A horse head as a statue fragment dated around BC 500 shown at Inventions of Louvre at the National Museum of China [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

The National Museum of China in Beijing was the world's most-visited museum in 2016, says an annual report on global attractions.

The report was released on June 1 by The Themed Entertainment Association, an international nonprofit organization and the economics practice at AECOM, a multinational engineering firm. The report has charted global museum trends for five years by listing top 20 best-attended museums worldwide and in different regions.

The National Museum of China tops the list for the first time, receiving 7.55 million people in 2016. That is an increase of 3.6 percent compared to 2015.

Washington's National Air and Space Museum comes in second. The Louvre, which garnered the top position on the 2015 list, ranks third. The Paris museum suffered a 14.9 percent drop because of a decline in tourism.

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum was the seventh-most visited museum in the world in 2016.

US and British museums each seized three spots in the top 10.

The Taipei Palace Museum is ranked 12 with an 11.8 percent decrease of attendance. The report says it is because of a decline in the number of visitors from the mainland.

Egyptian statue (far) and stele shown at Inventions of Louvre, at the National Museum of China [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

1. National Museum of China, Beijing, China

Attendance in 2016: 7.55 million

he original model of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise from the television series "Star Trek" is on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, September 12, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

2. National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC, US

Attendance in 2016: 7.5 million

People are walking in front of the Louvre museum in Paris. [Photo/VCG]

3. Louvre, Paris, France

Attendance in 2016: 7.4 million

A red painted coffin displayed during the preview of the 'Mummies' Exhibition at The American Museum of Natural History [Photo/VCG]

4. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, US

Attendance in 2016: 7.1 million

The Metropolitan Museum of Art [Photo provided to China Daily]

5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, US

Attendance in 2016: 6.7 million

Artifacts from Egypt on display at the British Museum on July 20, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

6. British Museum, London, UK

Attendance in 2016: 6.42 million

A visitor is pictured at the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum on April 18. [Photo/VCG]

7. Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, Shanghai, China

Attendance in 2016: 6.32 million

Students from Catonsville Middle School hold their umbrellas against the rain while passing under Monet's "Woman with a Parasol" as they enter the National Gallery of Art in Washington, May 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

8. National Gallery, London, UK

Attendance in 2016: 6.26 million

A sign showing the way to the entrance of the Basilica Dome, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel is seen in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican May 1, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

9. Vatican Museums, Vatican, Vatican City

Attendance in 2016: 6.07 million

A visitor at the Picasso and Modern British Art exhibition at Tate Britain is pictured in this file photo taken on Feb 15, 2012. [Photo/VCG]

10. Tate Modern, London, UK

Attendance in 2016: 5.84 million