Global Biggest Industries by Revenue in 2025

1. Global Life & Health Insurance Carriers

Revenue for 2025: $5,531,9B

The industry has decreased over the five years to 2023 despite the growth of global demand for insurance products. The industry provides essential risk management services to downstream consumers and is a vital part of the financial sector, particularly concerning the industry's massive asset holdings. Industry operators protect individuals from current, immediate and long-term illness, injury and death costs. By merging various risks, life and health insurers protect a fraction of the potential loss. The role of life and health insurers has become increasingly important as the global population has aged. Although the industry provides essential products and services, operators... Learn More

2. Global Car & Automobile Sales

Revenue for 2025: $4,357,5B

In recent years, a slowdown in established economies like the United States, Canada and Europe has hampered the Global Car and Automobile Sales industry. Housing two of the world's largest car dealers, these geographies grappled with diminishing car sales, overshadowing solid growth achieved in emerging economies. Supply chain disruptions following COVID-19 stalled new car production, driving up car prices in 2021 and 2022. Dealers benefited from a surge in used car demand as new vehicle prices became prohibitive for many consumers, supporting a global recovery in automobile sales. Over the past five years, revenue has dwindled at a CAGR of... Learn More

3. Global Commercial Real Estate

Revenue for 2025: $4,329,8B

The Global Commercial Real Estate industry has declined over the past five years. Specifically, investor confidence slightly declined over the same period as COVID-19 severely constricted demand. As a result, industry revenue is expected to slightly decline an annualized 2.5% to $4.3 trillion over the five years to 2023, including an anticipated increase of 1.6% in 2023 as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

The growth of a country's economy tends to boost industry revenue since business expansions and higher consumer spending often creates demand for industry services, such as office leasing, sales and brokerage services. The strong expansion of... Learn More

4. Global Pension Funds

Revenue for 2025: $4,296,9B

Pension funds, composed of defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) plans, have been the primary means for meeting the retirement requirements of an aging global population. Industry revenue consists of contributions, investment income, net sales of securities and more. Positive investment returns from equities have driven the growth of revenue despite volatility in financial markets. Global pension funds revenue has been increasing at a CAGR of 1.3% over the past five years, including an estimated 2.7% in 2023 alone, and is expected to total $4.3 trillion in 2023, with profit set to drop to 38.4%.

Employers are increasingly offering DC... Learn More

5. Global Oil & Gas Exploration & Production

Revenue for 2025: $4,233,8B

The Global Oil and Gas Exploration and Production industry has gone through major turbulence over the five years to 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying socioeconomic restrictions significantly disrupted macroeconomic activity, leading to tremendous volatility within global energy markets. Industry revenue fell to multi-decade lows in 2020 before reaching all-time highs in 2022 as production and prices of hydrocarbons were completely unstable. Industry revenue has increased at a CAGR of 9.6% to $5.3 trillion over the five years to 2023, despite a decline of 19.8% in 2023 alone. During this time, the United States has emerged as a key player... Learn More

6. Global Direct General Insurance Carriers

Revenue for 2025: $2,858,5B

The Global Direct General Insurance Carriers industry has faced challenges over the past five years, with issues such as a soft insurance market, low interest rates and numerous catastrophes affecting all operators in major markets. However, the rapid growth of emerging markets has slightly offset stagnating mature markets. An expanding middle class in countries like China has increased demand for insurance, driving industry growth. Therefore, global direct general insurance carrier revenue is expected to fall at a CAGR of 1.1% over the past five years – including an estimated 2.9% decrease in the current year – and is expected to... Learn More

7. Global Auto Parts & Accessories Manufacturing

Revenue for 2025: $2,721,2B

Revenue for the Global Auto Parts and Accessories Manufacturing industry has decreased at a CAGR of 6.3% over the past five years – including stagnating in 2023 alone – and is expected to total $1.9 trillion in 2023, when profit is set to drop to 5.3%. The auto parts aftermarket has helped generate revenue as average vehicle ages have increased. Demand for this segment tends to rise with the number of vehicles in use, and therefore, as more individuals take to the roads, demand for replacement parts increases.

The problems with the global supply chain due to COVID-19 deeply affected industry... Learn More

8. Global Car & Automobile Manufacturing

Revenue for 2025: $2,668,9B

Global car and automobile manufacturers benefited from strong consumer, business and government spending on passenger vehicles amid stable macroeconomic growth and historically low interest rates before the pandemic. Significant technological improvements, particularly regarding hybrid and electric vehicles, internal combustion engine fuel efficiency, infotainment development and autonomous driving capabilities, have also spurred global demand from the growing middle class. Even so, the pandemic led to a monumental slowdown, slashing vehicle demand. As a result, automaker revenue contracted at an expected CAGR of 2.3% to $2.6 trillion through the current period, despite a 1.6% jump in 2023 as the economy heats up.

Aluminum... Learn More

9. Global Coal Mining

Revenue for 2025: $2,542,6B

Coal mined by global coal mining companies plays a vital role in the world's ability to generate electricity and manufacture steel. Coal's position in global electricity markets stems from its relative accessibility, affordability and distribution across the globe. The world's largest coal producers are China, the United States and India, with these countries expected to retain their positions for the foreseeable future. Global coal mining revenue is a function of global production of coal mined products alongside global coal prices, with prices being closely tied to global economic conditions. Over the five years to 2023, prices of thermal and coking... Learn More

10. Global Tourism

Revenue for 2025: $2,029,7B

The industry will increase at a CAGR of 0.8% to $2.3 trillion over the five years to 2023, including a growth of 13.9% in 2023 alone. Global tourism has performed well during most of the five-year period, with emerging economies stimulating growth. Countries in Asia and South America have experienced robust growth in per capita income, which has enabled consumers in these regions to take overseas trips in increasing numbers. But because of COVID-19, industry revenue collapsed 40.1% in 2020. The global outbreak had an enormous effect on all tourism-related industries as many countries suspended international travel and limited the... Learn More

11. Global Wireless Telecommunications Carriers

Revenue for 2025: $2,007,3B

As a result of massive and diverse uses, demand for many individual telecom operators has grown, though industry revenue has not increased linearly at the global level due to rising competition among wireless telecommunications carriers in technologically pioneering nations. As a result, wireless telecommunications revenue is expected to only increase at a CAGR of 0.5% over the past five years to $1.7 trillion, including expected growth of 2.8% in 2023, as global 5G network deployments accelerate after the most volatile pandemic periods have wound down.

Telecommunications operators have adopted two primary growth strategies: expanding subscriber numbers and increasing average revenue per... Learn More

12. Global Engineering Services

Revenue for 2025: $1,893,9B

Engineering companies apply the physical laws and principles of engineering to design and develop structures, machines, materials, instruments and other processes and systems. Services also include providing advice, feasibility studies, designs and technical services for construction or development. The performance of the industry relies on investment trends and the overall health of the economy to fuel projects where engineering services are needed. Strong investment in major markets, such as the United States, Europe and East Asia, has driven industry growth in recent years. Global engineering services revenue has been expanding at a CAGR of 3.9% over the past five years... Learn More

13. Global Internet Service Providers

Revenue for 2025: $1,682,6B

Internet service providers have enjoyed growth over the current period. Consumers increasingly demanding faster internet speed in developed economies have boosted ISPs' performance amid sluggish subscriber growth. While rising mobile data subscriptions have constrained growth for ISPs in some developing regions, fixed broadband expansion in developing countries like China and India has bolstered growth. The emergence of powerful personal and business internet applications has transformed how businesses and consumers operate and has also presented opportunities for ISPs to offer additional high-margin services, benefiting profit. Overall, industry-wide revenue has been increasing at a CAGR of 2.2% over the past five years... Learn More

14. Global Hotels & Resorts

Revenue for 2025: $1,561,4B

Over the five years to 2023, the Global Hotels and Resorts industry has expanded. Initially, strong growth before the pandemic occurred as consumers and businesses became more confident about their finances and spent more liberally on luxuries, including travel. This factor resulted in a substantial increase in hotel rooms and occupancy rates, two indicators of a hotel's performance. Global tourist arrivals were also steadily increasing until a drastic drop in 2020 due to the worldwide spread of COVID-19. In 2020 alone, industry revenue declined 40.1% due to the pandemic effect. The pandemic has enormously influenced all tourism-related industries, as many... Learn More

15. Global Pharmaceuticals & Medicine Manufacturing

Revenue for 2025: $1,200,0B

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have benefited from an aging population in developed economies and a growing middle class in emerging economies, which has provided a larger customer base for companies in the Global Pharmaceuticals and Medicine Manufacturing industry. Many manufacturers have also tapped into regional demand for pharmaceuticals that may differ from developed markets and have expanded their global presence to tap into regional market needs and develop relationships with government entities that can accelerate drug approval or implement high reimbursement rates. The outbreak of COVID-19 presented drug manufacturers with new opportunities; however, only very few drug manufacturers were able to participate... Learn More

16. Global Consumer Electronics Manufacturing

Revenue for 2025: $1,112,5B

Over the current period, consumer electronics manufacturers have faced declines. The outbreak of COVID-19 lowered consumer spending, manufacturing output and trade volumes in 2020. Many of the largest manufacturers have faced declines as competition from one another and smaller manufacturers has increased. Overall, industry-wide revenue has been falling at a CAGR of 0.3% over the past five years and is expected to total $1.6 trillion in 2023, when revenue will jump by an estimated 2.6% and profit will dip to 3.5%.

Semiconductor shortages have negatively impacted consumer electronics manufacturers, leading to climbing smartphone prices. Higher smartphone prices and only incremental... Learn More

17. Global Fast Food Restaurants

Revenue for 2025: $1,069,9B

Over the five years to 2023, the Global Fast Food Restaurants industry has expanded despite changing consumer tastes and a recovering global economy. As disposable income rose, consumers increased spending on luxuries, such as eating out, boosting industry revenue. The industry also experienced steady and growing demand from emerging economies, which boosted the industry's overall performance. During the current period, the industry has also been forced to adapt to increasingly health-conscious consumer preferences. While major fast food retailers have responded by expanding the number of healthy options on their menus, the general trend toward health awareness has hurt overall demand... Learn More

18. Global Semiconductor & Electronic Parts Manufacturing

Revenue for 2025: $1,067,6B

In the Global Semiconductor and Electronic Parts Manufacturing industry, demand for downstream consumer electronics, automobiles, computers and industrial machinery has risen, as global per capita income and internet connectivity expanded over the five years to 2023. However, fluctuating product and input prices have led to volatility, particularly as memory prices plummeted before the pandemic. The industry swelled during the pandemic because of favorable pricing as shortages alongside rising demand for certain electronic goods, like laptops and tablets. Overall, industry revenue is anticipated to shrink at an expected CAGR of 1.2% to $1.3 trillion over the five years to 2023, including... Learn More

19. Global Management Consultants

Revenue for 2025: $1,024,8B

Global Management Consultants provide advisory services to clients to help improve organizational performance. Consultants focus on organizational design, process management and corporate strategy topics. Over the five years to 2023, demand for management consulting services has increased, despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, industry profit is expected to decline as wage pressure, competition, and reduced demand weigh on profit growth in recent years. Global economic growth was the primary driver of industry revenue throughout most of the period. In addition, while the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected the global economy, the industry did not fare as poorly... Learn More

20. Global HR & Recruitment Services

Revenue for 2025: $893,8B

HR and recruitment companies rely on a businesses' desire to outsource their recruitment process and human resource management activities. Their performance depends on their major market's economies and the impact these conditions have on labor. Regulation, especially for temporary employees, can hamstring providers, as this makes it more difficult to operate. More liberal labor laws in developed nations have been essential to HR and recruitment companies' growth. Large companies are now focusing on emerging markets that will undergo the same process in the future. COVID-19 put a halt to positive momentum in recent years, as businesses seeking to cut costs... Learn More

21. Global Airlines

Revenue for 2025: $882,1B

Despite rising levels of airborne passenger and cargo traffic throughout much of the period, revenue for the Global Airlines industry has declined over the five years to 2023 as volatile fuel prices and growing competition, as well as COVID-19, have placed downward pressure on industry revenue. At the same time, recent growth in global per capita income and other solid macroeconomic indicators fueled demand for airline passenger transportation before the pandemic. Overall, industry revenue is estimated to decrease an annualized 3.8% to $762.8 billion over the five years to 2023, despite an expected expansion of 5.3% in 2023 alone, stemming... Learn More

22. Global Apparel Manufacturing

Revenue for 2025: $715,2B

Global apparel manufacturers have benefited from strengthening consumer spending in developed economies combined with rapidly growing emerging economies in recent years. However, sudden changes in how consumers shopped worldwide following the COVID-19 pandemic shifted its trajectory. Dips in global consumer spending and lockdowns dropped production at factories. Even as economies reopened, bottlenecks and supply chain woes punctured footwear production globally, while rising costs for everything from cotton to crude oil shot up production costs. Uneven economic recoveries, recession concerns and inflation continue to strain performance despite surging consumer demand. In all, industry-wide revenue has been declining at a CAGR of... Learn More

23. Global Accounting Services

Revenue for 2025: $627,0B

Global accounting companies commonly provide a variety of services, such as the preparation of financial statements, the development of budgets, consulting and the review of auditing records for small, medium and large businesses. Economic expansion in developed countries and high productivity growth in low-income nations fueled world GDP growth in the years immediately preceding the pandemic. As incomes rose, financial transactions, auditing and mergers and acquisitions increased, boosting demand for accounting services and aiding revenue growth.

Business activity fell during the COVID-19 pandemic since corporations were forced to shut down. Since corporate incomes were low, companies didn't have the money... Learn More

24. Global Plastic Product & Packaging Manufacturing

Revenue for 2025: $608,6B

The Global Plastic Product and Packaging Manufacturing industry has experienced mixed results over the five years to 2023. It has benefited from increasing plastic consumption worldwide, as rising capacity worldwide has resulted in solid growth in overall plastic production. Plastic goods are substituted for materials like wood, paper, metals, and glass, which are often more price competitive while offering better performance. Because of rising consumption and production during most of the current period, industry revenue has been expanding an annualized 2.3%, and is expected to reach $699.3 billion in 2023. This increase in revenue was decelerated by a dramatic drop... Learn More

25. Global Household Cooking & Appliance Manufacturing

Revenue for 2025: $594,0B

Buoyed by rising demand for industry products among developing economies, household cooking and appliance manufacturers have grown over the five years to 2023. Alongside the effects of COVID-19, companies have endured rising competition as brand owners are expected to continue outsourcing manufacturing operations to improve efficiency and achieve a lower cost of production. A strong recovery following COVID-related disruptions helped cushion industry growth, helping raise manufacturers' sales and profit. Overall, revenue is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 0.4% to $583.6 billion over the five years to 2023, including an increase of 1.5% in 2023 alone.

Rising consumer spending and... Learn More