reflection, fostering empathy, innovation and mutual understanding. Nearly 104,000 museums around the world, spanning every conceivable type, democratize knowledge, preserve a shared heritage and continue to inspire.
Museums remind us that the past shapes the future, and there is always something to discover. Plan a visit to a museum and immerse yourself in a world of preserved knowledge.
By James Harding
© Preems