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26 Essential eCommerce Statistics for 2023


CONTENTS


If you’re interested in getting a good grasp of how eCommerce works on a global scale, you’ve come to the right place. 

We’re here to explore how eCommerce is expected to evolve worldwide, the different sectors involved, and even customer purchasing behavior. 

With these 26 eCommerce statistics for 2023, you’ll get a clear picture of the reality and dynamics of this thriving business model. Download our free infographic below – it’s got some quick eCommerce statistics for you to look over if you’re short on time! 

This isn’t just another outdated report; we’ve gathered up-to-date data that will not only enhance your understanding of the eCommerce landscape but also provide the context you need to make informed decisions. 

But hold on, there’s more! 

To supplement your newfound knowledge, we’ve created an eBook just for you! 

Our eBook: Site Search Intelligence: Data-Driven Insights for eCommerce Success in 2023 will help you understand the crucial role of search engines and why they are a must-have for any online store.

Now, let’s get started and dive into the exciting world of eCommerce!

1. What is the volume of eCommerce sales in the world?

Did you know that eCommerce has become a significant player in the retail industry worldwide? 

As you delve into the statistics, you’ll be amazed to learn that online stores now account for a remarkable 20% of all retail trade globally.

ecommerce-statistics

According to data from Statista, this percentage has been on a steady rise, starting at just 7% back in 2015. 

It’s projected to soar even higher, reaching a staggering 24% by the year 2026. 

In other words, nearly 1 in 4 purchases will be made through eCommerce platforms.

These numbers highlight the immense growth and influence of the eCommerce sector, painting a clear picture of its dominance in the retail landscape. 

2. How much money does eCommerce generate worldwide?

By 2023, the global retail trade conducted through eCommerce is projected to reach a staggering 6.3 trillion USD. 

This substantial figure, as revealed by Statista, signifies the immense size of the eCommerce market.

However, the growth doesn’t stop there. 

As we look ahead to the future, the anticipated figures become even more astounding. 

By the year 2028, experts predict that this value will skyrocket to a mind-boggling 8 trillion USD.

ecommerce-statistics

3. Evolution of eCommerce in the World

The evolution of eCommerce is set to showcase an impressive global growth rate of 11.34% by the year 2027.

ecommerce-statistics

This substantial increase, as indicated by Statista, will pave the way for emerging growth in several countries, including:

  • Brazil, with a projected growth rate of 14.63%
  • Argentina, with an expected growth rate of 14.61%
  • Turkey, anticipating a growth rate of 14.33%

On the other hand, countries with well-established eCommerce landscapes are expected to witness steady yet significant growth rates. Let’s take a look at some examples:

  • Canada, with a projected growth rate of 10.92%
  • The United States, expecting a growth rate of 10.86%
  • Spain, anticipating a growth rate of 10.69%

These statistics highlight the worldwide expansion of the eCommerce industry, with both emerging and established markets playing crucial roles in shaping its path. 

As countries increasingly adopt the digital realm of retail, this growth signifies a promising future for eCommerce on a global level. 

4. Online Shopping: Statistics 2023

In the United States, 2023 is predicted to bring about a significant change in consumer behavior, with 74.2% of customers expected to make their purchases online. 

This demonstrates the increasing popularity and convenience of eCommerce platforms.

Looking ahead to 2025, this trend is projected to gain even more momentum, with the percentage of online shoppers in the US anticipated to reach an impressive 80%. 

This suggests that a substantial 8 out of 10 individuals who typically shop in physical stores will also embrace eCommerce at some point.

ecommerce-statistics

The data provided by Statista is a clear indication of the shifting preferences and habits of consumers towards online shopping in the US.

5. How many people will shop in online stores in 2023?

It’s truly astounding to consider that over 2 billion people currently engage in some form of online shopping. 

ecommerce-statistics

This figure accounts for nearly a third of the global population.

These statistics reinforce the fact that eCommerce shopping has not only become widespread but deeply ingrained in societies worldwide. 

It becomes evident that eCommerce has fundamentally transformed the way people shop, offering convenience, accessibility, and a borderless marketplace.

6. How Much People Spend on Average per Year on Online Shopping

Let’s delve into some intriguing eCommerce data regarding the annual expenditure per person in different countries, as compiled by Statista:

North America:

  • The United States leads the pack with an impressive annual expenditure of $5,381 per person.
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Europe:

  • Denmark takes the lead, with individuals spending €2,916 per year on eCommerce.
  • Norway follows closely behind, with an annual expenditure of €2,364 per person.
  • The United Kingdom rounds out the top three, with individuals spending €2,316 per year.

Latin America:

  • Chile boasts the highest annual expenditure per person, with an impressive $608 USD.
  • Mexico follows suit, with individuals spending $338 USD per year.
  • Argentina completes the list with an annual expenditure of $299 USD per person.

7. How many online stores exist in each country?

To provide you with a glimpse of the competition within the eCommerce landscape, let’s take a look at the number of online stores in several countries, as reported by Statista:

  • The United States boasts a staggering 2.5 million online stores, reflecting the immense scale and competitiveness of the eCommerce market in the country.
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  • The United Kingdom follows with 700,000 online stores, showcasing a vibrant and thriving eCommerce ecosystem.
  • Germany, a key player in the European market, hosts 406,000 online stores, underscoring its significant online retail presence.
  • France rounds out the list with 270,000 online stores, highlighting the country’s substantial eCommerce market.

8. What are the most important eCommerce Businesses in the world?

When it comes to the world eCommerce ranking in 2023, five giants stand out, each with impressive annual sales figures. 

Let’s take a closer look at these companies and their projected growth, as provided by Statista:

eCommerceAnnual Sales 2022Projected Annual Sales 2027
Alibaba318 billion USD461 billion USD
Amazon301 billion USD519 billion USD
JD.com211 billion USD343 billion USD
Pinduoduo185 billion USD335 billion USD
Apple34 billion USD40 billion USD

These rankings comprise three Chinese and two American companies, all of which are expected to further improve their sales figures. 

Leading the pack is Amazon, with a projection to reach an impressive 519 billion USD in annual sales by 2027. 

These forecasts highlight the sustained growth and influence of these eCommerce giants, shaping the global market and driving innovation in the industry.

A Ranking of eCommerce Companies by Market Value in the United States in 2023

Based on eCommerce data in the United States, here are the online businesses that generate the highest sales in billions of dollars:

  • Amazon: $1.65 billion USD
  • Home Depot: $411 billion USD
  • Alibaba: $352 billion USD
  • Prosus: $355 billion USD
  • Costco: $238 billion USD

Amazon leads the pack with an impressive $1.65 billion USD in sales, followed by Home Depot, Alibaba, Prosus, and Costco, each with substantial sales figures in the billions. 

These companies demonstrate the scale and impact of eCommerce in the American market.

9. The Leading eCommerce Sectors in 2023

The fashion sector takes the lead as the top eCommerce industry, capturing the attention of customers and driving significant sales. 

It is closely followed by other sectors, including:

  • Entertainment and Leisure
  • Beauty
  • Technology
  • Tourism 

When it comes to customer spending priorities, products related to the fashion industry hold the highest importance, with a significant 72% of respondents prioritizing such purchases. 

Following closely behind is the entertainment and leisure industry, encompassing tickets, concerts, books, and more, with 71% of respondents considering it a top spending priority.

Footwear and accessories also garner considerable attention, with 67% of respondents prioritizing these products. 

Health and beauty products rank next, with 60% of respondents focusing their spending on this sector. 

Technology and telecommunications follow suit, with 59% of respondents considering it a significant area of expenditure.

Lastly, tourism and travel secure the sixth position in spending priorities, as indicated by 58% of respondents (Statista). 

10. Top Online Stores in the Health and Beauty Industry

The health, beauty, and personal care industry consistently maintains its position as one of the leading sectors in eCommerce. 

Here, we have the top eCommerce sellers in the world, based on sales figures from Statista:

eCommerce20222027
Alibaba58 billion USD112 billion USD
Amazon44 billion USD79 billion USD
Pinduoduo27 billion USD50 billion USD
JD.com23 billion USD46 billion USD
Walgreens Boots Alliance15 billion USD20 billion USD

Notably, it is in the fifth position that we find a business dedicated to the health, beauty, and personal care sector: Walgreens Boots Alliance, which earns an impressive $15 billion annually.

11. Top Online Stores in the Pet Industry

The pet sector, too, experiences domination from major eCommerce players such as Amazon, Alibaba, JD.com, and Pinduoduo. 

According to Statista, the rankings for top sellers in this sector are as follows:

eCommerce20222027
Amazon23 billion USD39 billion USD
Alibaba16 billion USD24 billion USD
JD.com11 billion USD22 billion USD
Pinduoduo8 billion USD16 billion USD
Walmart4 billion USD6 billion USD
Zooplus2 billion USD3 billion USD

However, in the fifth and sixth positions, we have Walmart and Zooplus, respectively. 

Walmart generates approximately $4 billion in sales of pet products, while Zooplus records around $2 billion in sales. 

These figures highlight the significant presence and success of these companies in the pet sector of the eCommerce market.

12. Top Online Stores in the Food Industry

When it comes to online grocery retailing, a different giant takes the lead. 

Walmart emerges as a dominant player, selling nearly $17.7 billion worth of groceries in this sector. 

Following closely behind is Alibaba with $17.6 billion, and the company expects to further increase its sales in this category. 

According to Statista, Alibaba has projected its sales in online grocery retailing to reach $29.3 billion by 2026.

eCommerce20212026
Walmart17.7 billion USD29 billion USD
Alibaba17.6 billion USD29.3 billion USD
JD.com13 billion USD24.5 billion USD
Amazon10 billion USD20.8 billion USD
Kroger9.2 billion USD6.1 billion USD

These figures showcase the significant presence of Walmart and Alibaba in the online grocery market, highlighting their strong positions and the substantial sales they generate. 

As the popularity of online grocery shopping continues to grow, these giants are positioned to shape the industry and cater to the evolving demands of consumers.

13. How many sales are made on mobile devices?

To illustrate the significance of sales made through mobile devices, let’s consider some US eCommerce data from Statista

Firstly, an impressive 10% of all retail sales, encompassing both online and offline transactions, are conducted using a mobile device. 

This highlights the increasing role of mobile devices as a preferred means of making purchases, even in traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

ecommerce-statistics

Additionally, when we shift our focus to digital business sales, the percentage skyrockets to 30%. 

This highlights the substantial impact of mobile devices within the realm of eCommerce. 

It’s a clear indication that in the world of online transactions, mobile devices hold an even more prominent position. 

14. How old are mobile eCommerce customers?

According to Statista, an overwhelming majority of customers who make purchases from online stores, specifically 78%, fall within the age range of 18 to 34 years old.

ecommerce-statistics

This highlights the strong presence and engagement of young adults in the eCommerce market.

As this population group, known as millennials and Generation Z, continues to age, their changing consumption habits are expected to have a significant impact. 

As they progress into older age brackets, their preferences, needs, and purchasing behaviors are likely to evolve as well.

15. What are the most common payment methods?

According to Statista, the most prevalent payment method worldwide is digital or mobile wallets, accounting for 49% of transactions. 

This highlights the global popularity and adoption of digital wallets as a convenient and secure payment option.

In North America, the distribution of payment methods differs slightly. 

Digital payments hold a share of 29%, while credit cards account for 31% of transactions. 

This indicates that both digital and credit card payments are widely used and accepted in the North American market.

Method of paymentWorldNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEurope
Digital / Wallet49%29%19%27%
Credit card21%31%39%25%
Debit card13%21%18%17%

16. Distribution of Web and Mobile Traffic

According to Flat101’s annual study, the education sector continues to receive the majority of its traffic from desktop devices, accounting for 52% of the overall traffic. 

This suggests that desktop devices remain the preferred means of accessing educational websites and platforms.

In contrast, other sectors such as food and fashion experience a significant amount of traffic from mobile devices. 

The food sector receives 85% of its traffic from mobile devices, indicating the prevalence of mobile usage when it comes to searching for and ordering food online. 

Similarly, the fashion sector receives 84% of its traffic from mobile devices, highlighting the popularity of mobile browsing and shopping for fashion-related products.

ecommerce-statistics

17. Product Pages Visited by Each Customer

The number of product pages visited per customer can vary significantly worldwide, offering insights into the buying process and customer behavior when it comes to researching, comparing, and discovering various types of products. 

Based on eCommerce data from Statista, the average number of pages visited in a single session differs by industry. Here are the industry-specific figures:

  • Grocery stores: 31 pages
  • Fashion: 26 pages
  • Health and beauty: 25 pages
  • Luxury: 23 pages
  • Pharmacy: 22 pages

18. What is the conversion rate of each industry?

Conversion rate is indeed a crucial eCommerce statistic that reflects the effectiveness of turning website visitors into paying customers. 

Evaluating whether a conversion rate is low or high depends on industry benchmarks and specific business goals. 

However, I can provide you with the worldwide average conversion rates across some key sectors as a reference:

  • Health and beauty: 3.3%.
  • 2. Hair care: 3.1%.
  • 3. Food and beverages: 3%.
  • 4. Footwear 2.7%.
  • 5. Dermatological care: 2.4%.

The average conversion rate taking into account all verticals is around 2.1% (Statista).

19. What is the conversion rate by device?

According to Statista, there is a slight variation in the conversion rate depending on the device used to access eCommerce websites. 

On desktop and tablet devices, the average conversion rate ranges around 3 to 4%. 

But, the conversion rate for mobile devices in eCommerce is approximately 2%.

ecommerce-statistics

20. Conversion Rate by Device and Industry

According to Flat101, sectors such as food delivery, hardware and gardening, and pharmacy demonstrate a pattern where the conversion rate from desktop visits is slightly higher at 2.3% compared to the conversion rate from mobile devices, which stands at 0.8%.

21. Conversion by Day and Industry

In several businesses, the conversion rates by day of the week may not exhibit significant variations. 

However, a closer examination by industry can yield interesting insights. 

For example, in the food sector, conversion rates tend to decline on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

Interestingly, these are the days when the demand for home delivery services typically increases. 

This observation suggests that customers may prefer the convenience of ordering food for delivery instead of making purchases through traditional ecommerce channels on those days.

Industry-specific data from Flat101 reveals that Mondays are generally not the most favorable day to target NGO memberships. 

On the other hand, Mondays are also not considered an ideal time for selling insurance. 

These observations highlight the importance of understanding customer behavior and preferences within each industry.

22. App Conversion vs Web Conversion

In the pharmacy sector, there is a notable increase in app conversion rates compared to web conversion rates. 

Specifically, the app conversion rate stands at 7.47%, while the web conversion rate is 2.68%. 

This indicates that customers in the pharmacy sector are more likely to convert into customers when using the app.

However, it’s important to note that this trend in the pharmacy sector may be considered an exception. 

In most eCommerce sectors, the web conversion rate tends to be higher at 4.33% compared to the app conversion rate, which is 2.22%.

SectorAppWeb
Food Delivery12.59%11.74%
Pharmacy7.47%2.68%
Sports4.12%3.55%
Travel3.66%1.38%
Others2.22%4.33%

23. Abandoned Cart Statistics by Industry

The abandoned cart phenomenon is prevalent in eCommerce, where customers add products or services to their carts but fail to complete the purchase. 

This presents a challenge for businesses, and various strategies are employed to recover a portion of these abandoned transactions. 

To shed light on the common occurrence of abandoned carts, here are the top five industries along with their respective percentages of abandoned carts, according to Statista:

  • 1. Cruises and ferries: 98%.
  • 2. Mobile operators: 90.76%.
  • 3. Airlines: 90%.
  • 4. Luxury: 87.93%.
  • 5. Fashion: 87.79%.

Average Order Value by Sector

Increasing the average order value is often a priority for businesses looking to enhance their eCommerce statistics. 

Here is a ranking of sectors with the highest average value per order, based on eCommerce data:

(Flat101):

  1. Jewelry and accessories: 1.211€.
  2. Travel: 642
  3. Computers and electronics: 332
  4. Home and decoration: 311
  5. Service providers: 250€.

25. Add to Cart by Industry

It’s interesting to note that in some eCommerce platforms where the ability to add products to favorites is not available, customers may utilize the cart as a means to save items for future reference. 

Here is a ranking of sectors based on the percentage of customers who add products to the cart, according to eCommerce statistics from Flat101:

  • Food delivery: 15.99% 1.
  • Hardware and gardening: 11.33% 2.
  • Pharmacy: 10.01%.
  • Service providers: 9.54%.
  • Fashion: 8.37%.

26. What is sold most on the Internet?

On the Internet, the products that sell the most are:

  1. Software
  2. Books
  3. Music
  4. Computer equipment
  5. Decoration
  6. Clothing
  7. Footwear
  8. Jewelry
  9. Beauty
  10. Food and beverages

Conclusion

Not a bad outlook on the future of eCommerce, right?

I hope all these eCommerce statistics have helped you gain clarity about today’s landscape, but don’t forget that you can enhance your knowledge with our free eBook: Site Search Intelligence: Data-Driven Insights for eCommerce Success in 2023.

In this eBook, you’ll explore the importance of having an advanced search engine like Doofinder in any eCommerce business. 

If you want a short recap of the eCommerce statistics that we covered in this article, be sure to download your free infographic below!  

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