Women's Shoe Statistics

Posted on 15 September, 2023 by Olesya Kryakvina

Top women’s shoe statistics

  • In 2023, the women’s shoe market size is estimated to reach almost $187 billion.
  • The forecasted compound annual growth rate of women’s shoe revenue from 2018 to 2027 is 4.2%.
  • North America is expected to dominate the 2023 market of women's shoes with a 21.25% share.
  • Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is the region foreseen to have the lowest market share of 18.66%.
  • The projected market value of women’s luxury shoes in 2023 is $29.10 billion.
  • By 2029, the women’s designer shoe market size is anticipated to expand to $39 billion.
  • The global revenue of the women’s non-athletic footwear industry in 2023 is estimated at around $128 billion.
  • While women in the US own 17 pairs of shoes on average, they only wear 3 pairs regularly.
  • Each year, women purchase an average of 3 pairs of shoes and spend $49 a pair.
  • The woman who holds the Guinness World Record for having the largest shoe collection is Darlene Flynn with over 16,000 pairs of shoes.
  • The average women’s shoe size around the world is 7 to 8.
  • In America, the average shoe size for women is 8.5 to 9.
  • 63% of shoes are for women, while 5.6% are for girls.
  • Women have 148% more boots brands to choose from than men.
  • Women also have 168% more clogs and 128% more slippers to choose from than men.
  • Jimmy Choo, a famous expensive brand, offers 99% of its shoes to women.
  • However, women’s shoes from Jimmy Choo are also more expensive than men’s by a median price difference of $245.
  • Nike only offers 34% of shoes to women. 
  • The median price difference between Nike’s men's and women's offerings is only $5, with men’s pairs as the more expensive.
  • 60% of women in the US are willing to continue wearing uncomfortable shoes for fashion.
  • More than 50% of women worldwide would rather be barefoot than tolerate painful shoes.
  • 50% of women’s shoe purchases are done solely because of their desire to buy, and not because they need to.
  • 19% of women buy shoes to satisfy their happiness.

Global women’s shoe market size

  • The projected market value of women’s shoes in 2023 is $186.86 billion.
  • In 2022, the market size reached a revenue of $179.33 billion.
  • The value of the women’s shoe market in 2021 was $172.10 billion.
  • Women’s shoe market size in 2019 gained $158.51 billion.
  • In 2018, the market’s worth was valued at around $152.12 billion.
  • From 2018 to 2027, the women’s shoe industry is anticipated to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 4.2%.
  • By 2027, the size of the women’s shoes global revenue is expected to grow to approximately $220 billion.

Year

Market value (in billions)

2018

$152.12

2019

$158.51

2020

$165.17

2021

$172.10

2022

$179.33

2023

$186.86

2024

$194.71

2025

$202.88

2026

$211.41

2027

$219.54

Women’s luxury shoe global market

  • The women’s luxury shoe worldwide market is anticipated to expand to $29.10 billion in 2023.
  • The industry of women’s luxury footwear reached a revenue of nearly $28 billion in 2022.
  • The market size of women’s high-end shoes is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 5% from 2022 to 2029.
  • Accordingly, the market size is estimated to be worth $39 billion by 2029.

Year

Market value (in billions)

2022

$27.72

2023

$29.10

2024

$30.56

2025

$32.09

2026

$33.69

2027

$35.37

2028

$37.14

2029

$39.00

Global market size of women’s non-athletic shoes

  • The overall revenue of women’s non-athletic footwear is estimated to be worth $128.12 billion in 2023.
  • From 2023 up to 2028, the global women’s non-athletic shoe market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 3.68%.
  • Consequently, by 2028, the forecasted market value is about $153.5 billion.

Year

Market value (in billions)

2023

$128.12

2024

$132.83

2025

$137.72

2026

$142.79

2027

$148.05

2028

$153.49

How many shoes does an average woman have?

  • American ladies possess an average of 17 pairs of shoes.
  • However, only 3 pairs are worn regularly. 
  • 50% of women own over 10 pairs and 13% of women have more than 30 pairs but only 39% consider themselves as a “shoe person.”
  • Every 1 out of 12 women owns 100 or over than a hundred pairs of shoes.
  • On average, women purchase about 3 pairs per year and spend $49 per pair.
  • For every 7 ladies, 1 admits to keeping at least one of their purchases a secret from their partners.

Women’s average shoe size

  • The global average shoe size for adult women is 7 to 8.
  • In the US, the average shoe size of women is 8.5 to 9.
  • The typical shoe size of women in the UK is 6.5 or 7.
  • Australian ladies have an average shoe size of 7.5 while most Japanese adult women fit 5.5 shoes.
  • Adult women aged 20 and above and heights between 4’9” and 5’3” have an average shoe size of 5 to 8.5.
  • 5’4” to 5’7” ladies usually have shoe sizes from 6.5 to 10.
  • Taller adult women with height that ranges from 5’6” to 6” have an average shoe size of 9 to 15.
  • Pregnancy, especially for first-time mothers, can decrease feet arches, and consequently increase foot length by 0.1 up to 0.4 inches. 

Country

Average shoe size (US size)

The United States

8.5 to 9

The United Kingdom

6.5 to 7

Japan

5.5

Australia

7.5

Height

Average shoe size (US size)

4’9” to 5’3”

5 to 8.5

5’4” to 5’7”

6.5 to 10

5’6” to 6’ or taller

9 to 15

Women vs. men shoe statistics

  • With 63% of shoes intended for women, they have the most pairs to choose from.
  • Women are followed by girls with the most shoe selections as 5.6% of shoes are offered to them.
  • As of 2017, there are around 1,060 brands that sell women's shoes.
  • Compared to men, women have more than 87% more brands to choose from.
  • It is estimated that women spend double as much as men when purchasing shoes.

Brand count by shoe categories

  • 7 out of 12 shoe categories are offered by more brands to women than men.
  • There are around 25% more brands that sell athletic footwear to ladies than gents.
  • Women have 568% and 142% more brands to choose sandals and slippers from compared to men.
  • 163% more brands have women’s boots than men’s boots.
  • Men lead in the brand count for oxfords, trainers, and loafers by 495%, 4%, and 10%, respectively than women.
  • There are also 46% and 15% more brands that offer outdoor and work shoes to men than to women.

Shoe category

Brand count for women

Brand count for men

Oxfords

22

131

Trainers

166

172

Loafers & Slip-ons

105

116

Athletic

144

115

Work & Safety

34

39

Outdoor

41

60

Mules & Clogs

68

20

Slippers

58

24

Sandals

474

71

Boots

500

190

Pumps

340

0

Flats

199

0

Shoe count by shoe categories

  • There are 8 out of 12 shoe categories in which women’s shoe count dominates over men’s.
  • There are 787,784 shoe counts for women in a total of 12 categories.
  • For men, there are only 345,121 shoes offered in 10 categories.
  • Compared to men, women have 1062% more clogs and 352% more slippers to select from.
  • However, when it comes to oxfords, men have 747% more shoe choices than women.
  • Fellas also have 62% more loafers, 41% more trainers, and 20% more athletic footwear to choose from compared to ladies.

Shoe category

Shoe count for women

Shoe count for men

Oxfords

5,778

48,935

Trainers

46,572

65,857

Loafers & Slip-ons

25,817

41,703

Athletic

57,986

69,299

Work & Safety

6,133

3,624

Outdoor

15,399

11,704

Mules & Clogs

14,031

1,207

Slippers

22,325

4,935

Sandals

152,625

16,017

Boots

221,519

81,840

Pumps

157,045

0

Flats

62,554

0

Shoe listings of expensive brands by gender

  • Aquazzura is a high-end brand with 100% of their shoes marketed and sold to women.
  • 99% of the footwear offered by Stella McCartney is for women.
  • Jimmy Choo is another designer brand that sells 98% of their shoe models to ladies.
  • Givency, with an estimated net worth of almost $65 million, has 96% of its footwear selection intended for women.
  • 90% of Valentino’s pairs are available for girls.
  • Louboutin and Fendi are expensive brands that both have 88% of their shoe catalogues with ladies as target markets.

Brand

Percentage of women’s shoes

Percentage of men’s shoes

Aquazzura

100%

0%

Stella McCartney

99%

1%

Jimmy Choo

98%

2%

Givenchy

96%

4%

Valentino

90%

10%

Christian Louboutin

88%

12%

Fendi

88%

12%

Saint Laurent

77%

23%

Gianvito Rossi

77%

23%

Maison Margiela

65%

35%

Women’s vs. men’s median shoe prices for the most expensive brands

  • Out of all these 10 brands, only Christian Louboutin offers more expensive shoes to men than women, with a median price difference of $298.
  • Women’s shoes from Gianvito Rossi are $281 pricier than their men’s offerings.
  • Valentino women’s shoe selection has a median price of $975, while men’s only have a $707 median price.
  • Jimmy Choos for men are $245 generally more affordable than their women pairs.
  • The difference between the median prices of women’s and men’s pairs from Saint Laurent is $200, with the women’s selection as the more costly.
  • Maison Margiela women’s pairs are also more expensive than the men’s pair with a $150 difference.
  • The prices of men's and women’s shoes from Fendi and Givenchy are closer to each other with only $50 and $35 deviation. 

Brand

Women’s Median Price

Men’s Median Price

Difference

Christian Louboutin

$875

$1,173

$298

Gianvito Rossi

$750

$469

$281

Valentino

$975

$707

$268

Jimmy Choo

$695

$450

$245

Saint Laurent

$795

$595

$200

Maison Margiela

$739

$589

$150

Fendi

$650

$700

$50

Givenchy

$730

$695

$35

  • 62% of all the Skechers pairs are intended for women.
  • ASICS and Converse are brands that sell 50% of their shoes to women and 50% to men.
  • New Balance has 43% of its shoe selections available to women.
  • 40% of K-Swiss footwear have women as their target market.
  • Women’s shoes cover 36% of the pairs offered by Reebok and PUMA.
  • Nike and Vans have more men’s offerings by 66% and 67% compared to women’s.
  • Adidas only has 27% of its footwear products catering to women.

Brand

Percentage of women’s shoes

Percentage of men’s shoes

Skechers

62%

38%

ASICS

50%

50%

Converse

50%

50%

New Balance

43%

57%

K-Swiss

40%

60%

Reebok

36%

64%

PUMA

36%

64%

Nike

34%

66%

Vans

33%

67%

adidas

27%

73%

Men’s shoes offered by popular brands are generally more high-priced than women’s pairs.

  • Vans trainers for men are $10 more costly than women’s kicks.
  • The difference between the median prices of men’s and women’s pairs from Skechers is $6, with women’s shoes being cheaper.
  • The trainers offered to men by Converse, Nike, and Adidas are all $5 more expensive than pairs for women.
  • K-Swiss pairs for ladies are pricier than men but only by $1.
  • The median price of the ASICS shoes for men and women are both $70 while for PUMA, both are $50.

Brand

Women’s Median Price

Men’s Median Price

Difference

Vans

$40

$50

$10

Skechers

$45

$51

$6

Converse

$40

$45

$5

Nike

$80

$85

$5

adidas

$70

$75

$5

Reebok

$54

$58

$4

New Balance

$58

$61

$2

K-Swiss

$51

$50

$1

ASICS

$70

$70

$0

PUMA

$50

$50

$0

Which woman owns the most pair of shoes?

  • Darlene Flynn holds the record of having the largest shoe collection reaching more than 16,000 pairs.
  • With over 10,000 pairs in her closet, Celine Dion is also one of the women who acquired the most pairs.
  • Danielle Steel, an American writer, owns at least 6,000 pairs.
  • The controversial Imelda Marcos, the wife of the late dictator of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, had more than 3,400 pairs of shoes.
  • Paris Hilton has almost 2,000 pairs of shoes.

How many women suffer from painful shoes

  • 90% of American women own at least a pair of painful shoes.
  • 60% of women are willing to tolerate painful shoes in the name of fashion.
  • Almost 60% also got blisters because of shoes.
  • 24% of women have fallen because of their shoes.
  • Around 33% of women worldwide became unable to walk properly for days because of wearing an incorrect size of shoes.
  • Over 80% of American women wear painful pairs at least once per month.
  • 41% wear uncomfortable shoes at least four times monthly.
  • 40% of women in the US own shoes that are painful to walk in but still decide to wear them.
  • 44% of women still proceed wearing shoes that they’re sure will hurt their feet at least twice a month.
  • Over half of the women around the world would prefer walking or dancing barefoot than continuing to wear painful shoes.
  • 1/3 of the women's global population admits carrying a spare pair of comfortable shoes.
  • 35% had their night ruined because of painful shoes while 14% of adult ladies brought their night outs to an early end.
  • 32% of women are using shoes that are not their size.

Why women shop for shoes

  • Half of the shoe purchases of women derive from wants and not needs.
  • 19% of women shop for shoes to make themselves happy.
  • 28% of ladies believe that shoes are an essential element of their outfit.
  • More than 50% of girls notice shoes that other people are wearing.

Sources

Author
Olesya Kryakvina
Olesya Kryakvina
Walking shoe expert Olesya entered her shoe-geek era in 2017, diving deep into the latest cushioning and support technologies and features that make shoes truly comfortable. With a 20+ year background in dance, yoga, and pilates, she sees walking shoes as a wellness investment rather than a fashion statement. She doesn’t fall for brand marketing and takes each pair through the wringer in the lab to get real data. Olesya is the go-to person for walking shoe advice, and yes, she will analyse your pair mid-conversation. At RunRepeat, she keeps the content gears turning 24/7.