Expo 2025 Osaka in Numbers: a unique series of reports on world expositions
World expositions are among the largest international events in the world. They bring together countries, companies, and cultural institutions to showcase new ideas, explore innovation, and present visions of the future. More than exhibitions, they are platforms where nations share their identity, industries demonstrate progress, and people connect through culture and technology.
Expo 2025 - Osaka in Numbers is the newest part of our independent research project. With more than 20 million visitors expected, Expo 2025 Osaka will be the largest human gathering on the planet in 2025. It highlights how societies are preparing for the future — in areas such as design, sustainability, health, and technology. For researchers, policymakers, and businesses, it is an opportunity to see how global cooperation can address shared challenges and open new possibilities.
Our work with expos started in 1992 with Expo Seville. Since then, we have produced independent reports on major world exposition in a series called “Expo’s in Numbers”. These reports have been used as indispensable works of reference by government officials, architects, business leaders, and cultural policymakers from all over the world, and have been archived in institutions such as the Library of Congress (USA) and the Royal Library of the Netherlands. The reports have helped to ensure that learnings from these global events remain available for future generations.
Each report is created as an independent part of this long-running passion project. They are not commissioned by organisers, but developed out of a commitment to preserve the legacy of world expos and a service to participating countries. The reports bring together facts, figures, and analysis — from pavilion participation and visitor numbers to cultural events, sponsorships, volunteers, and media reach. They also provide commentary on how an expo is performing and offer recommendations for creating better events in the future.
The goal of this research is threefold:
- to preserve the legacy of world expositions as part of the global cultural record,
- to support participating countries in preparing insightful reports to their governments, parliaments, and national media,
- and to help draw lessons that can improve planning and organisation for future expos.
Looking ahead, the planned coverage of Expo 2025 Osaka will continue this tradition. It will document the architectural excellence, storytelling, and organisational achievements of the event, and share these with an international audience. In doing so, it will connect past, present, and future expos in one continuous body of research.
