Top 20 museums around the world | CNN

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Top 20 museums around the world

Updated 2:21 PM EDT, Thu June 16, 2016
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The Louvre is the world's most-popular museum, according to the 2015 Museum Index released by the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM. The Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors. Click through the gallery to see the rest of the world's most popular museums.
1. Louvre, Paris —
The Louvre is the world's most-popular museum, according to the 2015 Museum Index released by the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM. The Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors. Click through the gallery to see the rest of the world's most popular museums.
Watcharee Suphaluxana/Shutterstock
The National Museum of China was the second most-visited museum in the world in 2015, with 7.3 million visitors.
2. National Museum of China —
The National Museum of China was the second most-visited museum in the world in 2015, with 7.3 million visitors.
PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington tied for third most-visited, with 6.9 million visitors.
3. National Museum of Natural History, Washington —
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington tied for third most-visited, with 6.9 million visitors.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post/Getty Images
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington tied for third place with 6.9 million visitors in 2015.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington tied for third place with 6.9 million visitors in 2015.
fstockfoto/Shutterstock
The British Museum had 6.8 million visitors in 2015.
5. British Museum, London —
The British Museum had 6.8 million visitors in 2015.
Oli Scarff/Getty Images
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York had 6.3 million visitors in 2015.
6. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York —
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York had 6.3 million visitors in 2015.
Shutterstock
The Vatican Museums hosted 6 million visitors in 2015.
7. Vatican Museums, Vatican City —
The Vatican Museums hosted 6 million visitors in 2015.
S-F/Shutterstock
China's Shanghai Science & Technology Museum had 5.9 million visitors in 2015. The museum's eye-popping 41% increase in visitors was likely due to consolidation of one large and several small museums.
8. Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, China —
China's Shanghai Science & Technology Museum had 5.9 million visitors in 2015. The museum's eye-popping 41% increase in visitors was likely due to consolidation of one large and several small museums.
Lau Chun Kit/Shutterstock
The National Gallery in London hosted more than 5.9 million people in 2015.
9. National Gallery, London —
The National Gallery in London hosted more than 5.9 million people in 2015.
LEON NEAL/Getty Images
The National Palace Museum in Taiwan had nearly 5.3 million visitors in 2015.
10. National Palace Museum, Taiwan —
The National Palace Museum in Taiwan had nearly 5.3 million visitors in 2015.
Shutterstock
The Natural History Museum in London welcomed nearly 5.3 million visitors in 2015.
11. Natural History Museum, London —
The Natural History Museum in London welcomed nearly 5.3 million visitors in 2015.
Rob Stothard/Getty Images
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City welcomed an even 5 million visitors in 2015.
12. American Museum of Natural History, New York —
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City welcomed an even 5 million visitors in 2015.
Felix Lipov/Shutterstock
London's Tate Modern hosted 4.7 million visitors in 2015.
13. Tate Modern, London —
London's Tate Modern hosted 4.7 million visitors in 2015.
Carl Court/Getty Images
The National Gallery of Art in Washington welcomed more than 4.1 million visitors in 2015.
14. National Gallery of Art, Washington —
The National Gallery of Art in Washington welcomed more than 4.1 million visitors in 2015.
Lee Snider/Shutterstock
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington hosted 4.1 million visitors in 2015.
15. National Museum Of American History, Washington —
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington hosted 4.1 million visitors in 2015.
littleny/Shutterstock
The State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, saw 3.7 million visitors in 2015.
16. State Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia —
The State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, saw 3.7 million visitors in 2015.
Valeri Potapova/Shutterstock
The Musee d'Orsay welcomed more than 3.4 million people in 2015.
17. Musee d'Orsay, Paris —
The Musee d'Orsay welcomed more than 3.4 million people in 2015.
Shutterstock
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London hosted 3.4 million visitors in 2015.
18. Victoria and Albert Museum, London —
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London hosted 3.4 million visitors in 2015.
Carl Court/Getty Images
Beijing's China Science and Technology Museum welcomed nearly 3.4 million visitors in 2015.
19. China Science Technology Museum, Beijing —
Beijing's China Science and Technology Museum welcomed nearly 3.4 million visitors in 2015.
MARK RALSTON/Getty Images
The Science Museum in South Kensington, London, hosted nearly 3.4 million visitors in 2015.
20. Science Museum, London —
The Science Museum in South Kensington, London, hosted nearly 3.4 million visitors in 2015.
Science Museum

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