Key Figures of E-Commerce

E-commerce sales have climbed remarkably steadily for years, with further growth expected in decades to come. Many industries now generate over two-thirds of their sales from online shopping, as consumers increasingly take advantage of retail company websites and online-only e-commerce platforms. The total number of digital shoppers worldwide grew by more than one billion between 2019 and 2023 and is set to keep growing.

Trusted companies with a broad range of online products, such as Amazon and eBay, attract the largest number of website visitors. Amazon earns the title of top dog in e-commerce, as its net sales and market capitalization remain the highest in the global market. However, in terms of the highest gross merchandise value worldwide, the Chinese marketplaces owned by the Alibaba Group claim victory.

Industry insights

E-commerce worldwide

E-commerce in the United States

E-commerce in the European Union

E-commerce in the United Kingdom (UK)

E-Commerce in China

Coronavirus (COVID-19): impact on e-commerce in the U.S.

E-commerce in Latin America

E-commerce in Russia

E-commerce in Brazil

Top Seller

Report on the topic

Market size

How do regions compare in market growth?

Retail e-commerce sales compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2029, by country

Please wait

Further details: Visit original statistic Retail e-commerce sales compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2029, by country

Global retail e-commerce sales are thriving, and are expected to increase further. The e-commerce share of total retail sales has not ceased to grow, although the annual growth rate of worldwide e-commerce sales now seems to move at a slower pace. In the post-pandemic era, emerging economies are forecast to enjoy higher e-commerce CAGR rates, outdoing higher-income countries.

Online marketplaces
E-commerce in the United States
Cross-border e-commerce

Industry segments

Mobile has become the leading channel

Mobile commerce revenue and share of total retail e-commerce worldwide from 2017 to 2028

Please wait

Further details: Visit original statistic Mobile commerce revenue and share of total retail e-commerce worldwide from 2017 to 2028

For a long time, e-commerce was almost exclusively conducted on laptops and desktop PCs. In recent years, however, the advent of smartphones has changed the way in which consumers all over the world buy goods online. Mobile commerce, also known as m-commerce, now represents more than half of all e-commerce sales globally. The mobile share in online commerce is forecast to keep growing in the years to come.

Mobile commerce worldwide
Mobile payments with digital wallets
Mobile commerce in the United States

Industry trends

Social media as the new marketplace

Social commerce revenue worldwide from 2018 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Please wait

Further details: Visit original statistic Social commerce revenue worldwide from 2018 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

When social media first rose to prominence nearly two decades ago, few of its users would have predicted its wide-reaching influence. Social media have now fared far beyond digital connections; they are quickly becoming a dominant force in e-commerce. Networks like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are very clever at connecting sellers to their target audiences. With the advent of in-app shopping platforms, social media platforms are now direct competitors of B2C e-tailers.

Social commerce
Social media advertising and marketing
Facebook

State of the industry

Industry definition

The key figures of the e-commerce sector encompass essential indicators of online shopping. It includes market values and the volume of online retail markets worldwide. Besides market size data, key statistics on leading marketplaces and online retailers are provided, as well as general data on e-commerce usage and online consumers, mainly in the business-to-consumer segment.

E-Commerce