E-commerce Business Statistics You Need to Know NOW

Updated on: 5th Jun 2025

Feeling a bit swamped by the surge of e-commerce and struggling to stay in step with its trends? It’s normal; it can be rather daunting, especially with statistics revealing that global e-commerce sales exceeded an incredible $5.7 trillion in 2022! This blog is designed to slice through this confusion and highlight key e-commerce business statistics, from online shopping behaviour to mobile commerce trends.

So then, are you ready for a comprehensive exploration into data that has the potential to reshape your digital strategy entirely?

General E-Commerce Business Statistics

The expected growth in online retail purchases will continue steadily, with projections showing a significant increase in the coming years.

Expected Growth in Online Retail Purchases

Online retail purchases are expected to see significant growth in the coming years.

Year	Projected E-Commerce Sales (in Trillions USD)
2022	5.7
2023	6.3
2024	Expected to maintain a growth rate of at least 8%
2026	8.1

This upward trend in online retail sales indicates a shift in consumer behaviour. More and more people are embracing the convenience of shopping online, and businesses should be prepared to adapt to this changing landscape. As a business owner or marketer, it’s crucial to understand these trends to formulate effective strategies.

Projected E-commerce Market Value

The projected e-commerce market value is expected to reach unprecedented levels in the coming few years. With impressive growth projections, the global e-commerce market is predicted to total $6.3 trillion in 2023. This robust marketplace is reinforced by key trends such as the increased adoption of online purchasing and the impact of technological advancements in making online shopping easier and more accessible.

Year	Projected E-Commerce Market Value
2023	$6.3 trillion
2025	$8.1 trillion (global retail sales)
2027	$27.15 trillion

This dramatic upward trend reflects a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour, with more shoppers embracing digital purchasing across all categories. The projected growth between 2025 and 2027 represents an unprecedented acceleration that businesses must prepare for now.

“The e-commerce landscape isn’t just evolving—it’s transforming at an exponential rate. Businesses that invest in robust digital foundations today will be the market leaders of tomorrow.” — Ciaran Connolly, Director at ProfileTree.

The e-commerce industry is dominated by a handful of key players with considerable market share. In the United States, for instance, certain retail e-commerce companies have managed to take the lion’s market share as of June. Here’s a snapshot in table format.

Company	Market Share (%)
Amazon	40.0
Walmart	7.1
eBay	4.7
Apple	3.7
The Home Depot	1.7

While these figures represent the US market, they illustrate the global consolidation. However, the remaining 37.9% of market share is distributed among thousands of smaller players, highlighting the substantial opportunity for businesses with strategic digital approaches.

Online Shopping Behaviour Statistics

Reasons for cart abandonment: Understanding why customers abandon their shopping carts can help businesses identify and address any pain points in the online shopping experience.
Frequency of online shopping: How often do consumers shop online? Are they making purchases regularly or only occasionally? Knowing this information can help businesses tailor their marketing strategies.
Mobile vs. desktop shopping: With the rise of smartphones, more and more people are using mobile devices to make purchases. Businesses must optimise their websites and apps for mobile users to stay competitive in the e-commerce landscape.

Reasons for Cart Abandonment

The cost of shipping is too high. People do not like this surprise.
Check out is too complicated or takes a long time.
Shoppers worry about the safety of their money.
They don’t trust the website or brand.
Shopping online may not be easy or fun.

Frequency of Online Shopping

Lots of people shop online now. 22% buy something online weekly, and another 27% join them every two weeks. That’s a lot of digital shopping! Since COVID-19 hit our world, these numbers have grown even more.

Nowadays, about 70% of all Americans shop on the internet. In just one year, in America alone, there were 268 million people buying things from websites. It seems clear that the trend is towards more frequent online purchases.

Mobile vs. Desktop Shopping

People shop more on mobiles than on desktops now. 85% of purchases start on one gadget but finish on another; more than half, 58%, end on a mobile. People who sell things see this. They make sure their sales work well on phones and tablets. This has helped the online sales market to grow big and fast. By 2023, almost half (43%) of all retail e-commerce sales will be made using phones or tablets.

Social media platforms have evolved from marketing channels to direct sales environments, creating new business opportunities to reach consumers.

Social Media Sales Projections

Social commerce spending is projected to reach $3.8 trillion globally by 2026. This shift toward social purchasing represents nearly one-quarter of all online transactions by 2025, with sales potentially exceeding $1.5 billion annually in major markets.

Demographics of Social Shoppers

In the United States, Millennials account for 24.7% of all social media shoppers, while 19.3% are aged 35 and above. Social media buyers now represent 42% of all online consumers, with 47% discovering new products through social platform interactions.

These statistics demonstrate the growing importance of integrating social platforms into comprehensive e-commerce strategies, particularly for businesses targeting younger demographics.

“Social commerce isn’t just another sales channel—it’s fundamentally changing how consumers discover and interact with brands. Businesses that create cohesive experiences across their website, social platforms, and content strategy see significantly higher customer lifetime value.” — Ciaran Connolly, Director at ProfileTree.

Mobile E-Commerce Statistics

Over 50% of online purchases are made on smartphones, highlighting the increasing importance of mobile commerce in the e-commerce industry.

Percentage of Online Purchases Made on Smartphones

Over 50% of all online purchases are made on smartphones, which means that more than half of the people who buy things online use their smartphones. Shopping online is a popular way to shop because it’s easy and convenient. At least 79% of smartphone users have purchased online using their mobile device in the last six months.

So, if you’re a business owner or marketer, you must ensure your website is mobile-friendly so people can easily buy from you on their smartphones. Mobile commerce sales are proliferating, with smartphones accounting for 87.2% of all mobile commerce sales. This shows that more and more people are shopping on their phones instead of using other devices like desktop computers or tablets.

Projected Mobile Commerce Sales

By the end of 2023, it is estimated that mobile commerce sales will make up around 43.4% of all retail e-commerce sales in the United States. Almost half of online purchases will be made through smartphones or other mobile devices. In 2022, the mobile e-commerce market accounted for about 42% of total e-commerce sales. This number is expected to continue growing in the coming years. By 2025, experts predict that m-commerce sales will represent more than 10% of all US retail sales. With these projections in mind, it’s clear that businesses need to prioritise their mobile strategies to tap into this significant revenue stream.

Tablet M-commerce Sales Projection

Tablet m-commerce sales are expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Statista forecasts show that tablet m-commerce sales will make up 43.4% of total retail e-commerce sales by the end of 2023, up from 41.8% in 2022. This indicates a rising trend in using tablets for online shopping. The pandemic’s impact has also contributed to the high projection of retail m-commerce sales. In fact, by 2025, m-commerce sales are predicted to account for a significant portion of overall retail sales. Tablets are essential in mobile e-commerce, and businesses should note this growing market opportunity.

How ProfileTree Can Transform Your E-commerce Performance

The e-commerce statistics presented throughout this article reveal both business opportunities and challenges. ProfileTree offers comprehensive digital services specifically designed to help you capitalise on these trends:

Professional Website Design & Development: Building Your Digital Revenue Engine

Your e-commerce website serves as your 24/7 sales channel and brand ambassador. The statistics speak volumes about its importance:

89% of consumers will judge business credibility based on website design by 2025
Sites that load within 1.5 seconds have average conversion rates of 22%, while those taking 4+ seconds drop to below 2.5%
E-commerce websites with professional user experience design generate 550% higher conversion rates than poorly designed alternatives.

“We’ve seen firsthand how a strategically designed e-commerce website can transform business results. The difference between a basic online store and one built for conversion can mean revenue growth of 200-300% within the first year.” — Ciaran Connolly, Director at ProfileTree

ProfileTree specialises in creating conversion-focused e-commerce websites using WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, and other leading platforms. Our designs prioritise user experience, mobile optimisation, and technical performance—all critical factors highlighted in the mobile commerce statistics above.

SEO & Content Marketing: Driving Qualified Traffic That Converts

With competition intensifying across all e-commerce categories, strategic SEO has become essential:

45% of all e-commerce traffic comes from search engines
43% of product searches start on Google (compared to 32% on Amazon)
E-commerce sites ranking on page one for product-related keywords see 83% higher conversion rates than those on page two

ProfileTree’s integrated SEO and content marketing services help e-commerce businesses achieve sustainable organic traffic growth. Our approach includes:

Comprehensive keyword research aligned with purchase intent
Technical SEO optimisation to ensure mobile performance and indexing efficiency
Content strategy, including product descriptions, buying guides, and video content
Local SEO for businesses targeting regional customers in Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK

Video Production & Animation: The Content Format Driving E-commerce Engagement

Video content has become a decisive factor in e-commerce success:

Product videos increase purchase likelihood by 93%
81% of customers prefer learning about products through video
E-commerce listings with video content achieve 49% higher conversion rates

ProfileTree’s in-house video production and animation team creates compelling product demonstrations, explainer videos, and brand stories that build trust and drive sales for e-commerce businesses across all sectors.

AI Implementation: Making Advanced Technology Accessible

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising e-commerce operations:

86% of e-commerce businesses using AI report increased customer satisfaction
AI-powered product recommendations drive 47% of Amazon‘s revenue
Chatbots with AI capabilities resolve 77% of customer inquiries without human intervention
E-commerce sites using AI-driven personalisation see an average 38% increase in revenue

ProfileTree helps businesses implement practical AI solutions focused on immediate ROI, from recommendation engines to automated customer service tools. Our approach makes advanced technology accessible without enterprise-level budgets, giving SMEs the same advantages previously limited to large retailers.

Digital Training & Workshops: Empowering Your Team

The rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape requires continuous upskilling:

Companies that provide digital skills training report 65% higher employee retention
74% of business leaders cite skills gaps as their most significant barrier to e-commerce growth
Teams with up-to-date digital skills achieve 42% better business outcomes

ProfileTree delivers customised training programmes for businesses across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK, helping teams develop practical skills in e-commerce management, digital marketing, social commerce, and AI implementation.

Conclusion: Turning E-commerce Statistics into Business Growth

The e-commerce statistics presented in this guide reveal both the scale of opportunity and the complexity of succeeding in today’s digital marketplace. For businesses in the UK, Ireland, and beyond, developing a strategic approach to e-commerce is no longer optional—it’s essential for sustainable growth.

Success requires more than just establishing an online store; it demands a comprehensive digital strategy encompassing professional website design, search engine optimisation, content marketing, video production, and increasingly, AI implementation.

As Northern Ireland’s leading digital agency, ProfileTree specialises in helping businesses navigate these challenges. We provide integrated services that transform e-commerce statistics from interesting data points into practical growth strategies. Our combination of technical expertise and creative capabilities enables businesses of all sizes to compete effectively in the increasingly competitive e-commerce landscape.

Ready to Transform Your E-commerce Performance?

Don’t let your business fall behind the digital curve. The statistics are clear: companies with strategic digital approaches are capturing market share and growing rapidly, while those with outdated websites and marketing strategies struggle to compete.

Take the Next Step Today

✓ Book a Free Digital Strategy Session – Our experts will review your current e-commerce presence and identify specific opportunities for growth

✓ Request an E-commerce Website Audit – Discover exactly how your site performs against industry benchmarks and competitors

✓ Join Our Next Digital Skills Workshop – Equip your team with practical knowledge to maximise your e-commerce success

The digital landscape waits for no one. Every day without an optimised e-commerce strategy, potential revenue is lost to competitors who cannot leverage these trends effectively.

Contact ProfileTree today at 028 9568 0364 or email us at hello@profiletree.com to discuss how our tailored digital solutions can help you achieve sustainable growth in the e-commerce marketplace.

Transform data into strategy. Strategy into growth. Let’s build your digital success story together.

FAQs

How fast is the e-commerce industry growing?

The e-commerce industry continues to experience rapid growth, with global sales projected to reach $8.1 trillion in 2025 and expand to over $27 trillion by 2027, representing an unprecedented acceleration in digital retail adoption.

What percentage of retail sales occur through e-commerce?

Approximately 24.5% of global retail sales occur through e-commerce channels, with significant regional variations. The UK has one of the highest penetration rates at 36.8%, while emerging markets typically show lower but faster-growing percentages.

Which countries have the highest e-commerce adoption rates?

China and the United States lead in e-commerce adoption, with the UK, South Korea, and Denmark completing the top five markets by penetration rate. These regions show online shopping participation rates exceeding 65% of their populations.

How significant is mobile commerce in overall e-commerce sales?

Mobile commerce now accounts for over 67% of all e-commerce transactions globally and is projected to reach 59.7% of retail e-commerce sales in the United States by 2025. This channel continues to grow in importance, particularly in markets with high smartphone penetration.

How can small businesses compete effectively in e-commerce?

Small businesses can compete effectively by focusing on niche markets, providing superior customer experiences, leveraging professional website design, implementing strategic SEO, and adopting accessible AI tools. Working with a specialised digital agency can help small businesses implement enterprise-level strategies within reasonable budgets.