Global wellness economy reaches $7.5 trillion as growth accelerates towards 2030

The global wellness economy reached a record $7.5 trillion in 2025, marking an 8.9% increase from the previous year. According to new research from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the market has expanded 49% since 2019. It could approach $11 trillion by 2030, as demand accelerates across multiple sectors.

The findings appear in the Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2026, released by GWI. The report provides updated market data, industry insights and future projections across all 11 wellness sectors. It forecasts annual growth of 7.7% through 2030, when the global market could reach $10.9 trillion. Meanwhile, the institute expects the economy to reach $8.2 trillion by the end of 2026.

Worldwide, consumers now spend 2.2 times more on wellness than in 2013. That was the year GWI first began measuring the market. Moreover, wellness continues to account for a growing share of global economic activity.

Wellness real estate and mental wellness lead market growth

Ten of the 11 wellness sectors recorded strong growth since 2019 and year-on-year. Workplace wellness was the only exception. Among the strongest performers, wellness real estate has expanded to 3.5 times its 2019 market size. Mental wellness has nearly doubled over the same period.

Between 2024 and 2025, wellness real estate recorded the strongest annual growth at 23.2%. Spas followed with 12.8%, while wellness tourism increased 11.4%. Mental wellness completed the leading four with growth of 11%.

Regional markets also recorded significant gains. Europe led year-on-year growth at 12.3%, followed by the Middle East and North Africa at 11.3%. Asia recorded an increase of 9.7%.

The scale of the global wellness economy highlights its growing economic importance. It is now almost four times larger than the global pharmaceutical industry, valued at $1.94 trillion. It also represents 61% of worldwide health expenditure, which combines consumer and government spending totalling $12.3 trillion.

Wellness accounted for 4.3% of global GDP in 2013. By 2025, that share had increased to 6.36%. GWI estimates it will reach 7.21% by 2030.

Commenting on the market’s outlook, Katherine Johnston, GWI senior research fellow, said: “While it may seem like we’ve reached ‘peak wellness,’ the reality is that the wellness economy will continue to explode over the next five years, because this growth is not simply a consumer trend,” said Katherine Johnston, GWI senior research fellow. “Powerful structural forces across every region of the world will accelerate demand in the coming years: rapidly aging populations, over-burdened healthcare systems and rising rates of chronic disease, stress and mental health challenges. These pressures make prevention, healthspan and healthy living environments more critical than ever.”

The 160-page report represents GWI’s most detailed analysis to date. It includes historical growth trends and forecasts for all 11 wellness markets. Furthermore, it provides subsector breakdowns, regional data and rankings of the top 20 national markets for most sectors.

The 2026 edition also substantially expands its second chapter. This section examines the specific trends and market shifts shaping each wellness sector, both now and in the coming years.

Tourism and mental wellness sectors gain momentum

Wellness real estate has undergone a major transformation since 2019. The pandemic changed how people view the relationship between their surroundings and health. Consequently, the sector has moved beyond its niche position and expanded across every real estate class.

It has also climbed from seventh to fifth place among the largest wellness markets in just three years. GWI identifies it as the leading growth sector, with an annual growth rate of 23.5% since 2019 in its sector analysis.

Mental wellness ranks as another major growth driver. The report identifies annual growth of approximately 12% since 2019. Within this market, cannabis recorded annual growth of 23%. Meditation and mindfulness increased 14%, while sleep grew 13%.

The United States dominates the mental wellness market, with a value of $139 billion. China ranks second, at $18 billion.

Meanwhile, four sectors demonstrate more established and steady growth patterns. These include personal care and beauty; physical activity; healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss; and traditional and complementary medicine. Each recorded annual growth of approximately 5% between 2019 and 2025.

Tourism-related wellness sectors have also regained momentum following the pandemic. Wellness tourism, spas and thermal and mineral springs took longer to recover. However, they became three of the five fastest-growing wellness markets between 2024 and 2025.

Spas recorded 12.8% growth, while wellness tourism expanded by 11.4%. Thermal and mineral springs increased by 10.4%. Furthermore, every world region reached new records for wellness tourism revenues and trips in 2025.

The United States accounts for 36% of global wellness tourism expenditure. However, other regions recorded stronger percentage gains over the past year. The Middle East and North Africa led with 21.5% growth, followed by Sub-Saharan Africa at 18.1%. Asia recorded an increase of 15.6%.

Workplace wellness remains the only stagnant sector, with annual growth of 1.3%. GWI links this performance to changing employer approaches to employee wellbeing. Companies increasingly adopt broader approaches rather than relying on standalone wellness programmes. In addition, remote and gig work leave more employees without access to workplace benefits.

Also read → US wellness economy reaches $2.1 trillion

Regional differences also emerge in consumer spending. North America leads per capita wellness expenditure at $6,419, followed by Europe at $2,149. Latin America and the Caribbean record $635, while Asia-Pacific reaches $527. The Middle East and North Africa register $440 per person.

The report also examines developments within individual subsectors. Mindful movement, supported by growing interest in Pilates, has become the fastest-growing segment within physical activity. The market is now worth $56 billion.

Personalised medicine has reached $364 billion. The subsector grew 7.7% over the past year, supported by demand for preventative diagnostics and longevity programmes.

Seven wellness sectors could exceed $1 trillion by 2030

GWI expects the global wellness economy to grow at an annual rate of 7.7% through 2030. This would make its expansion 50% faster than global GDP growth.

Wellness real estate is forecast to remain the fastest-growing sector, with annual growth of 15.3%. Its market size could more than double by 2030. It is also expected to move from fifth to second place among wellness sectors, behind only personal care and beauty.

Mental wellness ranks second in the long-term growth outlook, with projected annual expansion of 12.6%. Thermal and mineral springs follow among the strongest performers, with forecast growth of 9.8%. Traditional and complementary medicine is expected to expand by 9.1% annually.

The tourism-based sectors also have positive projections. GWI forecasts annual growth of 8% for spas and 7.1% for wellness tourism. Meanwhile, thermal and mineral springs continue to benefit from growing interest in social bathing. Hundreds of new destinations are also in the pipeline.

Traditional and complementary medicine is gaining momentum through several approaches. These include Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and herbal medicines. The category also covers emerging longevity and biohacking treatments, including infrared light therapy and cryotherapy.

Personalised medicine is forecast to grow by 9.3% annually. Consumers continue to seek longevity and healthspan solutions. However, GWI identifies different approaches to the global longevity movement. In the United States and other Western countries, companies often market longevity as an individual consumer opportunity. In parts of Asia and the Middle East, governments and other stakeholders approach healthy longevity as a broader societal and economic challenge.

Currently, three wellness sectors have market values exceeding $1 trillion. By 2030, GWI expects that number to rise to seven.

These sectors will include personal care and beauty; wellness real estate; physical activity; healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss; wellness tourism; public health, prevention and personalised medicine; and traditional and complementary medicine.

The projections point to continued expansion across the global wellness economy. They also highlight the growing contribution of wellness to economic activity, tourism, real estate and healthcare-related markets through the end of the decade.

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