Drones - Eastern Asia | Statista Market Forecast

The Eastern Asian country, China, dominates the Drones market with a staggering revenue of US$1.5bn in 2024.
This is in comparison to the global market revenue of US$1.6bn in the same year.
It is projected that the market will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.77% from 2024 to 2029.
In terms of per capita revenue, in Eastern Asia is expected to generate US$0.99 per person in 2024.
Looking ahead to 2029, the volume of the Drones market is forecasted to reach 3.9m pieces units.
Furthermore, a growth rate of 4.8% is projected for 2025.0.
When considering the average volume per person in the Drones market, it is estimated to be 0.0pieces units in 2024.
These numbers demonstrate the significant presence and potential of the Drones market in Eastern Asia, particularly China.
In Eastern Asia, Japan leads the market for drones with its innovative technology and strong demand for aerial photography and videography.

Definition:

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are remote-controlled flying vehicles that were originally developed for military applications and later expanded to civilian use in commercial, logistic, recreational, and agricultural areas, among others. Consumer drones, the first variety developed for non-military use, were initially only of interest to model aircraft enthusiasts. Nowadays, however, they are also used by tech fans, sports fans, adventurers, professional photographers, and videographers – thanks to the adoption of various innovative technologies, such as flight technology, mobile technology, video technology, as well as advanced software and ecosystems, in the course of the past decades. After years of development, the range of consumer drone models is almost limitless now: tricopters, quadcopters, hexacopters, or octocopters, with 3, 4, 6, or 8 rotors, respectively. And the price varies according to the features of the device, such as its size, sensing systems, onboard cameras, batteries, and flight modes – ranging from under US$100 for a lightweight hobbyist drone to over US$1,000 for a prosumer drone with a 4K camera, an obstacle sensing system, a flight range of up to 5 kilometers, and 30 minutes of flight time. But the overall average price shows a falling trend due to lower production costs and material prices.

Additional Information:

The market comprises revenue, average revenue per capita, volume, average volume per capita, and price. Figures are generated through both online and offline sales channels and include spending by consumers (B2C). Key players in the market are companies like DJI, Parrot, and Autel Robotics. These companies are leaders in their respective segments and are known for their innovative products, brand reputation, and extensive distribution networks. For more information on the data displayed, use the info button right next to the boxes.

Consumer drones
Prosumer drones under 5 kg (including high-end drones for professional use acquired through consumer distribution channels)
Hobbyist drones / toy drones

Military drones
Commercial drones / industrial drones
Radio-controlled two-wing aircraft and helicopters
Accessories (not included in the original package, cameras, lenses, handles, spare parts, etc.)

In 2022, the Drones segment continued to grow, driven by advancements in technology and changing consumer preferences, despite the worldwide supply chain disruption caused by COVID-19 and geopolitical bringing many market sectors to a stillstand. With the lifting of lockdown policies and the recovery of tourism around the world, the increasing popularity of drones for recreational use and aerial photography has created a wide range of opportunities for this segment. The global Drones segment reached US$3.64 billion in 2022, marking a huge increase from 2021.

When it comes to market leadership in the drone industry, we anticipate that well-known players such as DJI, Parrot, and Yuneec will maintain their dominance due to their strong brand reputation and diverse product offerings. However, smaller players that offer competitive pricing may also experience growth. With an extensive range of consumer drone models now available, including tricopters, quadcopters, hexacopters, and octocopters with varying numbers of rotors, the price range depends on the device's features, such as its size, sensing systems, onboard cameras, batteries, and flight modes. While lightweight hobbyist drones can be purchased for under US$100, prosumer drones with advanced features, such as 4K cameras, obstacle sensing systems, and a flight range of up to 5 kilometers, can cost over US$1,000. However, the overall trend in average drone prices is declining due to lower production costs and material prices.

With regards to further market growth in the Drones segment, we expect that demand for Drones will continue to increase, as they become more accessible and affordable. Advances in technology, such as longer battery life, improved camera quality, and obstacle avoidance, are making drones more versatile. However, regulations and privacy concerns remain challenges for the drone industry.

Data coverage:

The data encompasses B2C enterprises. Figures are based on consumer spending on electronic and digital devices used privately either for entertainment (televisions, game consoles, smart speakers, etc.), communication (telephones, smartphones, etc.) or home-office activities (printers, copiers, etc.).

Modeling approach:

Market sizes are determined through a bottom-up approach, building on specific predefined factors for each market segment. As a basis for evaluating markets, we use annual financial reports of the market-leading companies and industry associations, third-party studies and reports, survey results from our primary research (e.g., the Statista Global Consumer Survey), as well as performance factors (e.g., user penetration, price per product, usage). In addition, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific associations, such as GDP, consumer spending, number of internet users, smartphone penetration rate, household number and consumer price index. This data helps us estimate the market size for each country individually.

Forecasts:

In our forecasts, we apply diverse forecasting techniques. The selection of forecasting techniques is based on the behavior of the relevant market. For example, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing are well suited for forecasting electronic products due to the non-linear growth of technology adoption and regular product upgrade. The main drivers are GDP per capita, consumer spending per capita, and 5G penetration rate.

Additional notes:

The data is modeled using current exchange rates. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level. The market is updated twice a year. In some cases, the data is updated on an ad hoc basis (e.g., when new, relevant data has been released or significant changes within the market have an impact on the projected development). GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.

This report presents a comprehensive analysis and additional information on the Consumer market, in a PDF format.