Global Wellness Economy Reaches $6.8 Trillion; Mainland China Ranks Second with $950 Billion

Recently, the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) released the Global Wellness Economy: Country Rankings report, disclosing wellness economy data for 145 countries and regions from 2019 to 2024.

According to the institute, the global wellness economy is currently valued at $6.8 trillion, with projections reaching $9.8 trillion by 2029.

Globally, wellness economy growth is primarily driven by four sectors: Wellness Real Estate (largest contributor), Wellness Tourism, Beauty & Personal Care, and Wellness Nutrition & Weight Management.

The top five wellness markets are: United States ($2.1 trillion), Mainland China ($950 billion), Germany ($281 billion), Japan ($262 billion), and United Kingdom ($261 billion). Together, these five countries account for 58% of the global total.

Senior researcher Katherine Johnston noted that the Middle East has seen significant growth in its wellness economy over the past five years, driven mainly by the booming markets of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These two are not only the largest wellness markets in the Middle East but also the fastest-growing countries globally since 2019. The rapid growth of wellness tourism has boosted visitor spending, while investments in wellness real estate, public health, and nutrition have also increased.

In terms of spending, wealthy countries such as Iceland, Switzerland, United States, Austria, and Australia have high per capita wellness expenditures; countries with a strong luxury tourism focus like Aruba, Seychelles, and Iceland also rank high. These countries all have annual per capita wellness spending exceeding $5,000, far above the global average of $831, which itself has surpassed the average annual consumer spending on medical services ($806).

｜Source: Original report

｜Image credit: Original report