The number of movie theaters around the world varies greatly depending on countries’ populations, economic conditions, cultural habits, and investments in the film industry. In this context, countries with the fewest movie theaters are usually small island nations, developing countries, or regions where cinema culture is not yet widespread.
However, it may not always be possible to access precise and up-to-date data on the number of movie theaters. Therefore, general information about the number of movie theaters and the film industries in some countries is provided below:
📉 Countries with Few Movie Theaters
- Faroe Islands: With a population of approximately 50,000, the Faroe Islands have only one movie theater. This means the number of theaters per capita is quite low.
- Djibouti: Located in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is among the countries with a limited number of movie theaters. However, it is difficult to obtain accurate and current data on the exact number of theaters.
- Small Island Nations: Countries such as Nauru, Tuvalu, and Kiribati typically have very few or no movie theaters due to their limited populations and infrastructure.
🌍 Examples from Other Countries
- Saudi Arabia: Movie theaters were banned from 1983 to 2018. With the opening of the first movie theater in 2018, the number reached 53 by 2021.
- Tunisia: In 2015, the number of commercially operated movie theaters in the country was below 30. This number rose to 41 in 2019 and to 48 in 2022.
- Cambodia: As of 2023, there are 25 movie theaters in the country. This number is quite low considering the country’s population and geographic size.
- Myanmar: The number of movie theaters, which was 244 in the 1980s, dropped to 71 by 2011. This decline is attributed to political and economic factors as well as the spread of digital media.
The number of movie theaters is directly related to a country’s cultural habits, economic condition, and infrastructure investments. In small island countries and regions where cinema culture has not yet developed, the number of movie theaters can be quite low. However, this situation may change over time; for example, developments such as the reopening of theaters in Saudi Arabia can contribute to the growth of the film industry.
For more specific data and comparisons, statistics published by organizations such as UNESCO or the International Federation of Film Archives can be examined.