30+ Social Commerce Statistics for 2026: Market Size, Platforms and Trends

Social commerce is transforming how consumers discover and buy products, blending the social media experience with seamless shopping. In 2026, the global social commerce market is valued at an estimated $2.11 trillion, growing at a staggering 29% CAGR towards $7.55 trillion by 2031. In the UK alone, social commerce sales are projected to reach £11.75 billion this year, with TikTok Shop and Instagram leading the charge. From livestream shopping events generating billions in revenue to AI-powered product recommendations, social commerce is no longer a niche — it’s the future of retail.

Below, we’ve compiled over 30 of the most important social commerce statistics for 2026, covering global market size, platform performance, consumer behaviour, and emerging trends. All figures are sourced from leading industry reports and research firms.

Key Social Commerce Statistics 2026 (Editor’s Choice)

• The global social commerce market is valued at $2.11 trillion in 2026, up from $1.63 trillion in 2025. (Mordor Intelligence, 2026)
• UK social commerce sales are forecast to reach £11.75 billion in 2026. (eMarketer, 2026)
• US social commerce sales are projected to surpass $100 billion in 2026. (eMarketer, 2026)
• TikTok Shop is projected to generate $23.41 billion in US ecommerce sales in 2026, a 48% increase YoY. (eMarketer, 2026)
• 56% of UK users have made a purchase directly through social media. (TikTok Newsroom / Retail Economics, 2025)
• Livestream shopping boasts conversion rates of 9–30%, compared to 2–3% for standard ecommerce. (GetStream, 2026)
• The global influencer marketing industry now exceeds $30 billion. (Together Agency, 2026)
• Apparel accounts for 27.95% of all social commerce market share in 2026. (Mordor Intelligence, 2026)

Global Social Commerce Market Statistics

1. The global social commerce market is valued at $2.11 trillion in 2026

Growing from $1.63 trillion in 2025 to an estimated $2.11 trillion in 2026, the social commerce market continues its explosive expansion. At a compound annual growth rate of 29.12%, the market is projected to reach $7.55 trillion by 2031.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, Social Commerce Market Report 2026–2031

2. Social commerce sales are forecast to reach $908.5 billion in global retail in 2026

According to alternative market sizing that focuses on direct social platform transactions (excluding broader marketplace integrations), global social commerce retail sales will hit $908.5 billion in 2026, a 10.7% increase from $821 billion in 2025.

Source: Oberlo / Statista, 2026

3. North America is the fastest-growing social commerce region at 32.11% CAGR

While Asia-Pacific remains the largest market by volume (driven by China’s mature social shopping ecosystem), North America is registering the fastest growth rate at 32.11% CAGR through 2031, fuelled by TikTok Shop, Instagram Checkout, and emerging livestream formats.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026

4. China’s social commerce conversion rates reach up to 30%

Chinese social commerce platforms achieve conversion rates as high as 30%, vastly outperforming the global ecommerce average of 2–3%. This is driven by deeply integrated payment systems, super-app ecosystems, and a culture of livestream shopping that Western markets are now emulating.

Source: Sellers Commerce / McKinsey, 2026

5. Mobile-driven social commerce is growing at 31.23% CAGR

Social commerce conducted via mobile devices is expanding at 31.23% annually, outpacing most other digital commerce segments. With over 90% of social media usage occurring on smartphones, mobile-first design and frictionless checkout are essential for brands.

Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026

UK Social Commerce Statistics

6. UK social commerce sales are forecast to reach £11.75 billion in 2026

The UK social commerce market continues its rapid expansion, with sales expected to hit £11.75 billion ($15.01 billion) in 2026. Double-digit growth is forecast to continue through 2029, when sales will surpass £16 billion.

Source: eMarketer, UK Social Commerce 2026

7. 56% of UK users have made a purchase directly through social media

More than half of UK social media users have now bought products directly through social platforms, either by clicking shoppable content links or checking out within apps. Among under-45s, this figure rises to 73%.

Source: TikTok Newsroom / Retail Economics, 2025

8. 24% of UK Millennials purchase on social media at least once a month

One in four Millennials in the UK are regular social shoppers, making purchases via social platforms at least monthly. This habitual buying behaviour demonstrates social commerce is moving well beyond impulse purchases.

Source: TikTok Newsroom / Retail Economics, 2025

9. 31% of UK consumers say social platforms are best for shopping inspiration

Social and entertainment platforms have overtaken traditional search engines for product discovery, with 31% of UK consumers naming them their top source for inspiration and ideas, compared to 28% for search engines like Google.

Source: TikTok Newsroom / Retail Economics, 2025

10. 82% of consumers use social media for product discovery and research

The vast majority of shoppers now turn to social platforms as part of their purchasing journey. Whether scrolling through Instagram Reels, browsing TikTok “For You” pages, or reading Facebook reviews, social media is central to how consumers discover new products.

Source: Hostinger / Sprout Social, 2026

Platform-Specific Statistics

11. TikTok Shop is projected to generate $23.41 billion in US ecommerce sales in 2026

TikTok’s shopping platform continues its meteoric rise, with projected US sales of $23.41 billion in 2026 — a 48% increase year-over-year. TikTok Shop now accounts for 18.2% of US social commerce and is on track to reach 24.1%.

Source: eMarketer, 2026

12. 44% of UK TikTok users have made a purchase directly on the platform

Nearly half of all TikTok users in the UK have bought something directly through TikTok, with one in four purchasing at least once a month. The platform’s algorithm-driven product discovery makes it exceptionally effective at driving impulse and considered purchases alike.

Source: TikTok Newsroom / Retail Economics, 2025

13. 80.4 million US users are expected to shop through TikTok by 2026

Approximately 67% of TikTok’s total US audience — around 80.4 million users — are expected to make purchases through the platform in 2026, up from earlier adoption rates driven by the expansion of TikTok Shop features.

Source: inBeat Agency / eMarketer, 2026

14. Facebook remains the largest social commerce platform with 250+ million monthly interactions

Despite the rise of newer platforms, Facebook continues to lead in overall social commerce volume. Over 250 million people interact with Facebook Shops monthly, and by 2026, nearly 70 million Americans are shopping on the platform regularly.

Source: Sellers Commerce / Meta, 2026

15. Instagram’s AR try-on features boost conversion rates by 30%

Meta’s enhanced augmented reality try-on capabilities for beauty and fashion products on Instagram Shopping enable users to virtually test products before purchase, increasing conversion rates by approximately 30% for participating brands.

Source: Sellers Commerce / Meta, 2026

16. For Gen Z consumers, Instagram (53%) and TikTok (41%) are the preferred shopping platforms

Gen Z shoppers are increasingly split between Instagram and TikTok for social shopping, with Instagram maintaining a slight edge for product inspiration at 53%, while TikTok captures 41% of shopping-related activity in the age group.

Source: TikTok Newsroom / Retail Economics, 2025

Livestream Shopping Statistics

17. The US livestream ecommerce market is projected to reach $55 billion by 2026

Live shopping has exploded from a $17 billion market in 2022 to an expected $55 billion in 2026 in the United States alone. Globally, the livestream ecommerce market is projected to surpass $67.8 billion, accounting for more than 5% of all ecommerce sales.

Source: GetStream / Coresight Research, 2026

18. Livestream shopping conversion rates reach 9–30%, compared to 2–3% for standard ecommerce

The interactive, real-time nature of livestream shopping drives significantly higher engagement and conversion rates. Viewers can ask questions, see products demonstrated live, and make instant purchases, creating an experience far more compelling than static product pages.

Source: GetStream, 2026

19. TikTok livestreams drove 84% year-over-year sales growth during BFCM 2025

During the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period in 2025, TikTok livestream shopping events generated over $500 million in sales across four days. Shoppers tuned into more than 760,000 livestream sessions, resulting in 1.6 billion views, with a nearly 50% year-over-year increase in purchasers.

Source: eMarketer / TikTok, 2025

20. Beauty and personal-care products post the highest social commerce CAGR at 33.12%

While apparel holds the largest market share overall, beauty and personal-care lines are growing fastest in social commerce, with a 33.12% compound annual growth rate projected through 2031. The visual, demonstration-friendly nature of beauty products makes them ideal for social and livestream formats.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026

Consumer Behaviour & Demographics

21. 53% of Gen Z and 56% of Millennials have purchased via a social media platform

More than half of younger generations have completed a purchase through social media, making them the core demographic for social commerce. These figures are expected to continue rising as in-app checkout experiences improve.

Source: Sellers Commerce / Sprout Social, 2026

22. 58% of consumers over 18 have purchased products because of influencer endorsements

Influencer recommendations are a major purchase driver, with nearly six in ten adult consumers having bought a product based on an influencer’s endorsement. However, trust remains a challenge: 26% of consumers distrust influencer marketing, more than double the 11% who distrust traditional advertising.

Source: Together Agency / Influencer Marketing Hub, 2026

23. The global influencer marketing industry exceeds $30 billion in 2026

The influencer economy has firmly crossed the $30 billion mark, with steady annual growth expected to continue. In 2026, influencer content is no longer just awareness-driven — it is directly responsible for measurable sales through affiliate links, discount codes, and in-app shops.

Source: Together Agency, 2026

24. 73% of UK under-45s have purchased through social media

Nearly three-quarters of UK consumers under 45 have made a social commerce purchase, highlighting the generational shift in shopping behaviour. As these consumers age and their spending power grows, social commerce’s share of total retail will inevitably increase.

Source: TikTok Newsroom / Retail Economics, 2025

25. User-generated content drives 29% higher conversion than traditional ads

Authentic user-generated content (UGC) — reviews, unboxing videos, styling posts — continues to outperform polished brand advertising in social commerce environments. Consumers trust peer recommendations more than brand messaging, making UGC a cornerstone of effective social selling strategies.

Source: Blogging Wizard / Nielsen, 2026

Emerging Trends & Technology

26. AI-powered product recommendations are driving a 31% increase in social commerce AOV

Data-rich AI recommendation engines are one of the key growth drivers for social commerce in 2026. By analysing browsing behaviour, purchase history, and social interactions, these systems deliver highly personalised product suggestions that increase average order values by up to 31%.

Source: Mordor Intelligence / Fortune Business Insights, 2026

27. Social-first DTC brands are the fastest-growing segment in social commerce

Direct-to-consumer brands that launched on social platforms (rather than traditional ecommerce) are growing faster than any other segment. These “social-first” brands leverage organic content, influencer partnerships, and community building to scale without traditional marketing overhead.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026

28. In-app payment adoption is accelerating social commerce checkout completion

The integration of seamless payment systems within social apps — from TikTok’s one-tap checkout to Instagram’s native payment flow — is reducing cart abandonment and accelerating the path from discovery to purchase. In-app payments are one of the top four growth drivers identified for 2026.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026

29. US social commerce sales will surpass $100 billion in 2026

American social commerce has reached the landmark $100 billion threshold, reinforcing its status as a core ecommerce channel rather than a supplementary sales avenue. This figure is expected to continue growing rapidly as more consumers adopt in-platform shopping.

Source: eMarketer / Ecommerce Bonsai, 2026

30. AR and virtual try-on features are boosting social commerce conversion rates by up to 30%

Augmented reality features — from virtual lipstick try-ons to furniture placement visualisations — are proving to be powerful conversion tools in social commerce. Brands utilising AR on Instagram and Snapchat report conversion rate improvements of approximately 30%.

Source: Sellers Commerce / Meta, 2026

31. Social commerce accounts for over 5% of all ecommerce sales globally in 2026

Across all platforms and markets, social commerce now represents more than one in twenty ecommerce transactions worldwide. While still a relatively small share compared to traditional online retail, the growth trajectory suggests this proportion will increase significantly over the next five years.

Source: GetStream / Coresight Research, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Social commerce is a $2.11 trillion global market in 2026, growing at nearly 30% annually towards $7.55 trillion by 2031.
• TikTok Shop is the fastest-growing platform, projected to reach $23.41 billion in US sales alone, with a 48% year-over-year increase.
• The UK market is booming, with £11.75 billion in social commerce sales projected for 2026, driven by 56% of users who have purchased through social platforms.
• Livestream shopping is revolutionising conversion, achieving rates of 9–30% compared to the standard ecommerce average of 2–3%.
• Younger generations lead adoption, with 56% of Millennials and 53% of Gen Z having purchased via social platforms.
• AI and AR are driving the next wave, with personalised recommendations boosting order values by 31% and AR try-on features increasing conversion rates by 30%.
• For UK retailers and brands, investing in social commerce — particularly TikTok Shop and Instagram Shopping — is no longer optional but essential for reaching modern consumers where they spend their time.

All statistics sourced from: Mordor Intelligence, eMarketer, TikTok Newsroom, Retail Economics, GetStream, Sellers Commerce, Fortune Business Insights, Blogging Wizard, Together Agency, and Oberlo/Statista. Figures represent the latest available data as of early 2026. Market sizing methodologies vary between research firms, which may account for differences in overall market valuations.