Important Amazon Statistics and Facts | Amazon Seller Statistics, Amazon Sales Statistics, and Historical Timeline

Amazon statistics are one of the most critical components Amazon sellers should take into account when running their Amazon business. Statistical data has never been more crucial in the competitive Amazon marketplace.   

In today’s information age, statistics are an essential component of the eCommerce landscape. Whether you are still starting your Amazon business or planning to expand your Amazon store, Amazon statistics can help steer your business towards success.  

Statistical data enables you to evaluate your Amazon store’s past performance, forecast future business practices, and lead your Amazon business effectively amidst the ever-changing demands of consumers. 

To help you gain more insight into the Amazon marketplace and improve your business campaign, we have outlined some of the recent Amazon statistics and industry facts below: 

Key Amazon Statistics for 2022 – Reasons to Sell on Amazon

Amazon Statistics – The Global Market Leader 

If you are still in doubt about the business potential of Amazon, perhaps their global ranking in terms of website traffic might convince you to start or develop your current Amazon FBA or FBM business.  

According to Statista, Amazon is the leading marketplace by the number of monthly visits. Amazon’s monthly traffic average in 2020 was around 3.68 billion. And as of June 2021, its combined desktop and mobile visits are more than 2.7 billion.                

Since it is the world’s most visited eCommerce site, it is not surprising that Amazon raked in a revenue of $386.1 billion in 2020 as per the February 2021 Amazon Press Release. (Amazon)  

Consequently, Amazon is projected to reach around $557 billion in revenue by the end of 2022 as per S&P Global Market Intelligence. Hence, making it the world’s largest eCommerce site in terms of revenue.

Amazon Statistics – Customer Demographics 

• A 2020 survey revealed that 81% of Amazon Prime members are adults aged from 18 to 34 years old. This gives sellers additional ideas in terms of specifying their target market. (Statista)
• Some of the top factors influencing the increase of younger Amazon users are their tech-savviness and demand for a convenient shopping experience, especially amidst the pandemic and competitive pricing.   
• Amazon leads by a wide margin over Walmart, Target, eBay, Etsy, and Kohl’s. By gender, 60% females and 56% of males favor Amazon over other eCommerce sites. (Statista)
• And since the holiday peak season is fast approaching, Amazon indicated that 64% of U.S. consumers and 65% of U.K. consumers plan to do 40% of their holiday shopping online. And this data points out how holiday shopping has become more of a multi-channel affair. (Amazon)
• In 2021, it is estimated that around 60% of Amazon’s target market is from the United States. It is evenly divided in gender and is divided mainly between the middle and upper-class consumers. (Statista)

Amazon Seller Statistics – How Many Amazon Sellers Are There?

• Since Amazon operates globally, it is no surprise that the total number of Amazon sellers worldwide reached 6.4 million. (Marketplace Pulse)
• Currently, there are more than 1.5 million active sellers on Amazon. And for this year, over 500,000 new sellers were added. (Marketplace Pulse)
• While half of the world’s Amazon sellers are based in the United States, a significant increase of sellers has been reported from Germany, Turkey, and Canada. (Jungle Scout) 
• Amazon seller statistics indicate that the median age for third-party merchants is 39 years old, and 2/3 of these sellers are male. (Jungle Scout) 
• The majority of online sellers consider eCommerce as their main source of income. While they are immersed in multiple online retail businesses, 22% of online sellers earn from their Amazon business alone. (Jungle Scout) 
• In terms of fulfillment, Amazon seller statistics show that 57% of Amazon sellers stick to Amazon FBA, while 9% rely on Amazon FBM. The remaining 34% use both fulfillment methods. (Jungle Scout) 
• Almost 70% of Amazon sellers do Amazon Private Label, in which they create their own brand by upgrading the presentation of an existing product. (Jungle Scout)          

Amazon Statistics – Shopping Trends 

Apart from knowing how many Amazon sellers there are in the marketplace, it also helps to recognize consumer trends. It would be beneficial, especially since consumer demand changed because of the pandemic. 

Here are some notable Amazon statistics about  Amazon shopper purchases in 2020 and 2021. (Amazon)

• In Q2 of 2020, arts and crafts items were highly saleable, along with puzzles which doubled in sales. Some of the top Amazon products under such categories include Crayola Colored Pencils, Ravensburger Cozy Retreat, Melissa & Doug Solar System, and more.
• Electronic device sales soared high amidst the pandemic. Saleable devices include laptops, headphones, and monitors. In particular, gaming monitors have seen a 150% increase in sales. And top products include Acer Aspire 5 Slim, MacBook Air (13-inch), and Sceptre 30” Curved Gaming Monitor. 
• The COVID-19 pandemic pushed businesses to implement work from home setup, which led to the increased sales of home office desks, chairs, and shelves. In 2020,  chair sales were up more than 135%, while home office desk sales doubled.
• With the majority of consumers becoming more health-conscious, exercise and fitness product sales gained almost 75%. Top selling items under this category include weights, exercise bikes, and treadmills. 
• More time spent at home means more time to check and manicure the lawn, which resulted in a 50% increase in gardening product sales. Sales of bounce houses and outdoor pools likewise obtained a 70% increase, as per Amazon product sales statistics. 

Based on Amazon statistics, top products sold under the above-mentioned categories include Flexzilla Garden Lead-In,  AeroGarden Indoor Hydroponic Garden, Amazon Exclusive Bunch O Balloons.

• Sales also increased for events and party supplies in 2021. Party decorations and tableware were among the top-selling items. Grilling products also saw a 70% increase in sales in the Q1 of 2021. 
• In March and April of 2021, Amazon product sales statistics revealed that athleisure category sales increased above 50% in just over a year. Top subcategories include athletic tops with a more than 45% increase and leggings with more than 90%. 
• As per Amazon product sales statistics, consumer electronic sales went up by  86%. Some of the top choices for Amazon shoppers are iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro cases. 
• As quarantine restrictions and lockdown protocols are toning down, more and more Amazon shoppers are buying travel essentials. In the Q1 of 2021 alone, luggage sales went up to 460%. Popular luggage purchases include Samsonite Luggage and Rockland Luggage Set.

Amazon Statistics – Why U.S. Consumers Shop on Amazon?

Amazon statistics show that the majority of U.S. online shoppers prefer Amazon as their online shopping destination. Here are some factors influencing online shoppers to choose Amazon.com over other online retail stores.  (Statista)

66% – shared that they shop on Amazon because they can find almost anything on the platform.

56% – shared that Amazon is their choice because they are already an Amazon Prime member and enjoy free shipping on most items.

51% – shared that they can quickly find items they have been looking for on the website. 

47% – shared that Amazon listings are priced competitively. 

34% – shared that they are confident that the products they need are always available on Amazon.

33% – shared they shop on Amazon because they are confident that their orders will be delivered in a timely manner. 

25% – shared that they rely on Amazon for online shopping because they are familiar with the user experience on the website. 

24% – shared they like Amazon because they can quickly reorder products.

21% – shared that they order products from Amazon because of the good customer service. 

With the reasons expressed by consumers on why they favor Amazon over other online retail stores, you can make some adjustments to your Amazon business based on the reasons mentioned above.    

A proactive approach to dealing with consumer needs and wants can help improve your store engagement. 

Amazon Sales Statistics – Historical View  

The year Amazon was founded generated no revenue. However, the succeeding years were far different. The Amazon statistics below show how Amazon progressed as a company in terms of net sales growth. (YCharts)

Amazon Sales Statistics from 1995 to 2000

• In 1995, Amazon generated net sales of 511,000 USD. (Revenues and Profits)
• In 1996, Amazon generated net sales of 15.7M USD. 
• In 1997, Amazon generated net sales of 147.80M USD. 
• In 1998, Amazon generated net sales of 609.80M USD. 
• In 1999, Amazon generated net sales of 1.640B USD.
• In 2000, Amazon generated net sales of 2.762B USD. 

Amazon Sales Statistics from 2001 to 2010

• In 2001, Amazon generated net sales of 3.122B USD. 
• In 2002, Amazon generated net sales of 3.933B USD. 
• In 2003, Amazon generated net sales of 5.264B USD. 
• In 2004, Amazon generated net sales of 6.921B USD.
• In 2005, Amazon generated net sales of 8.49B USD.
• In 2006, Amazon generated net sales of 10.71B USD.
• In 2007, Amazon generated net sales of  14.84B USD.
• In 2008, Amazon generated net sales of 19.17B USD.
• In 2009, Amazon generated net sales of 24.51B USD.
• In 2010, Amazon generated net sales of 34.20B USD.

Amazon Sales Statistics from 2011 to 2020

• In 2011, Amazon generated net sales of 48.08B USD.
• In 2012, Amazon generated net sales of 61.09B USD.
• In 2013, Amazon generated net sales of 74.45B USD.
• In 2014, Amazon generated net sales of 88.99B USD.
• In 2015, Amazon generated net sales of 107.01B USD.
• In 2016, Amazon generated net sales of 135.99B USD.
• In 2017, Amazon generated net sales of 177.87B USD.
• In 2018, Amazon generated net sales of 232.89B USD.
• In 2019, Amazon generated net sales of 280.52B USD.
• In 2020, Amazon generated net sales of 386.1B USD. (Amazon)

Amazon Sales Statistics from Q1 to Q3 of 2021 

• In Q1 of 2021, Amazon generated net sales of 108.5B USD. 44% higher compared with the $75.5B in the first quarter of 2020. (Amazon)
• In Q2 of 2021, Amazon generated net sales of 113.1B USD. 27% higher compared with $88.9B in the second quarter of 2020. (Amazon)
• In Q3 of 2021, Amazon generated net sales of 110.8B USD. 15% higher compared to the $96.1B in the third quarter of 2020. (Amazon)

The Amazon sales statistics clearly show that Amazon is growing year by year. Despite the pandemic, Amazon still managed to increase its net sales by 38% in 2020 when lockdowns and quarantine restrictions were at their peak. 

As for 2021, the reported earnings of Q1, Q2, and Q3 prefigure another successful year for Amazon and its sellers. 

Amazon Historical Timeline – Company Evolution and Milestones

Today, Amazon is seen as a behemoth in the eCommerce and tech industry. However, similar to Apple and Google, it also had its humble beginnings in a garage. To give you an insight into how Amazon progressed over the past years, here are some key events in Amazon’s evolution. 

Amazon Key Developments from 1994 to 1999

• July 1994 – A former hedge fund executive, Jeff Bezos, founded Amazon. Using his own finances, Bezos and his wife opened an online bookstore in Seattle, WA. 
• July 1995 – Amazon officially became an online bookselling company. Amazon.com went live in 1995 and dubbed itself as the “Earth’s biggest bookstore.” (History)
• Dec 1996 –  Amazon reached 180,000 customer accounts, following a full-year operation. In the same year, Amazon reincorporated in Delaware, where he likewise opened Amazon’s second distribution center. (Britannica, CNN)
• May 1997 – Amazon goes public with an initial offer of $18 per share. Following three subsequent stock splits, Amazon’s closing price on its first trading day was $1.96. (CNN)
• August 1998 – Amazon announced its new company direction, from selling books Amazon will sell a variety of goods. (NYTimes)
• January 1999 – Amazon expanded its product categories. Apart from books, Amazon started selling toys, music CDs, electronics, and tools. (History)
• December 1999 – Time Magazine named Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as Person of the Year. He was also dubbed by Time Magazine as “the king of cybercommerce.”

Amazon Key Developments from 2000 to 2010

• November 2000, 2001 – Amazon launched its marketplace. The Amazon Marketplace allowed third-party users to sell used, rare, and collectible items on their platform. 
• January 2002 – Amazon introduced “Free Super Saver Shipping.” This allows a free shipping service for orders above $99. (Medium) 
• October 2003 – Amazon launched A9.com, the company that will later be responsible for developing the A9 search engine. (Macworld)
• August 2004 – Amazon acquired the Chinese shopping website, Joyo.com. This will, later on, become Amazon China. (Amazon)
• February 2005 – Amazon introduced Prime subscription or Amazon Prime. Its initial price offer in 2005 was $79, including unlimited 2-day delivery. (Vox)
• May 2006 – Amazon.com Grocery was introduced. Although in a beta phase, Amazon added numerous selections for shoppers. (Amazon)
• November 2007 – Amazon Kindle was launched. The first eReader was priced at $399 and was initially sold only in the United States. (Pocket-lint)
• January 2009 – Amazon added new products to their growing company when they acquired Audible, an audiobook company, for s $300 million. (CNET)
• November 2010 – Amazon started Amazon Studios to create and produce movies and TV series for a global audience. It rivals the likes of Netflix and Hulu. (Amazon)

Amazon Key Developments from 2011 to 2020

• March 2011 – Amazon Appstore for Android devices was launched. (TechCrunch)
• September 2011 – Kindle Fire was introduced by Amazon to rival the iPad. The tablet computer was cheaper than Apple’s $499 product, for it only sells at $199. (Forbes)
• March 2012 – For $775 million, Amazon acquired Kiva Systems. It is a robotics company that manufactures mobile robotic fulfillment systems that Amazon uses for their warehouses. (TechCrunch)
• November 2013 – Amazon started delivering packages on Sundays. (CNN)
• July 2014 – Amazon introduced Fire Phone, which was exclusive on AT&T for $199.99. (The Verge)
• November 2015 – Amazon Books opened in Seattle. This is the first-ever Amazon physical retail store. Currently, Amazon has 24 physical bookstores scattered in the United States. (The Verge) 
• December 2016 – This was a historical moment for Amazon as its Amazon Prime Air (drone delivery system) made its first delivery in the U.K. (Fortune)
• September 2017 – As part of another acquisition deal, Amazon bought Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. (Bloomberg)
• January 2018 – Amazon opened its first-ever cashier-less grocery store. The Amazon Go store lets shoppers skip the checkout line through its sophisticated technology. (US Today)
• July 2019 – This year marks Amazon’s 25 years in business. (CNN)
• The full Year of 2020 – Amazon’s sales and stock price drastically increased amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (Amazon, TradingView)

Amazon Key Developments – Present Year

• February 2021 – Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos announced he’s stepping down as company CEO. (CNN)
• July 2021 – Andy Jassy officially replaced Jeff Bezos as president and CEO of Amazon. Bezos becomes executive chair of Amazon’s board. (The Verge)

More About Amazon – Interesting Facts 

• Currently, Amazon operates more than 175 fulfillment centers worldwide. However, before Amazon had grown into an eCommerce giant, it first started in a garage owned by Jeff Bezos at Northeast 28th Street in Bellevue. (Tech Times)
• Unlike other startup companies that received favorable financial backing from big-time investors, Amazon’s initial startup capital came from Jeff Bezos’ parents. Jackie and Mike Bezos provide almost $250,000 into their son’s fledgling online business. (LA Times)
• Amazon was initially named Cadabra, Inc. However, Bezos decided to change the company name to Amazon.com, Inc. after his lawyer told him that Cadabra sounded too similar to “Cadaver.” (Entrepreneur)
• While exploring other possibilities, Bezos registered multiple domain names like Awake.com, Browse.com, Bookmall.com. Relentless.com. In fact, the latter will redirect you to Amazon.com even today.  (Business Insider)
• Jeff Bezos chose Amazon.com because it represents the largest river (by discharge volume) in the world. In addition, Amazon starts with the letter A, which was relevant during that time because websites are listed alphabetically.  (Business Insider)
• In the past, many investors saw Amazon as another “dot-com fever dream” and would eventually be wiped out by Borders and Barnes & Noble (former leading bookseller). On the contrary, Amazon succeeded, and the latter filed for bankruptcy in July 2011. (CNN)
• The first-ever Amazon order was for the book “Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies.” It was ordered on April 3, 1995. (History)
• Not surprisingly, Jeff Bezos’ motto is “get big fast,” which can be observed in how Amazon grew from an online bookstore to an eCommerce and tech giant. (Maxim)

With momentum on the side of Amazon, it seems like the sky’s the limit for the company. With the continuous acquisitions and sales breakthroughs based on Amazon statistics and historical facts, Amazon sellers can expect an even brighter future.

In order to increase the success of your Amazon business, using Amazon seller tools like Amazon repricers, Amazon FBA Calculator, Product Sourcing Tools, and the likes are highly recommended.