Nina Jobst
Research expert covering South Korea
Footwear market in the United States - statistics & facts
The global footwear market is a multi-billion U.S. dollar industry, comprised of sneakers, luxury footwear, athletic footwear, and sporting shoes, as well as other related goods. Footwear products are commonly made of leather, textile, and a range of synthetic materials. The United States has the largest footwear market in the world, generating over 97.4 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in 2024.
The revenue of the athletic footwear industry in the United States amounted to about 10.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2024 and is set to increase to over 11.6 billion dollars by 2030. Shoes, along with apparel, are increasingly seen as status symbols for consumers. Footwear brands and retailers play a huge role in catering to this market and these attitudes through their respective offerings and ranges as well as their advertising campaigns. For years now, Nike has held the largest share of the U.S. footwear market by far, and in 2023, the company accounted for a turnover of about 51.2 billion U.S. dollars.
Despite the recent popularity of athletic apparel, the recently proposed tariffs on most imports to the United States are set to negatively affect footwear and apparel sales. In turn, companies will likely have to adjust their strategies in increments and tread carefully for the time being.
Market overview
Previous generations may have survived with one or two pairs of functional footwear. Today however, the majority of people have a collection of footwear to meet various criteria and needs. Formal, casual, athletic: footwear come in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and sizes. As of 2023, the United States imported about two billion pairs of shoes. In 2024, the vast majority of shoes being imported to the U.S. came from countries in Asia. Footwear worth over 8.7 billion dollars arrived from Vietnam alone in that year.The revenue of the athletic footwear industry in the United States amounted to about 10.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2024 and is set to increase to over 11.6 billion dollars by 2030. Shoes, along with apparel, are increasingly seen as status symbols for consumers. Footwear brands and retailers play a huge role in catering to this market and these attitudes through their respective offerings and ranges as well as their advertising campaigns. For years now, Nike has held the largest share of the U.S. footwear market by far, and in 2023, the company accounted for a turnover of about 51.2 billion U.S. dollars.
Consumer behavior
Consumers spend significant amounts of their discretionary income on apparel and footwear. In recent years, athletic clothing and footwear has become very trendy and this segment has experienced strong growth in the United States. In 2024 alone, wholesale sales of athletic footwear generated approximately 22 billion U.S. dollars. American women tend to spend more on footwear than men. In 2023, the average household expenditure on women's footwear in the U.S. amounted to just over 208 U.S. dollars.Despite the recent popularity of athletic apparel, the recently proposed tariffs on most imports to the United States are set to negatively affect footwear and apparel sales. In turn, companies will likely have to adjust their strategies in increments and tread carefully for the time being.
