Sports Retail Industry Growth Rate Statistics
Updated · Sep 03, 2026
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice: Sports Retail Industry Statistics
- Sports Retail Industry Market Size Statistics
- Sports Retail Industry Growth Rate Statistics
- Sports Retail Growth by Product Category
- Online Sports Retail Statistics
- Sports Retail Industry Growth by Region
- Largest Sports Retailers Statistics
- What Is Driving Sports Retail Industry Growth?
- Sports Retail Industry Outlook
- Conclusion
Introduction
The sports retail industry is one of the largest and most diverse retail sectors. It includes sporting goods, sportswear, footwear, fitness equipment, and other related products sold through physical and online retailers.
In 2025, the sporting goods industry was valued at $112.62 billion and is expected to grow to $119.61 billion in 2026, reaching $193.67 billion by 2034. The sportswear industry is even bigger, valued between $220 and $400 billion in 2025, and expected to grow over the next few years.
The sports retail industry as a whole is valued at $422 billion in 2025, but the exact number may vary depending on the source. In any case, the global sports retail industry is experiencing steady growth, so let’s see at what rate we can expect it to keep growing.
Editor’s Choice: Sports Retail Industry Statistics
- In 2025, the sports retail market was valued at $422 billion.
- This industry is expected to be worth $446.80 billion in 2026, $570.00 billion in 2030, and over $600 billion in 2034.
- The latest annual growth rate (2024-2025) is 5.1%.
- The expected CAGR for 2030 is 6.2%.
- North America is the largest regional market, holding 36% market share in 2025.
- Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with a growth rate of 8.6% (2025) and a forecasted CAGR of 8.4% (by 2034).
- The largest product category is sports equipment, valued at $251.82 billion in 2025. However, sports apparel has a higher volume of sales, so one could argue that this product category is the largest one.
- In 2025, online sports retail sales accounted for 36.90% of total sales.
Sports Retail Industry Market Size Statistics
Market size stats may vary slightly by source, especially for sportswear industry size, as its value estimates for 2025 range between $220 and $400 billion. When we add the sports goods industry being valued at $112.62 billion the same year, we get that the sports retail industry was worth between $332 and $512 billion in 2025.
Below is a brief overview of the sports retail industry market size over the years:
| Year | Market Size | Absolute increase | CAGR (%) |
| 2023 | $378.00 billion | – | – |
| 2024 | $401.44 billion | $23.44 billion | 6.2% |
| 2025 | $422.00 billion | $20.56 billion | 5.1% |
| 2026 | $446.80 billion | $24.8 billion | 5.9% |
| 2030 | $570.00 billion | $123.2 billion | 6.2% |
Keep in mind that these numbers and predictions are synthesized from several sources, including McKinsey & Company, Grand View Research, Statista, Fortune Business Insights, and others. Different sources calculate the market size differently, which is why the numbers can vary greatly.
Sports Retail Industry Growth Rate Statistics
When we compare 2025 to 2024, there was an absolute increase in market value of $20.56 billion. Some projections predict that the market value could reach $446.80 billion in 2026, which will be an absolute increase of $24.8 billion compared to 2025.
Between 2023 and 2026, the market value has grown by 5.1-6.2% annually. By 2030, the market could expect a 6.2% CAGR. Some sources project the market value to reach over $800 billion by 2033/2034, while other sources are a bit more conservative, projecting the 2034 market value at $600+ billion.
Pre-pandemic, the annual CAGR for the sports retail industry was around 8%, and then it dropped to -12% in 2020. In 2021, CAGR was 20%, and in recent years, it has been steady at around 6%.
These historical CAGR values were pretty much in line with projected CAGR values for the same period. For example, the projected CAGR for 2018 ranged between 5.1% and 10.4%, depending on the market segment and region. That’s why we believe that the projections for the 2030s could be pretty accurate if no major economic disturbances happen.
Sports Retail Growth by Product Category
The global sports retail industry can be observed as a whole, but for deeper insights, we’ll split it into several product categories. These are the main sports retail categories and their stats:
Sports Apparel
Sports apparel is a product category that’s growing even among people who aren’t participating in sports or other fitness activities. Many people wear sports apparel for comfort or as a fashion statement. That’s why sports apparel is no longer worn only in the gym, but on a daily basis, in school, work, etc.
With that being said, here are the most important stats on the sports apparel market:
- In 2025, the sports apparel market was valued at $220.35 billion.
- The North America region holds a 39.21% share of this market.
- In 2026, this market was valued at $229.58 billion, with a 4.19% growth rate.
- The men’s segment holds a 51.82% share of the sports apparel market (2026).
- For 2026-2034, the forecasted CAGR is 4.45%.
Sports Footwear
Similar to sports apparel, sports footwear is worn by everyone, even by people who aren’t into sports. In fact, approx. 60% of sports footwear is bought for daily casual wear. Sneakers have gone from comfortable footwear to status symbols. That’s why it’s no wonder that this market is on the rise:
- In 2025, the global sports footwear market was valued at $116.2 billion.
- In 2026, it is predicted that this market will reach a value of 121.96 billion.
- By 2034, the sports footwear market might be worth $190.87 billion, with a CAGR of 5.76%.
- The North American region holds the largest share of the sports footwear market, with 42.02% in 2025.
- It is projected that the online market segment will hold the 35.07% market share, while the physical stores will hold the remaining 64.93%.
Sports Equipment
Each year, more people are going to the gym or participating in other sports activities. Many of them decide to buy sports equipment, which is why the sports equipment market is also growing at a steady rate. While the sports equipment sales have a lower volume than the previous two categories, the purchase values are higher.
Here are the most important stats:
- In 2025, the sports equipment market was valued at $251.82 billion, and it is projected to grow to $268.50 billion in 2026, which is a 6.62% increase.
- By 2034, the sports equipment market could reach $398.78 billion.
- For that period, the expected CAGR is 5.07%
- While the previous product categories were dominated by North America, this one is dominated by European buyers, who account for a 37.78% market share in 2025.
Online Sports Retail Statistics
The sports retail industry, like most other industries, has shifted from physical stores to digital retail. This shift was accelerated by COVID, ecommerce evolution, and global smartphone adoption.
In 2025, online retail sales of sports equipment accounted for 36.90% of total sales. Other segments of the sports retail industry show similar online-to-total sales shares. It is expected that the global online sports retail industry will grow at 7.8-8.1% CAGR.
Here are some other useful stats:
- The sporting goods e-commerce market is expected to grow at 9.2% CAGR by 2034.
- Consumer preference for online vs. physical stores will also shift in favor of online shopping, except maybe for buying shoes and sneakers.
- Mobile shopping is becoming the preferred channel for buying sports goods, especially among younger consumers.
- Despite the rising popularity of online shopping, physical sports retail stores have a 10-20 times higher conversion rate than online stores (online store conversion rate is approximately 2%).
Sports Retail Industry Growth by Region
Although the global sports retail industry is growing steadily, regional growth trends have some differences. The Asia-Pacific region is showing the biggest growth rate so far, and it seems that this growth will only continue. Asian consumers are showing an increasing interest in a more active lifestyle, and the numbers support this claim:
| Region | Market Share | Market Value | Growth Rate | Forecast CAGR |
| North America | 36% | $151.92 billion | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Europe | 29% | $122.38 billion | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Asia-Pacific | 26% | $109.72 billion | 8.6% | 8.4% |
Largest Sports Retailers Statistics
When it comes to the largest sports retailers in the world, here are the most important stats you should know:
| Retailer | Annual revenue (2025) | Revenue growth (compared to 2024) | Number of stores (2025) | Major expansion figures |
| Decathlon | €16.8 billion | +4.0% | 1902 | Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) rising +7.1% |
| JD Sports | £11.46 billion | +10.2% | 4871 | 205 new stores opened, 99 of which were opened in Europe and 75 in North America |
| Dick’s Sporting Goods | $14.11 billion | +4.99% | 850+ | The company announced a partnership to expand Lids shops to 100 Dick’s stores nationwide. |
| Foot Locker | $7.99 billion | -2.2% | 2400-2600 | After being acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods in late 2025, Foot Locker is expanding its “Fast Break” retail concept by approximately 90 stores. |
| Intersport | €14.1 billion | +1.2% | 5500+ | The company is opening its new logistics center, its second automated warehouse. |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | $6.05 billion | +2% | 339 | The company is planning to open 11 new stores in Q3 of 2026. |
| Frasers Group / Sports Direct | £4.93 billion | 8.3% | 700+ | There are plans for 350+ new Sports Direct stores in Southeast Asia. |
What Is Driving Sports Retail Industry Growth?
Several main growth drivers are behind sports retail industry growth. One is increased participation in fitness and recreational sports. For example, in 2015, there were around 155 million gym-goers worldwide, while in 2025, that number exceeded 215 million.
More people are also participating in running and outdoor activities. Women’s sports participation and popularity have increased. Consumers of all ages and genders are becoming more health-aware, which is prompting them to participate in sports and buy sports-related products.
As fitness and sports activity increased, demand for athleisure also grew. Even people who aren’t particularly active have turned to more comfortable clothes, boosting athleisure sales over the past decade. Some sources show that this market has grown from approx. $280 billion in 2018 to over $400 billion in 2025.
The adoption of online shopping has also allowed more people to buy sports retail goods and products. Younger consumer spending is on the rise, and many young consumers are interested in athleisure, sportswear, and sports equipment.
Sports Retail Industry Outlook
The future of the sports retail industry seems to be bright, thanks to the steady growth rate and promising consumer habits. As sports apparel and sports footwear become more acceptable fashion choices in everyday life, their demand will rise.
The same goes for sports equipment. As more people become interested in fitness and sports, they will be more inclined to buy necessary equipment, such as resistance bands, dumbbells, protective gear, etc.
Here is what the numbers say about future trends:
- The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% by 2030.
- By 2030, the market could be worth $570.00 billion.
- The sports footwear product category is expected to grow the fastest, with a projected CAGR of 5.76% by 2034.
- Asia-Pacific region has the biggest growth potential, with a projected CAGR of 8.4% by 2034.
Obviously, all these projections are based on the assumption that there won’t be any major market and macroeconomic disturbances.
Conclusion
In 2025, the sports retail industry was valued at $422 billion and projected to reach $446.80 billion in 2026. The expected CAGR for 2030 is 6.2%. Increased sports and fitness participation is the main driver of sports retail market growth, but other notable drivers include ecommerce growth and increased spending among younger consumers.
At the moment, the region with the biggest market share is North America, but the fastest-growing regional market segment is the one in Asia-Pacific. The fastest-growing product category is sports footwear.
Sources
Željka Stanić is a writer with more than five years of experience specializing in finance, statistics, and general business topics. She writes helpful and engaging articles that make the complex economic concepts easier to understand. Through her writing, Željka uses a structured and readable approach to ensure that high-level statistics are interesting and compelling to read.
