Number of Consumers
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Global Consumers
Middle Class
Annual Growth
Understanding Number of Consumers
This counter tracks the global consumer class - people with discretionary income for purchases beyond basic necessities. The consumer class has exploded from 1.5 billion in 1990 to over 5.6 billion today, driving unprecedented resource consumption and environmental impact.
Global consumer spending reached $60.9 trillion in 2024 and is projected to surge to $77.1 trillion by 2029 - a 26.61% increase. The Asia-Pacific middle class alone will explode from 1.38 billion people in 2015 to 3.49 billion by 2030, fundamentally reshaping global consumption patterns.
This consumption surge directly correlates with environmental degradation. High-income country consumers use 27 tonnes of materials per capita annually - 13 times more than low-income countries at just 2 tonnes per capita, highlighting the massive inequality in resource use.
Global Consumer Class Overview
- The global middle class, responsible for 68% of global consumer spending ($44 trillion in 2020), will reach $62 trillion in spending by 2030. This represents the largest expansion of consumer purchasing power in human history, with profound implications for planetary resources.
- China's middle class has reached 550 million people, with 75% of urban consumers earning $9,000-$34,000 annually. India is adding 140 million new middle-class consumers by 2030, while Africa's consumer class is projected to reach 1.1 billion by 2060.
- Gen Z's economic impact alone will add $8.9 trillion to the global economy by 2035, with their spending growing twice as fast as previous generations. This digitally-native generation shows different consumption patterns but similar or higher material intensity.
- The global material footprint has increased from 43 billion tonnes in 1990 to 104 billion tonnes today, directly tracking consumer class growth. Without systemic change, material consumption could reach 190 billion tonnes by 2060 as billions more enter the consumer class.
Consumer Class Terminology
- Consumer Class: Individuals with purchasing power beyond basic necessities
- Middle Class: Households with daily expenditures between $11-110 PPP
- Material Footprint: Total raw materials extracted for an individual's consumption
- Discretionary Income: Money available after essential expenses
Regional Consumer Distribution (2025)
- Asia-Pacific: 3.2 billion (57%)
- Europe: 740 million (13%)
- North America: 580 million (10%)
- Latin America: 470 million (8%)
- Africa: 430 million (8%)
- Middle East: 180 million (3%)
Consumer Spending by Category
- Housing and utilities: 25%
- Food and beverages: 15%
- Transportation: 13%
- Healthcare: 10%
- Entertainment/recreation: 9%
- Clothing and footwear: 5%
Environmental Impact per Consumer
- Carbon footprint: 6.5 tonnes CO2/year average
- Material use: 13.2 tonnes/year global average
- Water footprint: 3,800 liters/day
- Waste generation: 0.74 kg/day
- Ecological footprint: 2.7 global hectares
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Consumer class estimates are based on household expenditure surveys, purchasing power parity calculations, and economic indicators from national statistics offices, compiled by organizations including the World Bank, OECD, and McKinsey Global Institute.
The counter reflects the current estimate of 5.6 billion people with consumer purchasing power, growing at approximately 85 million annually based on economic development trends and demographic shifts in emerging markets.