This statistic shows the fast food market share in the United States in 2015. Yum! Brands Inc. accounted for 10.8 percent of the U.S. fast food industry.

U.S. fast food industry - additional information

McDonald’s held, by far, the largest market share of the fast food industry in the United States in 2015. Its closest competitor was Yum! Brands - owner of popular chains Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and WingStreet. The leading five brands account for over 40 percent of the entire U.S. fast food industry, which, in 2014, generated over 198.9 billion U.S. dollars in revenue. This revenue was forecasted to rise above 223 billion dollars in 2020.

As well as leading the U.S. fast food industry, McDonald’s was also the most valuable fast food brand worldwide in 2016. With a brand value of more than 88 billion U.S. dollars, the company was worth more than double its closest competitor, Starbucks. McDonald’s worldwide revenue reached 24.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, with over 8.25 billion of this being accumulated in the U.S.

Fast food is clearly popular with U.S. consumers. In a November 2016 survey, 44 percent of Americans admitted to eating in quick service restaurants at least once a week. The popularity of fast food is perhaps unsurprising, considering that children aged between two and 11 years watch hundreds of fast food ads annually. Once again, McDonald’s topped the list, with two- to five-year-olds watching an average of 207.7 of McDonald’s ads, and six- to 11-year-olds watching 253.6 ads that year.

The global fast food market size reached USD 902.1 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 1,298.5 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.09% during 2025-2033. The increasing consumer preference for RTE food products, rising number of commercial establishments, and the growing adoption of fast food like frozen ready meals in the food service industry are some of the major factors propelling the market.

Report Attribute	Key Statistics
Base Year	2024
Forecast Years	2025-2033
Historical Years	2019-2024
Market Size in 2024	USD 902.1 Billion
Market Forecast in 2033	USD 1,298.5 Billion
Market Growth Rate 2025-2033	4.09%

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global fast food market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country levels from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on product type and end user.

While shifting consumer preferences and a crowded foodservice landscape, fast food restaurants have maintained a steady pace of growth. Over the five years to 2025, industry revenue has expanded at a CAGR of 3.9%, reaching $417.5 billion. Notably, 2025 alone will experience a 1.1% increase in revenue. The trend towards fast casual dining has bolstered the industry, helping fast food chains hold their ground amid fierce competition. As health awareness continues to rise, consumers demand healthier and alternative options to conventional fast food. To an extent, major chains have met this demand by introducing healthier menu selections. Other innovative measures included investments in meat substitutes and introducing various dietary preferences to attract a broader consumer base. However, the shift towards a healthier lifestyle has somewhat dampened demand for traditional fast food staples, leading to a decline in industry profit. Between 2022 and 2025, fast food restaurants have grappled with surging operational costs, including purchase, utility, rent and labor. The collective force of these cost increases has depressed industry profit, reaching 4.6% of revenue in 2025. Higher minimum wages, especially in California, have been detrimental to fast food restaurant's bottom lines, which subsequently boost technology adoption such as AI drive-thus. Over the next five years, the fast food industry is expected to maintain its growth trajectory, albeit slower. With fast casual restaurants on the rise and consumer spending expected to climb, further revenue growth for the fast food industry is expected. However, the environment is forecast to grow slowly for fast food chains, as many segments within the industry approach saturation. Despite these challenges, successful operations in the industry will likely pivot in response to changing consumer preferences. In this evolving scenario, the concept of fast food is likely to expand beyond its traditional confines to include a broader range of choices. However, intense competition within the industry will continue to put downward pressure on prices, and hence, revenue growth is expected to slow over the next five years. Projections indicate a CAGR of 1.3% over the next five years, bringing the industry revenue to $445.2 billion by 2030.

This statistic shows the market share of leading brands in the United States fast food industry in 2010. McDonald's accounted for the largest share of the U.S. fast food industry with a **** percent market share.

The Fast Food Market Report is Segmented by Product Type (Burger, Sandwich, Meat Based Cuisines, and More), Restaurant Type (Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), Fast-Casual Restaurants, and More), Ordering Channel (Dine-In, Drive-Thru / Take-Away, and More), Outlet Type (Independent Outlet, and Chain Outlet), and Geography (North America, Europe, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

In 2020, Lotteria was the leading fast-food restaurant in Vietnam, with a market share of almost **** percent. KFC followed as the second most popular limited-service restaurant in the country, holding around *** percent market share in the same year.

Fast Food Market holds a forecasted revenue of USD 816.0 Bn in 2025 and is likely to cross USD 1,117.92 Bn by 2032 with a steady annual growth rate of 4.6%.

The global fast food market reached approximately USD 797.14 Billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.90% between 2025-2034, reaching a value of around USD 1286.14 Billion by 2034. The fast food sector is booming rapidly thanks to the changing of consumers' habits and behavior. The global market size is promising due to urbanisation and the desire for fast food. Yet, sustained competition is ongoing with market leaders, with the CAGR soaring up for fast food demand, who are continuing to invent new approaches in an effort to meet changing customer urges, and thus sustains the prosperity of the fast food market.

Market Size statistics on the Global Fast Food Restaurants industry in Global

Market Size statistics on the Fast Food Restaurants industry in the US

In 2022, KFC continued to be the leading restaurant brand in the limited-service restaurant market in China, with approximately *** percent of the market share. McDonald's and Dicos were another two major market players that year.

The market is estimated to reach USD 207,415.5 million in 2025 and is expected to grow to USD 341,089.4 million by 2035, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1% throughout the assessment period.

Metric	Value
Industry Size (2025E)	USD 207,415.5 million
Industry Value (2035F)	USD 341,089.4 million
CAGR (2025 to 2035)	5.1%

Country wise Outlook

Country	CAGR (2025 to 2035)
USA	5.0%

Country	CAGR (2025 to 2035)
UK	5.2%

Country	CAGR (2025 to 2035)
European Union	5.3%

Country	CAGR (2025 to 2035)
Japan	5.1%

Country	CAGR (2025 to 2035)
South Korea	5.4%

Competitive Outlook

Company Name	Estimated Market Share (%)
McDonald's	18-22%
Yum! Brands	15-19%
Darden Concepts, Inc.	10-14%
Quality Is Our Recipe, LLC	8-12%
Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.	6-10%
Other Companies (combined)	30-40%

The Mexico fast food market size reached USD 11.00 Billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.80% between 2025 and 2034, reaching almost USD 17.58 Billion by 2034.

The fast food chicken industry has displayed robust financial health over the last five years, benefiting from boosted disposable income levels amidst economic growth. A notable shift in consumer habits, with an increased focus on healthy food choices, led industry players to revamp their menus, adding healthier options. As a result of these trends, industry revenue saw an annualized growth of 7.2%, reaching $61.1 billion over the five years to 2024. A predicted increase of 1.9% in 2024 alone helps bolster this trend. The onslaught of COVID-19 dampened travel, leading to a sharp decline in roadside or high-traffic area restaurant visits. Notwithstanding, the industry found resilience in adversity. As stay-at-home orders and business closures came into effect, many started working from home. This new dynamic augmented the demand for fast food, especially delivery services. As a result, there was an uptick in industry services which offset potential decreases in demand. All things considered, the industry's profit margins have fallen over the past five years. Further down the line, the industry's growth is set to continue, albeit at a slower rate, as life settles back into a post-COVID-19 normality. With expectations for people to return to office work and the economy hitting its stride, fast food chicken joints will likely keep expanding their menu with health-conscious options. To that end, an annualized revenue increase of 0.5% is forecasted, reaching $62.6 billion over the next five years to 2030. This indicates a positive outlook for the industry, fueled by adaptations that align with shifting consumer preferences.

Global Fast Food market size is expected to reach $822.2 billion by 2029 at 5.7%, fast-food market expansion fuelled by rising number of restaurants

In 2023, the value of the quick-service restaurant market in Latin America was estimated at around ** billion U.S. dollars. By 2030, this market was expected to grow by **** percent.

A weak spending environment amid economic headwinds casts a shadow over industry performance. Squeezed budgets amid the cost-of-living crisis were a double-edged sword for takeaways and fast-food restaurants over the two years through 2023-24: some consumers cut back on takeaways, while others traded down from full-service restaurants to takeaways and fast food. Inflationary pressures resulted in hikes in labour, energy and sourcing costs, straining profitability. Those with higher disposable incomes have been less impacted, demanding higher quality and healthier options, typically with a higher price tag. Subsiding inflation and growing consumer confidence support spending in 2024-25, though economic uncertainty persists and limits growth. Revenue is projected to drop at a compound annual growth rate of 0.8% over the five years through 2024-25, reflecting ongoing challenges. However, forecast growth of 2.1% in 2024-25 suggests a rebound in the industry as cost-of-living pressures subside. The surge of online food ordering has fuelled revenue growth. While online sales peaked during the pandemic, consumers drawn to convenience have become accustomed to ordering takeaways and fast food online. The development of state-of-the-art online platforms and third-party online ordering platforms like Deliveroo and Uber Eats are becoming the bread and butter for takeaway and fast-food outlets, encouraging new players into the industry. Britons' growing health and sustainability consciousness presents an opportunity for takeaway and fast-food businesses to introduce more expensive organic and meat-free menu items to boost revenue and profit. Britons’ tastes for healthy and sustainable takeaway options will continue to climb. Stricter legislation regarding the adverse effects of consuming junk food will promote product development innovation and healthy fast-food alternatives, driving additional revenue streams. As workers return to the office more permanently, demand for takeaway lunch options will swell. Fast food chains will pump money into aggressive expansion plans to secure market share and streamline costs. Investment in marketing will likely swell as operators turn to social media and online advertising to attract younger consumers and secure long-term revenues. Spending on innovation will persist as major players leverage AI and technology advancements to differentiate themselves from competitors and further demand. Revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 2.9% to £26.6 billion over the years through 2029-30.

Canadian fast food restaurants have seen significant growth over the past five years, largely attributed to increased consumer spending and innovative product offerings. However, this growth faced constraints due to high internal competition and shifting consumer tastes. Profitable products like coffee and smoothies have become prominent while customizable meals and high-quality ingredients have gained popularity, prompting industry giants to reconsider their strategies and menu offerings. Consequently, industry revenue is projected to increase an annualized 3.8%, reaching approximately $37.0 billion in 2025, with an anticipated 2.4% growth within that year alone. In 2025, profit is expected to make up 4.8% of revenue.

Consumer eating habits have drastically changed over these past five years. Health-consciousness has surged, pushing for alterations to customary fast food options. Major chains responded by expanding menus to cater for healthier items such as salads, fruits, and smoothies. Increased per capita disposable income levels have also bolstered the industry, enabling more consumers to dine at fast food restaurants. This trend also spiked demand for food delivery services, driving restaurants to invest more in robust online ordering and delivery management systems. The industry is expected to endure challenges resulting from the US-Canada tariff wars as a significant share of restaurant purchases are sourced from the US. As purchases become more expensive, especially fresh produce, Canadian fast food restaurants have pivoted to source from local suppliers. Further, the increasing trend toward national pride will favor Canadian-founded fast food chains such as A&W and Tim Hortons. Looking into 2030, industry revenue is forecasted to exhibit an annualized growth rate of 1.1%, reaching $39.1 billion. Growth is anticipated to be swifter in the first half of this outlook given the adaption to new challenges relating to tariffs. In line with rising demand for healthier food, fast-food joints will likely persist in launching new products that resonate with consumers' evolving preferences. Further, food delivery services are expected to continue playing a significantly larger role in this industry.

McDonald's was the leading fast-food restaurant in Chile in 2023, accounting for one-fifth of the market. The burger chain was followed by the pizza chain Papa John's, with a market share of 17 percent.

Market Size statistics on the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China