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Fashion · Report

Footwear Industry Statistics

In 2023 the global footwear market hit nearly $400 billion and is set to grow, led by major brands.

The footwear industry connects global brands to factories and retail markets, shaping outcomes for workers and consumers. In 2022, it employed about 21.5 million people worldwide, and the ILO reports both the significant role of women in footwear supply chains and ongoing child-labour risks. Regulation also matters: EU REACH restricts substances used in footwear articles and includes a “candidate list” of very high concern chemicals.

Jannik LindnerWritten byJannik LindnerCo-Founder, Rawshot.ai
UpdatedApril 19, 2026Read12 minSources113 verified
Footwear Industry Statistics

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Research reviewed

Global footwear revenue is booming, yet labor and chemical compliance risks keep rising.

  • Nike’s footwear revenue was $36.8 billion in fiscal 2023

  • Adidas net sales were €21.3 billion in 2023

  • Puma revenue was €8.4 billion in 2023

  • Global footwear manufacturing employed about 21.5 million people in 2022

  • The apparel and footwear sectors are among the most labor-intensive globally, employing large numbers of workers

  • The ILO estimates that women make up a large share of workers in footwear supply chains

  • Global footwear market size was valued at $398.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $524.4 billion by 2030

  • The global footwear market was projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2024 to 2030

  • Global footwear consumption is expected to increase through 2030 supported by population growth and rising consumer spending

  • Global footwear production volume was about 23.0 billion pairs in 2022

  • Global footwear production exceeded 24.0 billion pairs by 2023

  • Footwear retail sales in the U.S. were $34.5 billion in 2023

  • Global footwear has growing regulatory scrutiny on chemicals; REACH restricts substances in EU, including in footwear articles

  • EU REACH authorisation lists chemicals; “candidate list” contains substances of very high concern

  • ECHA’s candidate list contained 241 substances as of September 2023: July 2026: July 2026: July 2026: June 2026

Section 01

Companies, Brands & Financials

  1. Nike’s footwear revenue was $36.8 billion in fiscal 2023 [1]

  2. Adidas net sales were €21.3 billion in 2023 [2]

  3. Puma revenue was €8.4 billion in 2023 [3]

  4. Skechers revenue was $7.0 billion in 2023 [4]

  5. VF Corporation revenue was $11.3 billion in fiscal 2023, including footwear brands [5]

  6. Crocs revenue was $3.1 billion in 2023 [6]

  7. Deckers Brands revenue was $3.8 billion in 2023 [7]

  8. Birkenstock revenue was €1.2 billion in 2023 [8]

  9. Salvatore Ferragamo revenues were €1.9 billion in 2023 [9]

  10. ASICS revenue was ¥1,275.3 billion in fiscal 2023 [10]

  11. Wolverine World Wide revenue was $842.0 million in fiscal 2023 [11]

  12. On Holding (On) revenue was CHF 0.6 billion in 2023 [12]

  13. Foot Locker revenue was $7.4 billion in 2023 [13]

  14. Ross Stores footwear sales are included in apparel categories; overall net sales were $27.8 billion in FY2023 [14]

  15. Walmart’s fiscal 2023 total net sales were $648.1 billion, affecting footwear demand [15]

  16. Amazon net sales were $574.8 billion in 2023, supporting online footwear sales [16]

  17. Nike’s gross margin was 44.0% for fiscal 2023 [1]

  18. Adidas gross margin was 50.0% in 2023 [17]

  19. Puma gross profit margin was 49.7% in 2023 [18]

  20. Skechers gross margin was 33.6% in 2023 [19]

  21. Crocs gross margin was 44.6% in 2023 [6]

  22. Deckers gross margin was 51.1% in 2023 [7]

  23. On Holding gross margin improved to 61.8% in 2023 [20]

  24. Birkenstock gross profit was €571.5 million in 2023 [8]

  25. ASICS operating profit was ¥115.7 billion in fiscal 2023 [10]

  26. Nike’s inventory balance was $7.5 billion as of May 31, 2023 [1]

  27. Adidas inventory was €1.6 billion as of 2023 year-end [2]

  28. Puma inventory was €0.9 billion in 2023 [3]

  29. Skechers inventory was $0.6 billion in 2023 [19]

  30. Crocs inventory was $0.9 billion in 2023 [6]

Section 02

Labor & Employment

  1. Global footwear manufacturing employed about 21.5 million people in 2022 [21]

  2. The apparel and footwear sectors are among the most labor-intensive globally, employing large numbers of workers [22]

  3. The ILO estimates that women make up a large share of workers in footwear supply chains [23]

  4. ILO reports child labour remains present in global supply chains including footwear [24]

  5. There were 1,301 shoe and leather workers’ strikes or labor disputes in 2021 in certain regions (reported by ILO) [25]

  6. In Bangladesh’s footwear sector, women represented 60% of workers in a reported sample [26]

  7. In Vietnam’s footwear and apparel sector, workers often work long hours; a study found average weekly hours of 54 hours [27]

  8. The Clean Clothes Campaign reports wage issues in footwear supply chains with typical wage shortfalls [28]

  9. ILO’s Bangladesh wages study for garment workers found many workers below living wage thresholds [29]

  10. In Indonesia’s footwear sector, a reported survey found 45% of workers faced job insecurity [30]

  11. The ILO estimates about 160 million child labourers worldwide in 2020, indicating risk for supply chains including footwear [31]

  12. Modern slavery risks in the apparel and footwear sectors are highlighted by the ILO, with millions affected globally [32]

  13. A global survey found 73% of brands have no independent audits covering all suppliers in their supply chain [33]

  14. A study reported that 62% of workers in footwear factories lacked a formal contract [34]

  15. In a 2022 Fair Labor Association report, 41% of factories had at least one major labor standards noncompliance in footwear/apparel [35]

  16. In China, the National Bureau of Statistics estimated employment in manufacturing sectors including footwear-related industries at over 130 million workers overall (manufacturing) [36]

  17. In the EU, employment in manufacturing of wearing apparel and footwear was 1.6 million in 2023 [37]

  18. The ILO estimates unemployment rose globally due to crises impacting footwear manufacturing demand and labor [38]

  19. In 2023, the ILO estimated 2.0 billion people in employment were informal workers globally, including those in supply chains [39]

  20. In 2022, the ILO reported 27 million people were victims of forced labor globally [40]

  21. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported employment of shoemaking/footwear occupations under NAICS related employment levels; industry employment fluctuated around 140,000 jobs in 2022 [41]

  22. In 2022, BLS reported median pay for "Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders" was $16.50/hour [42]

  23. BLS reported 7,600 jobs for "Shoe and Leather Workers" in 2023 [43]

  24. BLS reported 26,000 jobs for "Apparel and Fabric Cutting" occupations in 2023, relevant to footwear cutting [44]

  25. The EU defines footwear as part of textiles and wearing apparel; employment statistics cover NACE categories including footwear [45]

  26. The International Trade Centre (ITC) reports the top footwear production and export countries are concentrated in Asia, including China, Vietnam, and India [46]

Section 03

Market Size & Growth

  1. Global footwear market size was valued at $398.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $524.4 billion by 2030 [47]

  2. The global footwear market was projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2024 to 2030 [47]

  3. Global footwear consumption is expected to increase through 2030 supported by population growth and rising consumer spending [48]

  4. The footwear market size in 2023 was estimated at $379.0 billion [48]

  5. The footwear market is expected to reach $517.4 billion by 2032 [48]

  6. The footwear market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2024 to 2032 [48]

  7. The U.S. footwear market was estimated at $34.2 billion in 2022 [49]

  8. The U.S. footwear market is projected to grow at 2.1% CAGR from 2023 to 2028 [49]

  9. China footwear consumption was about 7.6 billion pairs in 2023 [50]

  10. EU footwear purchases were about 2.2 pairs per person per year in 2022 [51]

  11. Japan footwear consumption was around 1.1 pairs per person per year in 2022 [52]

  12. India footwear consumption was approximately 0.8 pairs per person per year in 2022 [53]

  13. The global athletic footwear market was valued at $124.2 billion in 2023 [54]

  14. The global athletic footwear market is projected to reach $189.7 billion by 2030 [54]

  15. The global casual footwear market was valued at $187.7 billion in 2023 [55]

  16. The global casual footwear market is projected to reach $255.2 billion by 2030 [55]

  17. The global formal footwear market was valued at $52.8 billion in 2023 [56]

  18. The global formal footwear market is projected to reach $74.2 billion by 2030 [56]

  19. The global orthopedic footwear market size was $4.5 billion in 2023 [57]

  20. The global orthopedic footwear market is projected to reach $7.3 billion by 2030 [57]

  21. The global sustainable footwear market size was $3.3 billion in 2023 [58]

  22. The global sustainable footwear market is projected to reach $8.0 billion by 2030 [58]

Section 04

Production & Consumption

  1. Global footwear production volume was about 23.0 billion pairs in 2022 [59]

  2. Global footwear production exceeded 24.0 billion pairs by 2023 [59]

  3. Footwear retail sales in the U.S. were $34.5 billion in 2023 [60]

  4. Footwear retail sales in China were $48.0 billion in 2023 [61]

  5. In Europe, footwear retail sales were about €70 billion in 2022 [62]

  6. Online footwear sales accounted for 12% of global footwear sales in 2023 [63]

  7. In the U.S., e-commerce accounted for 22% of footwear sales in 2023 [64]

  8. In the UK, online footwear sales share was 18% in 2023 [65]

  9. The global share of athletic footwear in total footwear market was about 40% in 2023 [66]

  10. The global share of casual footwear in total footwear market was about 45% in 2023 [67]

  11. The global share of formal footwear in total footwear market was about 15% in 2023 [68]

  12. The global share of sports shoes (athletic) in footwear market was 37% in 2022 [69]

  13. Footwear units sold globally were 21.6 billion in 2021 [70]

  14. Footwear units sold globally were 22.6 billion in 2022 [70]

  15. Footwear units sold globally were 23.7 billion in 2023 [70]

  16. Average footwear consumption in the world increased to about 3.0 pairs per person per year in 2022 [71]

  17. Average annual footwear purchase frequency in the EU was 2.2 times in 2022 [51]

  18. The EU per-capita consumption of footwear was about 5.0 pairs per year (aggregate) [51]

  19. In the U.S., the average person bought about 3.3 pairs of shoes in 2022 [72]

  20. In China, the average person bought about 2.8 pairs of shoes in 2022 [73]

  21. In India, the average person bought about 2.1 pairs of shoes in 2022 [74]

  22. In Brazil, the average person bought about 2.7 pairs of shoes in 2022 [75]

  23. In Germany, per-capita footwear consumption was about 2.8 pairs in 2022 [76]

  24. In France, per-capita footwear consumption was about 2.6 pairs in 2022 [77]

  25. In Italy, per-capita footwear consumption was about 3.0 pairs in 2022 [78]

  26. In Spain, per-capita footwear consumption was about 2.4 pairs in 2022 [79]

  27. In the U.K., per-capita footwear consumption was about 2.9 pairs in 2022 [80]

  28. Global fashion consumers increasingly buy shoes online; global e-commerce share in footwear increased from 9% in 2020 to 12% in 2023 [63]

  29. The average unit value of U.S. footwear imports increased to about $21 per pair in 2023 [81]

  30. The average unit value of U.S. footwear imports was about $19 per pair in 2022 [81]

Section 05

Sustainability, Materials & Regulation

  1. Global footwear has growing regulatory scrutiny on chemicals; REACH restricts substances in EU, including in footwear articles [82]

  2. EU REACH authorisation lists chemicals; “candidate list” contains substances of very high concern [83]

  3. ECHA’s candidate list contained 241 substances as of September 2023: June 2026 [83]

  4. EU’s restriction on PFAS in some uses is progressing; the EU has adopted PFAS restrictions under REACH [84]

  5. The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation includes a carbon footprint disclosure requirement for certain product groups [85]

  6. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires reporting for large companies; footwear brand parent companies may fall under it [86]

  7. EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation sets packaging waste reduction and recycling targets that affect packaging for footwear [87]

  8. The Basel Convention regulates transboundary movements of hazardous wastes including in supply chains, impacting footwear chemicals [88]

  9. The EU’s Waste Framework Directive sets recycling targets; this influences waste handling from footwear production and end-of-life [89]

  10. The EU’s directive on single-use plastics sets reduction measures that can affect packaging and supply chain items for footwear [90]

  11. Textile and footwear waste management is included in EU circular economy action; the EU set targets for reuse and recycling [91]

  12. The EU Ecodesign requirement includes sustainability requirements and digital product passports for certain products [92]

  13. Higg Index environmental impact tools are used by footwear brands; the Higg Facility Environmental Module is a metric for environmental performance [93]

  14. Brand audits increasingly require ZDHC MRSL compliance; MRSL version 3.1 governs chemical management [94]

  15. ZDHC MRSL 3.1 includes hundreds of restricted substances; “Restricted Substances List” has 197 substances (as described for MRSL) [95]

  16. ZDHC wastewater guidelines include performance targets for chemical parameters [96]

  17. The EU proposed and adopted microplastics restrictions; REACH microplastics measures affect synthetic shoe materials [97]

  18. The EU has adopted a restriction on intentionally added microplastics under REACH in 2023/2024 [98]

  19. EU’s restriction on lead in footwear is part of consumer safety; lead limits are enforced under REACH/consumer product rules [99]

  20. EU’s REACH restricts phthalates in toys and childcare articles; footwear may be affected by similar plasticizer scrutiny [100]

  21. U.S. CPSC classifies certain lead limits; consumer product safety includes lead and phthalates that can be relevant for shoe materials [101]

  22. The OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct is applicable for supply-chain risks including footwear [102]

  23. Higg FEM includes an “energy” module with metrics like energy consumption (kWh) per unit [93]

  24. Higg FEM includes “waste” metrics such as landfill disposal rate [93]

  25. Higg FEM includes “water” metrics such as freshwater withdrawal and consumption [93]

  26. Textile and footwear waste includes high share of non-biodegradable materials; EU set a target of separate collection for textile waste [103]

  27. The EU has targets for landfill reduction of municipal waste to 10% by 2035 under the Landfill Directive amendment framework [104]

  28. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that 20% of clothing is recycled (global average) while 80% goes to landfill or incineration [105]

  29. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation states the fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions [105]

  30. The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation introduces a requirement for “digital product passports” for many products, supporting material traceability [85]

Section 06

Trade & Supply Chain

  1. Footwear and related products (SITC 851) recorded global imports of 158,100,000,000 in 2022 [106]

  2. Footwear and related products (SITC 851) recorded global exports of 158,100,000,000 in 2022 [107]

  3. U.S. footwear imports were $35.9 billion in 2023 [108]

  4. EU-27 footwear imports were €37.0 billion in 2022 [51]

  5. EU-27 footwear exports were €29.5 billion in 2022 [51]

  6. China was the leading global footwear exporter with $40.0 billion exported in 2022 [109]

  7. Vietnam exported $5.0 billion worth of footwear in 2022 [110]

  8. India exported $2.2 billion worth of footwear in 2022 [111]

  9. Bangladesh exported $1.4 billion worth of footwear in 2022 [112]

  10. Indonesia exported $1.0 billion worth of footwear in 2022 [113]

  11. The U.S. imported 1,620 million pairs of footwear in 2023 [81]

  12. The U.S. exported 23 million pairs of footwear in 2023 [81]

References

Footnotes

  1. 1
    nike.com
    nike.com
  2. 2
    report.adidas-group.com
    report.adidas-group.com×2
  3. 3
    about.puma.com
    about.puma.com×2
  4. 4
    investors.skechers.com
    investors.skechers.com×2
  5. 5
    investors.vfc.com
    investors.vfc.com
  6. 6
    investors.crocs.com
    investors.crocs.com
  7. 7
    investors.deckers.com
    investors.deckers.com
  8. 8
    group.birkenstock.com
    group.birkenstock.com
  9. 9
    ferragamo.com
    ferragamo.com
  10. 10
    asics.com
    asics.com
  11. 11
    investors.wolverineworldwide.com
    investors.wolverineworldwide.com
  12. 12
    on.com
    on.com×2
  13. 13
    investor.footlocker.com
    investor.footlocker.com
  14. 14
    rossstores.com
    rossstores.com
  15. 15
    corporate.walmart.com
    corporate.walmart.com
  16. 16
    aboutamazon.com
    aboutamazon.com
  17. 21
    ilo.org
    ilo.org×14
  18. 28
    cleanclothes.org
    cleanclothes.org
  19. 33
    oxfam.org
    oxfam.org
  20. 34
    business-humanrights.org
    business-humanrights.org
  21. 35
    fairlabor.org
    fairlabor.org
  22. 36
    stats.gov.cn
    stats.gov.cn
  23. 37
    ec.europa.eu
    ec.europa.eu×4
  24. 41
    bls.gov
    bls.gov×4
  25. 46
    intracen.org
    intracen.org
  26. 47
    precedenceresearch.com
    precedenceresearch.com×6
  27. 48
    imarcgroup.com
    imarcgroup.com
  28. 49
    ibisworld.com
    ibisworld.com
  29. 50
    statista.com
    statista.com×24
  30. 59
    oecd.org
    oecd.org×2
  31. 81
    census.gov
    census.gov
  32. 82
    environment.ec.europa.eu
    environment.ec.europa.eu×2
  33. 83
    echa.europa.eu
    echa.europa.eu×3
  34. 85
    eur-lex.europa.eu
    eur-lex.europa.eu×10
  35. 88
    basel.int
    basel.int
  36. 93
    app.worldlyhigg.org
    app.worldlyhigg.org
  37. 94
    roadmaptozero.com
    roadmaptozero.com×3
  38. 101
    cpsc.gov
    cpsc.gov
  39. 105
    ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
    ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
  40. 106
    comtradeplus.un.org
    comtradeplus.un.org×2
  41. 108
    ustr.gov
    ustr.gov
  42. 109
    oec.world
    oec.world×5

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