Global Ecommerce Sales Growth Report [Updated Oct 2024] – Shopify

With the number of people shopping online increasing year after year, it should come as no surprise that global ecommerce sales have also been rising.

Here’s a look at how annual ecommerce sales worldwide have risen in the past few years and are forecast to grow.

Key numbers on global ecommerce sales

• Global ecommerce sales are forecast to grow from $5.13 trillion in 2022 to $8.09 trillion by 2028.
• In 2024, total revenue from online transactions are set to surpass $6 trillion, after an 8.4% increase from the previous year.
• China and the United States are the largest contributors to global ecommerce, with sales from these two countries totaling more than $2.32 trillion in 2023.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift toward ecommerce by as many as five years, while the growing adoption of mobile technology has also boosted online shopping, with mobile commerce projected to reach $2.07 trillion in 2024.

Global ecommerce sales (2022–2028): table

Ecommerce sales worldwide

Global ecommerce sales are expected to total $6.09 trillion worldwide in 2024. This number is expected to continue growing over the next few years, proving that the ecommerce business model is becoming an increasingly lucrative option for companies. 

2024’s number also marks an 8.4% annual increase—the second-fastest global ecommerce sales growth rate in the forecast period between 2022 and 2028.

Online sales are expected to continue rising and take a larger piece of the retail pie. In 2025, global ecommerce sales are forecast to rise to $6.56 trillion, before adding another $500 billion in 2026, to $7.06 trillion. In 2027, growth is anticipated to slow slightly to 7.2%, to take online sales revenues to $7.57 trillion. By 2027, it’s estimated that world retail ecommerce sales will hit $8.09 trillion, surpassing the $8 trillion milestone for the first time.

From 2022 to 2028, annual global ecommerce sales is projected to increase by nearly $3 billion. This marks an overall increase of 57.7% and an average annual growth rate of 7.6%.

Global ecommerce sales: largest contributors

As the world’s top exporter, China is also the world’s top ecommerce market, with total online sales hitting $1.26 trillion in 2023. Together with the United States, ecommerce sales from these two countries totaled more than $2.32 trillion.

It should come as no surprise then, that some of the world’s top ecommerce companies come from these two powerhouses. In fact, more than half of the top 10 hail from either China or the US. 

Rising ecommerce sales worldwide: biggest drivers

This divide between online and in-store widened significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, experts say the pandemic accelerated the shift to online shopping by as many as five years.

But that’s not the only reason ecommerce is on the rise. 

The infiltration of mobile technology into consumers’ lives has more than helped to move things along. Recent figures show the number of people shopping online worldwide is set to rise by 2.7% in 2024 to hit 2.71 billion. Data also shows an increasing reliance on shopping via mobile devices. In fact, mobile commerce sales are also set to grow. In 2024, total sales from mobile devices are projected to hit $2.07 trillion, from $1.71 trillion in 2023.

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