Global retail sales declined by 3.0% in 2020, and retail e-commerce growth boomed to 27.6%, but it is predicted to decelerate significantly in 2021 to 14.3% as public health concerns subside and traffic picks up in brick-and-mortar, spurring a sales recovery.

Ten years ago, e-commerce’s share of total retail in the US and China were nearly identical (4.9% and 5.0%, respectively), and now China is on its way to becoming the first country where e-commerce sales will surpass brick-and-mortar retail in 2021.

Regardless of the pandemic push to online commerce out of necessity, e-commerce adoption will have a momentum all its own with a tipping point still in the future for most global markets. However, online penetration has also been an economic indicator for forecasted speed of pandemic recovery.

2021 Retail E-Commerce Sales Share according to eMarketer research:

1. China 52.1%
2. South Korea 28.9%
3. United Kingdom 28.3%
4. Denmark 19.1%
5. Norway 17.6%
6. United States 15%
7. Finland 14.3%
8. Sweden 13.2%
9. France 11.2%
10. Spain 10.9%

2022 Retail E-Commerce Sales Share according to e-Marketer research:

1. China 55.6%
2. South Korea 28.9%
3. United Kingdom 28.5%
4. Denmark 19.8%
5. Norway 17.7%
6. United States 16.3%
7. Finland 14.4%
8. Sweden 13.8%
9. France 11.7%
10. Spain 11.2%