34 Mind-Blowing Online Shopping Statistics for 2024

Milos Djordjevic Milos Djordjevic February 16, 2024

Although most people have already jumped onto the online shopping bandwagon, some are still skeptical about it. Those who are familiar with it know that both sellers and consumers benefit hugely from it.  

If we look at online shopping statistics, it’s clear that consumers love online shopping for its convenience and various money-saving options. 

What’s more, sellers don’t factor in overhead costs (lighting, rent, etc.), which results in lower prices. Also, online sellers always have discounts and other offers, making products cheaper.

You’ll likely get a higher sales volume as a merchant because people love convenience. Besides, there’s no better place to give your brand more exposure than the internet.

Here are some hard statistics to shed more light on this shopping method. 

Top Online Shopping Statistics (Editor’s Picks)

  • By 2025, the number of online shoppers in the US will likely increase to 291.2 million. 
  • Two-thirds of consumers expect free shipping for all online orders.
  • In the US, 53.6% of households subscribe to Amazon Prime.
  • In 2021, 2.14 billion people made purchases online. 
  • 69% of people in the US have shopped online at least once in their lifetime.
  • US consumers spent around 3 billion hours using mobile shopping apps in 2021.
  • 73% of Millennials made mobile purchases 1–4 times a week in 2021.
  • 92% of surveyed college students have shopped online.

Amazing Facts and Shopping Online Statistics

1. The number of online shoppers in the US will likely increase to 291.2 million by 2025.

(Statista)

In the US, there were around 263 million shoppers online in 2021. More specifically, the number includes people who bought something, browsed products, or compared prices.

Moreover, experts predict that the number of people shopping online will reach 278.3 million by 2024. 

From these online shopping trends, it’s easy to see that more people are embracing online shopping. So, this trend means one thing for sellers—more money.

2. In Q2 of 2022, the share of e-commerce in US retail sales stood at 14.5%.

(Statista)

In fact, this upward trend is expected to continue as more and more consumers turn to online shopping in search of convenience and variety. 

Statistics on online shopping note that, from April to June 2022, retail e-commerce sales in the United States hit almost $258 billion, which was the highest quarterly revenue in history. 

3. With $469.822 billion in revenue in 2021, Amazon is ahead of major retailers like JD.com and Walmart. 

(Outvio)

In general, the company is guided by two main principles: customer focus and operational optimization. As a matter of fact, these principles have helped Amazon to become the most successful retailer in the world and contribute to the popularity of online shopping. 

4. 66% of consumers expect free shipping for all online orders.

(JungleScout)

It’s no secret that free shipping is one of the most critical factors in online shopping. In fact, a recent study and its free shipping statistics found that 80% of consumers expect free shipping when ordering a specific dollar amount of products.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as free shipping is one of the main reasons why people shop online in the first place.

5. 61% of online shoppers are willing to share private details with a website or an app for more control over their data. 

(AdTaxi)

A recent study and its e-commerce statistics show that 83% of US e-commerce consumers are comfortable providing their behavioral data for a more enhanced customer experience. 

Additionally, 76% of respondents said they would take a brief survey on an initial visit to a website if it leads to better personalization from that brand. 

These findings suggest that people are generally willing to provide personal information if it means they will have a better experience online. 

6. More than 60% of purchase journeys start online. 

(Think with Google)

No matter where a client ends up shopping, chances are they started browsing or reading about the product online. Stats on online shopping show that most consumers research a product on Amazon or Google before buying it. 

The thing is that people trust consumer reviews a lot. Also, a client could read an article, come across a recommendation, and research it before buying. 

What should e-commerce sites do to ensure that clients don’t purchase goods elsewhere? Improving customer experience is the best way to keep a client interested enough to purchase from you. 

Be present, helpful, and quick to respond to queries or any other issues that might arise.  

7. Online shopping trends reveal that by 2030, the demand for last-mile delivery is expected to grow by 78%. 

(WEF)

The increase in online shopping has put a strain on traditional delivery methods. In response, last-mile delivery services have become more popular in recent years. These services are designed to get packages to customers as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

This rapid growth is driven by the increasing popularity of shopping online and the need for faster delivery times. Last-mile delivery companies are investing in new technologies and infrastructure to meet this growing demand. 

As a result, the last-mile delivery industry is expected to undergo significant changes in the coming years.

8. Online shopper statistics show that 53.6% of US households subscribe to Amazon Prime. 

(GlobeNewswire)

There are several reasons for this trend. First, Amazon Prime offers numerous benefits that appeal to consumers, such as free shipping and access to Prime Video. 

In addition, the number of households with Amazon Prime subscriptions will likely continue to grow as the service becomes more popular and accessible. 

Finally, as more people subscribe to Amazon Prime, there is a greater likelihood they will encourage others to do the same. 

Latest Online Shopping Trends

9. M-commerce sales reached $359.32 billion in 2021, an increase of 15.2% over 2020. 

(Insider Intelligence)

M-commerce statistics reveal that by 2025, m-commerce sales are expected to more than double to reach $728.28 billion and account for 44.2% of retail e-commerce sales in the US. 

The growth of m-commerce is changing the retail landscape and presents both opportunities and challenges for retailers. Understanding these changes and how to capitalize on them will be critical for success in years to come.

10. 56% of online shoppers are more influenced by social media images and videos now than before the pandemic.

(Nosto)

COVID-19 online shipping statistics uncover this is particularly the case with Gen Z shoppers, 61% of whom say user-generated content is more influential to them post-COVID-19. 

This data suggests that businesses need to focus on creating engaging content that will reach their target audience on social media. In the age of COVID-19, social media is more important than ever.

11. Between March and May of 2021, 45% of internet shoppers scanned QR codes, which was one of the noteworthy trends in online shopping.

(Statista)

Remember QR codes? Just like choker necklaces or wide-legged pants, QR codes are making a comeback, according to online retail sales statistics. 

Online stores use the codes for promotional purposes, such as coupon codes or to award loyalty points. Check out the latest coupon statistics and learn more. 

Global Online Shopping Statistics

12. E-commerce sales in China have seen tremendous growth in recent years, with a CAGR of 13.3% between 2018 and 2021. 

(Global Data)

In other words, e-commerce sales reached CNY13.1 trillion ($2.1 trillion) by 2021. 

All in all, China is currently the largest e-commerce market in the world, accounting for over 37% of the global market value in 2021. This is followed by the US with $1.5 trillion and the UK with $292.1 billion. 

13. By 2025, retail e-commerce sales are expected to exceed $7.3 trillion worldwide, according to statistics on online shopping. 

(Shopify)

In other words, online shopping growth statistics predict this would represent a 23.6% share of all retail sales. 

Generally speaking, this rapid growth is driven by several factors, including the increasing popularity of shopping online, the proliferation of mobile devices, and the continuous expansion of e-commerce into new markets. 

As more consumers access the internet and mobile devices, they increasingly turn to the internet for their shopping needs. 

At the same time, businesses are getting better at meeting this demand by developing robust e-commerce platforms and offering convenient delivery options. The result is a booming industry showing no signs of slowing down.

14. Statistics on online shopping point out that around 2.14 billion people made purchases online in 2021.

(E-commerce Germany)

Online purchasing stats show that approximately 2.14 billion people bought something online at the end of 2021. When transforming the number of people who shop online into a percentage, it’s 27.3% of people in the world.

As the global internet population is growing, we can rest assured that the number of digital buyers will rise along with promising new online markets.

Online Shopping USA Statistics

15. 69% of Americans have shopped online at least once in their lifetime.

(Fram)

Consumer spending is crucial to the US economy. Nearly seven in ten people have bought an item online, and the trend is growing. More people are browsing the internet and ordering items online in 2022 than ever before.

16. In 2021, 74.3% of the US population made at least one online purchase.

(Statista)

There has been a significant increase in the number of people purchasing goods online in the United States. In comparison, 72.7% of Americans were part of this online shopping Trend in 2020. 

17. In 2021, US consumers spent almost 3 billion hours using mobile shopping apps. 

(Digital Transactions)

This popularity is partly due to the convenience and flexibility that mobile shopping offers. Consumers can shop anytime, anywhere, compare prices and find deals with just a few clicks. 

In addition, mobile shopping apps provide a personalized experience, with recommendations and customized offers based on previous purchasing behavior.

Online Shopping Statistics by State

18. California is the top online shopping state in America, with 56.5% of residents buying online.

(PCMag)

As far as online shopping is concerned, that’s the case — California is ahead of other states in America regarding internet shopping.  

Furthermore, Washington takes second place in the states with the highest percentage of online shoppers, and the Northeast state, Massachusetts, comes in third.

19. In the District of Columbia, 53.4% of residents purchase online, as online shopping data implies.

(PCMag)

Other states where residents make more purchases online are Virginia, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Connecticut (52.1%). More specifically, most online shoppers in these states are between the ages of 25 and 39. 

20. Wyoming has the lowest rate of online shopping, where only 38% of residents buy online.

(PCMag)

Louisiana and Mississippi also have relatively low rates of online shopping—39.8% and 39.1%, respectively. In contrast, states like California and New York have high rates of online shopping due to their large populations and dense urban areas.

Amazon Online Shopping Statistics

21. In 2021, the Amazon app had 98 million monthly users.

(Statista)

In 2021, mobile app usage statistics showed that Walmart had the most active monthly users in the United States, with an average of 120 million users accessing the app each month. Amazon took second place. 

That year, these two apps topped the list of shopping apps with the most active monthly users in the United States.

22. 61% of US consumers start their product hunt on Amazon, as online shopping stats show. 

(Insider Intelligence)

US consumers have a few preferred starting points when they begin their product hunts online. The majority start on Amazon. The next most popular starting point is a search engine like Google, where 49% of consumers begin their product hunts. 

The third most popular starting point is Walmart.com, where 32% of consumers start looking for products. 

23. Amazon.com had 2.4 billion combined desktop and mobile visits from December 2021 to May 2022. 

(Statista)

This is one of the online shopping statistics for 2022 that represents a significant increase from the 2.3 billion visits the platform received in April of the same year. 

Amazon’s popularity is due to many factors, including its convenient online shopping experience, the wide selection of products, and competitive prices. 

The company has also invested heavily in expansion, opening new fulfillment centers, and developing new delivery methods to meet customer demand. 

These Amazon online shoppers statistics serve as pointers to sellers who display their goods on the site.

Online vs. Offline Shopping Statistics

24. 56% of survey respondents shop online because they can do it at any time of day. 

(Statista)

The recent survey of 20,000 consumers from 12 global markets and its online shopping vs. traditional shopping statistics also show that around half of respondents mentioned the convenience of not leaving the house to do shopping. 

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s no surprise that more and more people choose the convenience of online shopping over traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

25. A recent survey found that the percentage of online shoppers who prefer online shopping to offline shopping is 66%. 

(Google Globema)

In fact, only 27% prefer offline. Online shopping is often cheaper—there are no overhead costs for retailers, so the prices are lower. Also, there are more choices available online. 

26. A recent survey found that 46% of respondents prefer to shop in person rather than online. 

(Retail Leader)

This preference may be because shopping in person allows customers to inspect items physically before making a purchase. It also allows shoppers to ask sales staff questions and receive immediate assistance. 

Despite these impressive internet shopping statistics, shopping online can sometimes be a frustrating experience, mainly if items are not as described or if there are delivery issues. 

For many people, the convenience of in-person shopping outweighs the advantages of buying online.

27. 76% of consumers search for a company online before deciding to visit in person. 

(PRNewswire)

These days, potential customers are more likely to search for a company online before visiting a physical location. This shift in consumer behavior means businesses need to have an active and engaging online presence to succeed. 

From social media campaigns to search engine optimization, there are many ways to ensure your company is visible online.

Millennials and Online Shopping Statistics

28. 70% of older Millennials (30–44) prefer shopping online. 

(Business Wire)

Uncommonly, 56% of younger Millennials (under 30) prefer shopping online, which is way lower than the older group. 

According to a Business Wire survey, 60% of respondents prefer to do more than half of their shopping online. 

This age group is an important demographic to consider when it comes to online shopping because it has vast purchasing power.

29. As per stats on online shopper demographics, in 2021, 73% of Millennials made mobile purchases 1–4 times a week. 

(Games Press)

Buying things on your phone has become second nature for many people in recent years. In fact, more than 50% of Millennials plan to shop more on mobile than in the previous year. Also, 80% report making mobile purchases often.

30. Same-day delivery is crucial to 45% of Millennials.

(Best of Signs)

Online retail statistics show that close to half of Millennials love e-commerce stores that offer same-day delivery.

The stat should come as no surprise, bearing in mind this age group is making more than half of its purchases online.  

31. In a recent survey, 63% of Millennials said that finding deals was the most important in their online shopping decisions. 

(CSA)

In addition, approximately 42% cited the smooth checkout process as the most crucial factor when shopping online. Moreover, 22% said product recommendations were the most vital to them. 

College Students and Online Shopping Statistics

32. A recent survey of college students found that 92% of them have shopped online. 

(Student Beans)

In addition, 69% do so at least once a month, as college student spending statistics note. There are many reasons why online shopping can be beneficial for students. First, it can save time. 

Rather than traveling to a store and searching for the items they need, students can simply go online and find what they’re looking for. Second, online sales data shows that online shopping can be cheaper than traditional shopping. 

Because there are no overhead costs, online retailers can often offer discounts on the items they sell. (Learn how to save money in college here).

Finally, online shopping is convenient. Students can shop from anywhere at any time and have their items delivered to their door. 

33. A college student survey finds that 72% of males and 67% of females shop online at least once a month. 

(Student Beans)

When talking about the demographics of online shoppers, we can say that there is still an apparent disparity in the types of items that male and female students buy. 

69% of females said they had bought clothes and accessories in the past month, compared to just 47% of males. 

Conversely, 52% of males said they had made tech and mobile purchases in the past month, while only 24% of females reported doing the same, as online purchase statistics find. 

34. A survey of college students shows that 58% of respondents shop online for clothes and accessories. 

(Student Beans)

Moreover, 37% shop for tech products, and 33% shop for health and beauty items. Just 21% buy school supplies online, and 20% purchase books or magazines. 

These findings suggest that college students are increasingly using online platforms to purchase the items they need.

Conclusion

The online shopping statistics above show that online shopping is on the rise. Now is a good time for more businesses to consider moving online. 

For existing e-commerce sites, tweaking your website a little could make you get more clients now than ever before.

For instance, optimizing your site for mobile or having a fast checkout process could improve your conversions. 

One thing is clear—numbers don’t lie, and from the look of things, online shopping is here to stay. 

FAQ

What percentage of shopping is online?

Around 69% of Americans shop online at least once. By 2023, experts predict that the figure will be 91% of the US population.

How much does the average person spend online shopping?

The average online spend per shopper and visit worldwide is $2.6. This may vary depending on the country, but it’s a good estimate for the global average.

Who does the most online shopping?

About 85.9% of Millennials make purchases online. So, it’s safe to say that most online shoppers are, in fact, Millennials. 

How many people shop online?

Around 2.14 billion people used the internet to purchase goods in 2021. In other words, that’s about 27% of the population. 

What are people buying online?

People buy all sorts of things online, from clothes and shoes to furniture and appliances. In fact, apart from clothes, some of the most popular items people buy online are electronics.

What do people buy online the most?

Clothing items are some of the most commonly purchased items online. This is because many online stores offer a wider selection of clothing items than physical stores do.

How many Americans shop online?

In the United States, 263 million people shop online, as online shopping statistics reveal. In fact, this number will only continue to grow as more and more people discover the convenience of shopping online.

Sources:

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