The wellness industry has been enjoying steady growth throughout the last two decades, as recent wellness statistics show. This is mainly because people worldwide are starting to understand the importance of disease prevention, relaxation, and living a healthier life in general.
The more health-conscious we become, the more the industry progresses. The different niches become more and more specific when it comes to their services and products, giving everyone the opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing.
From general trends to sector-specific data, here are the top 27 stats you should know about!
The Top Wellness Statistics: What You Need to Know
- The industry has seen a growth rate of 6.4% on average between 2015 and 2017.
- Worldwide, the industry is responsible for 5.3% of economic output.
- The spa industry grew by 9.8% between 2015 and 2017.
- The market for wearable fitness devices is expected to reach $27 billion by 2022.
- Wellness tourism accounts for a total of 17% of tourism spending.
- The global spa market will hit a total value of $154.6 billion in two years, according to predictions of the global wellness economy in the 2020s.
- Around 78% of US citizens altered their diets after consulting with a healthcare professional.
- People visited spas across the US over 187 million times in 2017.
- 56% of corporate global survey respondents claimed to have a wellness program for their employees.
- 87% of employers take workplace wellness seriously.
General Wellness Statistics on a Global Scale
Global statistics show that the wellness industry is constantly growing. Check them out below.
1. The industry has seen a growth rate of 6.4% on average between 2015 and 2017.
(Global Wellness Institute)
According to data from the Global Wellness Institute, the industry is doing quite well, constantly growing each year, having accumulated a total of $4.5 trillion in 2018 (in 2015, the market’s worth was $3.7 trillion).
Determining the current value of the industry is hard to pinpoint. However, professionals estimate that the market’s value is over $5 trillion.
2. Worldwide, the industry is responsible for 5.3% of economic output.
(Global Wellness Institute)
These wellness industry statistics indicate that people around the globe are willing to spend quite a substantial amount of money on self-care and relaxation. Professionals globally speculate that this trend will grow as more and more people realize that health and wellness should always come first. This tendency also explains the rise of different wellness services and products.
3. 2018’s $4.5 trillion in wellness expenditures were more than half of the total health expenditures on a global scale ($7.8 trillion).
(Global Wellness Institute)
Wellness is gaining more ground among citizens across the globe. Researchers believe that these figures will only rise in upcoming years, which is supported by the latest health and wellness industry statistics.
4. The spa industry grew by 9.8% between 2015 and 2017.
(Global Wellness Institute)
The Global Wellness Institute also concluded that the second-best wellness market was wellness tourism with 6.5%, while the third was wellness real estate with 6.4%.
5. The Asia-Pacific region will likely surpass North America as the largest physical activity market with around 40% of global growth until 2023.
(Global Wellness Institute)
Among the eye-opening wellness facts, it should be mentioned that the global physical activity economy will grow to a whopping $1.1 trillion within just a few years. And India and China will be at the forefront of this trend, driving around one-third of the growth together.
Trends in the Health and Wellness Industry
Find out more about different sectors of the wellness industry, including wearable fitness devices and wellness tourism.
6. The majority of industry spending stems from personal care and beauty treatments, along with clean eating, fitness devices, and tourism.
(Medium)
These sectors are considered to be key players within the global wellness industry. In fact, each of these niches accounts for more than $500 billion in yearly spendings.
7. The gluten-free retailer market is estimated to grow to $12.5 billion by 2024 at an annual rate of 9.5%.
(Medium)
Among the fun facts about health and wellness is how consumers are focusing more on clean eating and healthy foods in general. In recent years, there’s been a palpable shift toward more natural and “clean” foods in the past years.
8. The market for wearable fitness devices is expected to reach $27 billion by 2022.
(Medium, PwC)
There’s been an increasing demand for different health-focused wearable devices, like fitness trackers and smartwatches, in recent years—and researchers expect this trend to continue.
A PwC report shows quite a few interesting health and wellness facts. Among them is the trend stating that around half (49%) of US citizens own at least one wearable device.
In 70% of instances, consumers expect these wearables to help them live longer, while 63% of them also stated that they wish to maintain a healthy weight with these gadgets. The third main reason for using these products was paying lower insurance premiums (62%).
9. Around 12% of people who use wearable devices owned at least one piece of smart clothing in 2018.
(PwC)
An example of smart clothing would be clothes that control airflow to prevent overheating during exercise. According to the wellness statistics gathered by PwC, there’s a clear demand for these products, and the trend will continue well into the future.
10. Wellness tourism accounts for a total of 17% of tourism spending.
(Medium)
The most desired destinations for wellness programs are the Asia-Pacific region, the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Sub-Saharan region.
Among the most important health and wellness statistics is the fact that the wellness travel market’s worth was an estimated $639 billion in 2018, with an annual growth rate of 6.5% between 2015 and 2017. This growth rate is twice as fast as tourism’s overall rate.
A large portion of wellness tourism is dedicated to yoga and meditation retreats, which is no surprise considering the increasing popularity of yoga.
11. There’s a demand for increasing the usability of smart clothing and devices, according to the health and wellness fun facts.
(PwC)
According to a survey, around 85% of the people asked are interested in wearable devices that help them get safe-driver insurance based on their driving habits.
On the other hand, 83% of respondents would like to see wearables that help with soothing, cooling, and heating their bodies based on the data the device gathers from pain, stress, and body temperature.
Lastly, 66% of the people who took part in the survey would like to purchase wearables that monitor mood and play music accordingly.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for more info on smart devices, these IoT stats will surely satisfy your hunger for more info.
12. Recent wellness fun facts show that consumers spend an average of $100 on wellness products each month.
(Medium)
A 2018 wellness survey from LEK shows that consumers spend around $1,300 on vitamins and minerals, sports and herbal nutrition, and skincare products annually. Furthermore, boomers and Gen Xers spend the most on nutritional supplements, and millennials prefer skincare products.
Also, the study concluded that Amazon is the go-to place for people looking to purchase nutritional supplements and the second most popular channel regarding skincare products.
13. China and India have influenced wellness tourism growth the most.
(Medium)
According to wellness tourism statistics, these two countries ranked in the top two spots regarding worldwide growth, with 29 million trips to one of these two countries from 2015 to 2017.
In fact, trips to Asia have grown in this period by 33%.
Workplace Wellness Statistics
More and more companies are offering wellness programs to their employees, which has proven beneficial for both sides.
14. Corporate wellness statistics show that 56% of corporate global survey respondents claimed to have a wellness program for their employees.
(SHRM)
This information was taken from a survey in 2019. In the previous year (2018), only 44% said that they had a wellness program set up for their staff. That’s already showing an increase of about 27% in one year.
15. 87% of employers take workplace wellness seriously.
(Winning with Wellness)
A study released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce concluded that 60% percent of employers had experienced a drop in healthcare costs as a result of workplace wellness programs.
16. When it comes to employee wellness programs, statistics demonstrate traceable ROI for companies.
(Sfmic)
Data from studies also suggest that well-thought-out wellness programs have a clear ROI (return on investment) for companies of $1.50 to $3 per every dollar spent. Therefore, employees are not the only ones who can reap the benefits of corporate wellness programs, as statistics show that these endeavors are well worth the money spent if done right.
17. Fatigue was the culprit behind the most missed workdays in 2016.
(Rise)
Fatigue was the leading cause of missed workdays in 29% of cases, followed by sleeplessness (26%). Among the top five, physical pain was third with 24%, anxiety, fourth (23%), and weight gain, fifth (18%).
On the other hand, if you’re looking for ways to improve your “level of wellness” from the comfort of your home to ensure optimal wellbeing, this blog post on swimming pool statistics or this one on smart home stats can give you quite a few ideas.
Spa and Wellness Program Statistics
Here are some of the essential facts and stats about the spa industry. Among other things, find out the global spa market value and the number of spa visits in the US.
18. Researchers predict that the global spa market will hit a total value of $154.6 billion in two years.
(Statista)
The anti-aging and beauty sectors were the biggest segments of the industry, generating almost a whopping $1 trillion in 2015. According to Statista’s research, the revenue generated by spas in the US was around $18.3 billion in 2018 alone.
19. Spa travel has been gaining ground for a while, with 73% of travel agents in North America reporting growth in spa travel bookings back in 2013.
(Statista)
As such, spa travel is becoming a more and more popular part of the industry. When looking at these spa statistics, it’s important to note that most spa travelers from North America were looking for weight loss and exercise options apart from traditional pampering.
20. People visited spas across the US over 187 million times in 2017.
(Statista)
This shows an increase of 3 million compared to the number of visits from the previous year. According to Statista, the total number of spas has doubled in the country between 2003 and 2016.
21. Around 360,000 people were working in the spa industry in the US in 2015.
(Statista)
Among these, 164,500 were part-time employees, and 41,700 had a contract.
22. According to spa industry statistics, the total area used for spas in the US has shrunk.
(Statista)
Even as the overall revenue from this industry increases worldwide, the space used for spas is shrinking. In 2009, it took up approximately 81 million square feet in the US. By 2012, this same number was 77 million square feet.
23. The spa industry has enjoyed steady growth since 2008.
(Statista)
Revenue for 2017 was an estimate of $17.5 billion in the US, showing an increase of $700 million from the previous year.
Diet Wellness Facts and Statistics
As we all know, our health and wellbeing greatly depend on our eating habits. Therefore, we collected the following stats.
24. Around 78% of US citizens altered their diets after consulting with a healthcare professional.
(Food Insights)
These stats indicate that most people are likely to change their diet after a health professional points out the long- or short-term consequences of their unhealthy eating habits.
This fact also helps us conclude that the vast majority of people won’t take action without help and may even be uninterested in health and wellness altogether.
25. A little over half of American consumers surveyed think their health is very good or excellent.
(Food Insights)
According to Food Insight’s 2018 report, 56% of respondents believe they’re in good health. These health and wellness facts indicate that the industry is far from reaching its full potential. However, those who think their health isn’t up to par will likely invest in improving it.
26. When looking at BMI scores in the US, only 37% of citizens have a normal or low score.
(Food Insights)
In comparison, 32% of Americans are overweight, and 28% of them are obese. These statistics have been troubling for years now, suggesting that the food industry in the US should be changed.
Professionals believe that the first step should be decreasing the massive differences in price between healthy and unhealthy food items.
27. Approximately 80% of people feel that the available info regarding healthy eating habits is unclear or contradictory.
(Food Insights)
According to Food Insight’s nutrition and wellness facts, 59% of this group also reported that these conflicting facts make them doubt the choices they make. Lastly, a significant number of consumers expressed that the conflicting info induces higher levels of stress during shopping.
These facts clearly show that certain steps must be taken to make the available info about nutrition and healthy eating more concise and simple.
Conclusion
These wellness statistics up to 2022 should help you get a better understanding of the industry, its trends, best performing segments, and future predictions. As an industry that’s worth trillions, wellness isn’t only about making money—it’s also about giving people the opportunity to prevent illness and disease all across the globe. Apart from that, it can also serve as an anchor in making healthier food choices while trying to live a more fulfilling life.
FAQ
What is the wellness industry?
The wellness industry is formed around the principle that the body should be given what it needs to support health and improve quality of life. It focuses on preventing sickness and the idea that people should constantly be interested in their health—not just when they feel unwell.
Today, the industry is worth billions and is constantly growing.
(BetterHelpWorx)
What is the fastest-growing health and wellness company?
According to Growjo’s latest data, New York-based quip is the fastest-growing health/wellness company. The company boasts an annual revenue of $11.1 million per year and an estimated revenue per employee of $70,380.
(Growjo)
What percentage of employees participate in wellness programs?
According to an older survey from Rand, this figure mostly depends on employer incentives. For companies with fewer incentives, the median employee participation was 20%, while for those with a better health plan, the same median rate was 40%. Those that utilized penalty-like incentives, like increasing insurance contributions for those who smoke, had an even better rate (73%).
(Rand)
What is the wellness industry worth?
Unfortunately, there’s no data available on the industry’s current worth. However, data suggests that the industry’s worth was $4.5 trillion in 2018 (in 2015, the market’s worth was $3.7 trillion). Even though there’s no fresh data regarding the industry’s total current worth, professionals estimate it to be around $5 trillion.
(Global Wellness Institute)
How big is the wellness market?
As stated above, fresh data is hard to find. Nevertheless, the last comprehensive study from 2018 suggests that the global market size is around $4.5 trillion, and professionals predict that it will grow steadily well into the 2020s, according to wellness statistics.
(Global Wellness Institute)
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