Internet sales in Great Britain by store type, month and year.

Internet sales have played an increasingly significant role in retailing. In 2024, e-commerce accounted for over 17 percent of retail sales worldwide. Forecasts indicate that by 2029, the online segment will make up close to over 21 percent of total global retail sales. Retail e-commerce Online shopping has grown steadily in popularity in recent years. In 2024, global e-commerce sales amounted to over seven trillion U.S. dollars, a figure expected to exceed 10.4 trillion U.S. dollars by 2028. Digital development in Latin America boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, generating unprecedented e-commerce growth in various economies across the region. So much so that Brazil and Argentina appear to lead the world's fastest-growing online retail markets. This trend correlates strongly with the constantly improving online access, especially in "mobile-first" online communities, which have long struggled with traditioe-comernal fixed broadband connections due to financial or infrastructure constraints but enjoy the advantages of cheap mobile broadband connections. M-commerce on the rise The average order value of online shopping via smartphones and tablets still lags traditional e-commerce via desktop computers. However, e-retailers around the world have caught up in mobile e-commerce sales. Online shopping via smartphones is particularly prominent in Asia. By the end of 2021, Malaysia was the top digital market based on the percentage of the population that had purchased something by phone, with nearly 45 percent having made a weekly mobile purchase. South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines completed the top of the ranking.

Graph and download economic data for E-Commerce Retail Sales (ECOMNSA) from Q4 1999 to Q4 2024 about e-commerce, retail trade, sales, retail, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for E-Commerce Retail Sales as a Percent of Total Sales (ECOMPCTSA) from Q4 1999 to Q4 2024 about e-commerce, retail trade, percent, sales, retail, and USA.

In the second quarter 2024, the share of e-commerce in total U.S. retail sales stood at 16 percent, up from the previous quarter. From April to June 2024, retail e-commerce sales in the United States hit over 291 billion U.S. dollars, the highest quarterly revenue in history. How e-commerce measures up in total U.S. retail In 2023, the reported total value of retail e-commerce sales in the United States amounted to over one trillion U.S. dollars—impressive, but the figure pales compared to the total annual retail trade value of seven trillion U.S. dollars. E-commerce still accounts for a mere 15.4 percent of total retail sales in the United States. Rising e-commerce segments Online shopping is popular among all age groups, though digital purchases are most common among Millennial internet users. In 2022, around 55 percent of Millennials purchased items via the internet. Mobile commerce is also growing in popularity, as consumers increasingly rely on their smartphones and mobile apps for shopping activities. In the fourth quarter of 2022, m-commerce spending made up 38 percent of the overall online spending in the United States.

In 2023, global retail e-commerce sales reached an estimated 5.8 trillion U.S. dollars. Projections indicate a 39 percent growth in this figure over the coming years, with expectations to surpass eight trillion dollars by 2027.

World players Among the key players on the world stage, the Chinese retail giant Alibaba holds the title of the largest e-commerce retailer globally, accounting for a 23 percent market share. Nevertheless, forecasts suggest that by 2027, Seattle-based e-commerce powerhouse Amazon will surpass Alibaba in estimated sales, reaching a staggering 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars in online sales.

Leading e-tailing countries The Chinese e-commerce market was the biggest worldwide in 2023, as internet sales constituted almost half of the country's retail transactions. Indonesia ranked second with the highest share of retail sales online (32 percent), closely trailed by the United Kingdom and South Korea, exceeding the 30 percent mark. That year, the up-and-coming e-commerce markets centered around Asia. The Philippines and India stood out as the swiftest-growing e-commerce markets based on online sales, anticipating a growth rate surpassing 20 percent.

This table contains 3 series, with data for years 2016 - 2017 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 item: Canada); Sales (3 items: Retail trade; Electronic shopping and mail-order houses; Retail E-commerce sales).

Since 2010, retail internet sales have shown a positive trend in Great Britain. However, 2022 represented an exception, as online retail sales declined by 9.8 percent that year. In 2023, internet sales increased again by 5.2 percent.

Descriptions and categories of the Internet Sales Index and their percentage of all retailing for Great Britain.

Online shopping sales across India amounted to around 67 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. The e-commerce market is likely to grow to over 145 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. The e-commerce market in India is the fastest-growing market in the world.

Online retail segments

In fiscal year 2017, the retail market was led by electronics with a penetration rate of about 20 percent. However, in terms of groceries, local offline vendors or kiranas continued to be the preferred choice for daily groceries due the ease of bargaining and benefitting from the ‘old-customer’ designation with extra rations as a gesture from the vendor. Nevertheless, the number of online shoppers in the country was estimated to increase to over 220 million in 2025, up from around 80 million in 2017.

Impact of COVID-19 on the market

The coronavirus outbreak in March 2020 caused a surge in prices across e-commerce platforms. Panic purchasing resulted in the shortage of sanitary and food items online as well as in physical stores across the country. As the online consumption continued to increase, unscrupulous sellers jacked up the prices on certain items. Amazon and Flipkart, the two e-commerce market leaders in India urged sellers and even blocked certain products to exercise responsible pricing. Manufacturers increased production in order to keep up with the supply of fast-moving items. With the uncertainty surrounding the impact of COVID-19, manufacturers and retailers will presumably have to work in unison to keep track of an unprecedented demand and supply scenario.

Retail Trade, e-commerce sales, Canada, by industries based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), monthly.

With nearly half of its retail sales conducted over the internet, China is forecast to be the world's most penetrated e-commerce market in 2023. Indonesia and the UK follow, with roughly 32 percent and 30.6 percent, respectively, of retail sales expected to take place online.

United States Retail Sales: E Commerce to Total Sales data was reported at 9.100 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.000 % for Jun 2018. United States Retail Sales: E Commerce to Total Sales data is updated quarterly, averaging 3.950 % from Dec 1999 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 76 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.400 % in Dec 2017 and a record low of 0.700 % in Dec 1999. United States Retail Sales: E Commerce to Total Sales data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H002: Retail Sales: By NAIC System: Quarterly.

This table presents information about developments in retail turnover (SIC 2008 code 47). The data can be broken down by different types of shops: shops that predominantly sell goods online and those that predominantly sell goods through other sales channels (physical shops, markets, etc.). The results are expressed in terms of indices and year-on-year changes. The survey used to measure turnover change for online sales covers retail trade companies with 10 or more employees; these represent 65-70 percent of total online sales. Small businesses are not covered. The base year (2013) differs from other business statistics at the Statistics Netherlands, as data collection for this sector started in 2013. This should be taken into account when making comparisons to other StatLine tables. The statistics on online sales turnover are currently in an experimental phase. As a result, the methodology is still subject to revision.

Data available from January 2014 - Januari 2018.

Status of the figures Figures of 2018 are provisional, figures from preceding periods are definite.

Changes as of 13 June 2018: None, the table has been discontinued.

When will new figures be published? Not applicable anymore. This table will be replaced by a new table on June 13 2018 due to the five-yearly change of the base year. See paragraph 3.

Online retail in the United Kingdom has been gaining ground in the past decade. With the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the value of online retail sales in the United Kingdom is estimated to reach just below 120 billion British pounds in 2021. In 2022, the figure decreased to 106 billion British pounds.

What ranks high in UK e-commerce?
In the United Kingdom, clothing and household goods were the most popular retail items consumers purchased through the internet in 2020. Data published by the Office for National Statistics (UK) showed that other leisure activities and services such as booking holiday accommodations, travel arrangements and event tickets were other areas consumers depended on the internet to buy.

German e-commerce market

The UK might have the highest share of online sales in retail trade, but other European countries such as Germany and France have had impressive track records over the years as well. According to the forecasts provided by German E-commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association (bevh), the market volume of Germany’s e-commerce sector was projected to see over 90 billion euros in 2021.

The E-Retail Market is Segmented by Product (home Appliances and Electronics, Clothing, Footwear and Accessories, Food and Personal Care, Furniture and Home Decor, and Other Products) and by Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The Report Offers Market Size and Forecasts in Value (USD ) for all the Above Segments.

In November 2024, the value of internet retail sales in Great Britain reached a value of roughly three billion British pounds, up from the previous month. Overall the value of internet retail sales has steadily increased with peaks during the winter season, reflecting sales increase from the holiday season.

Forecast: Retail Trade E-commerce Sales in the US 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Retail Sales: via Internet: % of Retail Trade Turnover: NW: Arkhangelsk Region data was reported at 7.720 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.950 % for 2022. Retail Sales: via Internet: % of Retail Trade Turnover: NW: Arkhangelsk Region data is updated yearly, averaging 1.550 % from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2023, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.720 % in 2023 and a record low of 0.200 % in 2014. Retail Sales: via Internet: % of Retail Trade Turnover: NW: Arkhangelsk Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Wholesale, Retail and Catering Sector – Table RU.RJB032: Retail Sales: via Internet as % of Total Retail Trade Turnover.

In November 2024, the online retail value in Hong Kong estimated to be around 2.94 billion Hong Kong dollars, decreasing significantly from the previous month. In that month, e-commerce accounted for over nine percent of the total retail sales.