The 65th International Meetings Statistics Report of the Union of International Associations is now available to the general public, in September 2024. The Report provides a global view of international association meetings as association life adjusts to the postpandemic world.

As the graph below indicates, the number of meetings held each year is gradually recovering from the impact of the pandemic in 2020 when events were cancelled at short notice and travel was severely restricted. The long experience of UIA editors shows that the number of meetings for the year just past increases as research continues and information is collected, so the number shown for 2023 is likely to increase, on average, by about 11% over the next year, about 34% over the following five years, and about 37% over the following seven years, before reaching stability. This would indicate that the figure of 8,486 for 2023 currently in the 65th Report could rise to 11,000-12,000 when the number stabilizes, approaching but not reaching the number for 2019.

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The data in this report are drawn from the UIA database, the source of the International Congress Calendar and the Yearbook of International Organizations. Covering international association meetings held around the world in 2023, the Report provides comprehensive data for the-year-that-was and also a twenty-year perspective on trends from 2004 through 2023.

Since 1960 the UIA has prepared statistics on the international meetings that have taken place worldwide in the preceding year, and published an annual report. The work is based on routine research and surveys undertaken by the UIA, and meetings taken into consideration include those organized and/or sponsored by international organizations, such as congresses, regional sessions, regular sittings or assemblies. The notable development of online technology for conducting group discussions accelerated by the pandemic conditions will probably have a lasting effect on smaller events, although many organizations have greeted with relief and enthusiasm the return of face-to-face conferences. Some organizers bravely encompass both systems with hybrid events. The UIA Survey on International Meeting Issues also addresses aspects of organizing international events

Highlights of the 65th Report include the number of meetings per city and per country, with indications of their market share; the top international meeting countries and cities per year; trends in participant numbers and meeting dates; plus a full overview of the statistics.

For more information and to order the Report, go to 65th International Meetings Statistics Report.

To receive the annual Statistics Report in June, and to take advantage of all this information three months ahead of the general release and much more, please note that it is part of the benefits accorded to Associate Members, see Associate Membership.

Joel Fischer has been part of the UIA’s editorial and Secretariat staff since 1996. He is co-editor of the Yearbook of International Organizations and the International Congress Calendar.