Skip to main content

Data Sheet: The Global Ecommerce Landscape & Marketplace Opportunity

November 8, 2019

It’s no secret that ecommerce is booming. But by how much? And who are the key players? Pattern's global ecommerce experts sat down and mapped the global ecommerce opportunity, what marketplaces you should be aware of, and where ecommerce is headed as an industry.

Ecommerce Sales

Global ecommerce sales are expected to hit nearly $5 trillion by 2021, and reach up to $7 trillion by 2024. That’s almost double what they are now. Partnering with ecommerce experts like Pattern will pay off in the long run.

retail ecommerce sales worldwide

Ecommerce Penetration

It won’t be long before ecommerce is the name of the game. For every 1% increase in online penetration, an estimated 8,500 physical stores will need to close.

ecommerce share of total global retail sales

More and more people are choosing to buy online—not just in the U.S. and Europe, but around the entire globe.

ecommerce penetration by region map

Internet Penetration

The number of people using the internet is growing each year. As more people are exposed to the internet, the market opportunity with ecommerce will also grow.

world penetration

Digital Advertising Revenue

More and more companies are spending money on advertising, and digital ad spend is driving the majority of ad growth.

annual digital advertising revenue

Ecommerce Marketplaces

If you think that Amazon is the end-all-be-all of ecommerce, you need to expand your mindset. The global ecommerce opportunities beyond Amazon are only growing.

company and GMV

Population by Region

Understanding market reach is important. Areas of the world like Asia and Africa offer huge untapped markets in the ecommerce space.

population by region

Marketplace by Share

The U.S. only has part of the global ecommerce market share, so ignoring other huge markets like Latin America and Asia will hurt long-term ecommerce strategies. A global ecommerce partner like Pattern is familiar with (and selling on) all major marketplaces.

marketplace by share

How does Pattern fit in?

about pattern

Sources

• statista 2019, https://bit.ly/2jmJ7PG

• eMarketer, 2019, https://bit.ly/2FRu2lB

• statista 2019, https://bit.ly/2eWZ8Zx  

• we are social, 2019, https://bit.ly/2GcsJhM  

• alibaba group 2018, https://bit.ly/2I8zQ9a  

• 277 B, marketplace pulse 2018, https://bit.ly/2VHOwD4  

• 250 B, marketplace pulse 2019, https://bit.ly/2MSBAtX  

• motley fool, 2018 https://bit.ly/2LDggEp  • 41 B, shopify 2018, https://bit.ly/2G4pN6t  

• 31 B, statista, https://bit.ly/2Fj8cqK

• motley fool, 2018 https://bit.ly/2LDggEp

• statista 2018, https://bit.ly/2WMBfh3

https://bit.ly/2IlxWEx  

https://bit.ly/2IlxWEx  

https://tcrn.ch/2JlPBt6

https://on.ft.com/2K4EkTj

https://bit.ly/2LAr3O6

https://bit.ly/2D6t9TZ  

https://bit.ly/2KX1EBN  

https://bit.ly/2UP3ExM

www.emarketer.com/content/digital-investments-pay-off-for-walmart-in-ecommerce-race

Here are some related topics to this blog post

AI

What is Pi, and how does Pi watch your brand.

Pattern Intelligence (Pi) is an autonomous AI ecommerce execution engine that detects and resolves marketplace issues in real time. Here's how it works.

August 12, 2026

Fulfillment

What is Fulfilled by TikTok, and does your brand need it?

Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) gives brands better badges, lower fees, and platform-backed delivery guarantees. Here's how it works and how to get in.

July 21, 2026

Professional editorial photograph, 16:9 landscape framing, natural window light. A brand manager and an ecommerce analyst sit

Marketplace Accelerator

How to price products for Amazon in 2026

Learn how to price products on Amazon in 2026: new FBA fees, reference pricing rules, return cost modeling, and the best price tracking tools.

July 21, 2026