Highlights. The largest retailer in the world is Walmart, with a 2022 retail revenue* of $600.9 billion and 10,490 stores across 24 countries.
- The runner-up is Amazon, with a 2022 retail revenue of $343.3 billion and 589 stores across 21 countries.
- Walmart is also the largest retailer in the United States, with $499.6 billion in domestic retail sales across 5,330 locations.
- Together, the Top 10 global retailers represent a 2022 total revenue of $2.01 trillion.
- In 2021, the retail revenue produced by the Top 10 global retailers increased by 8.0%.
*Many retail companies gain revenue from non-retail services, such as fulfillment services.
| Rank | Retailer | 2022 Retail Revenue (in billions) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart | $600.9 |
| 2 | Amazon | $343.3 |
| 3 | Costco | $217.5 |
| 4 | Home Depot | $155.4 |
| 5 | Kroger | $147.6 |
| 6 | Walgreens | $116.1 |
| 7 | Target | $107.5 |
| 8 | CVS | $106.5 |
| 9 | Lowe’s | $93.6 |
| 10 | Albertsons | $76.2 |
Top 10 Global Retailers
The Top 10 global retailers below are ranked by their 2022 retail revenues in USD.
- The largest retailer in the world is Walmart, with a 2022 retail revenue of $600.9 billion, a 9.8% year-over-year increase.
- Walmart’s 2022 retail revenue represents a 2.13% market share of 2022’s total global retail revenue of $28.2 trillion.
- 16.8% of Walmart’s 2022 retail revenue came from international sales, up from 15.7% the previous year.
- 49.2% of Walmart’s stores are located outside of the United States.
- From 2016 to 2021, the Top 10 global retailers expanded their retail revenue at a compound annual growth rate of 7.9%.
1. Walmart
Walmart is an American general merchandise retailer with expansions into international markets and eCommerce.
- Walmart’s 2023 total company revenues were $611.2 billion.
- Walmart’s international-only (i.e., non-U.S.) revenues in 2022 totaled $101.2 billion.
- Walmart operates 10,490 stores in 24 countries.
- 83% of Walmart’s sales take place in the United States, where it holds a 17.0% share of the retail market.
2. Amazon
Among its other ventures, such as streaming and publishing, this American company is the world’s largest online retailer.
- Amazon’s 2023 total company revenues were $554.0 billion.
- Amazon’s international-only revenues in 2022 totaled $120.1 billion.
- Amazon operates 589 stores in 21 countries.
- 68% of Amazon’s sales take place in the United States, where it holds a 14.3% share of the retail market.
3. Costco
Costco, a global retailer based in the U.S., operates on a membership warehouse model.
- Costco’s 2023 total company revenues were $242.3 billion.
- Costco’s international-only revenues in 2022 totaled $55.1 billion.
- Costco operates 842 stores in 13 countries.
- 75% of Costco’s sales take place in the United States, where it holds a 6.5% share of the retail market.
4. Schwarz Group
The Schwarz Group is a German grocery retailer and superstore that operates primarily through its chains Lidl and Kaufland.
- The Schwarz Group’s 2022 total company revenues were $164.7 billion.
- The Schwarz Group’s international-only (i.e., non-domestic) revenues were $108.7 billion.
- The Schwarz Group operates 13,756 stores in 30 countries.
- 9,736 or 70.8% of the Schwarz Group’s stores are located outside Germany.
5. Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American home improvement retailer and the largest home improvement retailer in the world.
- The Home Depot’s 2023 total company revenues were $157.4 billion.
- The Home Depot’s international-only revenues in 2022 totaled $9.5 billion.
- The Home Depot operates 2,317 stores in 6 countries.
- 94% of Home Depot’s sales take place in the United States, where it holds a 4.4% share of the retail market.
6. Aldi
Aldi is a global German grocery retailer that focuses on competitive pricing.
- Aldi’s 2022 total company revenues were $130.4 billion.
- Aldi’s international-only revenues were $97.9 billion.
- Aldi operates 13,325 stores in 19 countries.
- 75% of Aldi’s 2022 revenue came from international sales.
7. Carrefour
Carrefour is a French multinational grocery retailer focused on providing quality services, products, and food for all.
- Carrefour’s 2023 total company revenues were $78.1 billion
- Carrefour’s international-only revenues were $66.4 billion.
- Carrefour operates 14,474 stores in 34 countries.
- 8,465 or 58.5% of Carrefour stores are located outside France.
8. Seven & I
Seven & I Holdings is a Japanese retail group operating convenience stores and superstores including 7-Eleven and Ito-Yokado.
- Seven & I’s 2022 total company revenues were $94.6 billion.
- Seven & I’s international-only revenues were $36.2 billion.
- Seven & I Holdings operates 40,325 stores in 10 countries.
- 35% of 7-Eleven’s 2022 revenue came from U.S. sales.
9. Ahold Delhaize
Ahold Delhaize is a global grocery retailer based in the Netherlands operating major brands including Hannaford, Stop & Shop, and Albert Heijn.
- Ahold Delhaize’s 2023 total company revenues were $95.2 billion.
- Ahold Delhaize’s international-only revenues in 2022 totaled $72.3 billion.
- Ahold Delhaize operates 7,793 stores in 9 countries.
- 62% of Ahold Delhaize’s 2022 revenue came from U.S. sales.
10. IKEA
IKEA is a Swedish global home furnishings retailer focused on affordability and design.
- IKEA’s 2023 total company revenues were $50.9 billion.
- IKEA’s international-only revenues in 2022 totaled $45.9 billion.
- IKEA operates 465 stores in 51 countries.
- 52 or 11.2% of IKEA stores are located in the U.S.
Top U.S. Retailers
These are the top U.S. retailers by their 2022 U.S. sales.
- The biggest retailer in the U.S. is Walmart, with $499.7 billion in 2022 domestic retail sales.
- Walmart’s U.S. retail sales are 115% greater than those of the runner-up, Amazon.
- From 2021 to 2022, Walmart’s U.S. sales grew by 7.8%; Amazon’s U.S. sales grew by 6.7% over the same period.
- Walmart’s domestic sales made up 83% of their total worldwide retail sales in 2021; Amazon’s made up 68%.
Top U.S. Retailers by Worldwide Retail Sales
Worldwide retail sales count the business a company does domestically and globally.
- Walmart led in worldwide retail sales with $600.9 billion in 2022.
- Amazon placed second with $343.3 billion in 2022 worldwide retail sales.
- With $155.4 billion in worldwide retail sales, Home Depot surpassed the Kroger Company’s 2022 retail sales of $147.6 billion by 5.28%
Top Global and U.S. Retailers by Industry
Businesses that deal in many categories of retail, like Walmart, as well as those that own companies in multiple sectors of retail, only appear in the superstore category. Only U.S.-based companies are included in U.S. rankings.
- The leading superstore both globally and in the U.S. is Walmart, with a total company revenue of $611.3 billion.
- Globally, the leading grocery retailer is Aldi with a total company revenue of $130.4 billion in 2022.
- In the United States, the leader in the grocery sector is Albertsons with a 2023 revenue of $76.8 billion.
- The Home Depot is the leading hardware retailer both globally and in the United States, with a total company revenue of $157.4 billion.
- In apparel retail, Christian Dior leads globally with a total company revenue of $79.2 billion.
- In the United States, the leader in the apparel sector is GAP Inc. with a 2023 revenue of $15.9 billion.
- With a total company revenue of $44.4 billion, Best Buy leads in consumer electronics retail both domestically and globally.
- Globally, the leading furniture retailer is IKEA with a total company revenue of $50.9 billion. In the United States, Wayfair leads with $12.2 billion.
Top Grocery Retailers
Superstore retailers like Walmart, which sells groceries but also other products, were excluded from this category.
- Aldi, the leading global grocery retailer, has an estimated 37% greater total company revenue than Ahold Delhaize, its closest competitor.
- Tesco PLC is the third largest grocery retailer globally, with a total company revenue of $84.5 billion.
- The leading grocery retailer in the United States, Albertsons, places 4th globally with a total company revenue of $76.8 billion.
Top Home Improvement Retailers
American companies The Home Depot and Lowe’s are the largest hardware retailers in the world, with no close competitors.
- The Home Depot leads in both global and U.S. hardware retail, with a total company revenue 62.1% larger than that of its closest competitor Lowe’s.
- With a total company revenue of $97.1 billion, Lowe’s is the second largest hardware retailer both globally and domestically.
- The French holding group ADEO takes third place globally with $31.7 billion.
Top Apparel Retailers
Apparel and accessories are often sold through online stores and superstores.
- Christian Dior, the leading global apparel retailer, has a total company revenue 94.6% higher than its closest competitor, Landmark Group.
- Globally, the Landmark Group holds second place with a total company revenue of $40.7 billion.
- The leading apparel retailer in the United States, Gap Inc., places 10th globally with a total company revenue of $15.9 billion.
Top Electronics Retailers
Consumer electronics include both handheld devices and electronic appliances.
- Globally, Best Buy remains slightly ahead of its domestic competitor Tech Data, with 20.0% greater total company revenues.
- Tech Data holds second place both globally and domestically with a total company revenue of $37.0 billion.
- Globally, Spanish retailer Haier Iberia takes third place with $36.4 billion; in the United States, Arrow holds third place with $35.8 billion.
Top Furniture Retailers
While U.S. leader Wayfair is primarily an online retailer, it has operated physical storefronts in the past and plans to open new locations in the near future.
- Swedish furniture retailer IKEA holds first place with 317% greater total company revenues than its closest global competitor, Wayfair.
- With a total company revenue of $12.2 billion, Wayfair is the second-largest global furniture retailer and the largest in the United States.
- White House Home holds fourth place globally and second place in the U.S. with a total company revenue of $10.4 billion.
Top Online Retailers
Out of retailers that operate primarily or exclusively in eCommerce, Amazon leads by a wide margin. It is followed by several Chinese eCommerce giants.
- With a 2021 revenue of $469.8 billion and a global online retail market share of 9.02%, Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world.
- While 48.5% of Amazon’s 2021 revenue came from services outside of retail, Amazon’s $241.8 billion in retail sales alone are enough to secure it the top spot.
- Amazon’s 2021 revenue was 214.6% larger than that of its closest competitor, JD.com, which had a 2021 revenue of $149.3 billion.
- Amazon’s 2021 revenue was 3,329% larger than its closest domestic competitor, Wayfair, which had a 2021 revenue of $13.7 billion.
Top Online Retailers by Market Share
Although the top online retailers include industry giants like Amazon, these companies still hold relatively small portions of the global online retail market.
- Amazon leads with a 9.02% share of the global online retail market and a 52.1% share of the U.S. online retail market.
- Together, the Top 10 online retailers represent 16.4% of the global online retail market share.
- 83.6% of the global online retail sales are generated by businesses outside of the Top 10.
Top Global Retailers by Other Metrics
Total company revenue includes revenues generated from any income streams the retailer possesses that are not related to retail.
- By international-only revenue, Amazon leads with a 2022 international revenue of $120.1 billion.
- Thanks to its variety of subscription services, Amazon’s 2022 total company revenue was $514.0 billion, 49.7% greater than its retail revenue.
- Alibaba, Amazon’s closest eCommerce-exclusive competitor, produced a 2022 total company revenue of $129.2 billion, just 25.1% of Amazon’s.
- With a 2022 international revenue of $97.9 billion, Aldi nearly matched Walmart’s $101.2 billion.
- Smaller players in terms of retail sales, like IKEA and AS Watson, rank high in international revenue, with $45.9 billion and $23.1 billion respectively.
Top Global Retailers by Market Cap
Market capitalization measures a company’s size by the total value of its outstanding shares of stock. Many of the leading retailers by market capitalization are based in the United State
- In 2023, Amazon led with a market capitalization of $1.59 trillion, 266% greater than the runner-up, Walmart.
- Walmart, the largest retailer by revenue, held second place in 2023 market capitalization with $437.2 billion.
- Home Depot placed third with a market capitalization of $355.3 billion.
Top Global Retailers by Number of Stores
When ranked by number of physical locations, convenience stores and small discount grocery stores dominate the Top 10.
- Seven & I, owner of the chains 7-Eleven and Denny’s, lead with 40,325 stores in 2022.
- In 2022, Seven & I owned 62.0% more stores than the runner-up, Family Mart, which operated 24,889 stores.
- In 5th place with 14,474 stores in 2022, Carrefour is the first of the largest retailers by revenue to make this list.
Top Global Retailers by Countries of First-Party Operation
A country of first-party operation is any country in which a retailer operates a store that they own directly.
- With stores in 66 nations as of 2022, Swedish clothing company H&M leads in countries of first-party operation.
- IKEA, a Swedish home goods retailer, held second place with 51 countries in 2022.
- Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, held 10th place with 24 countries in 2022.
Top U.S. Retailers by Other Metrics
79 of the top 100 U.S. retailers saw sales growth in 2022.
- 7-Eleven was the fastest-growing retailer in the U.S., with a sales growth of 30.2% in 2022.
- BJ’s Wholesale Club took 2nd with a 2022 U.S. sales growth of 22.9%.
- Walmart, the top retailer by revenue in the U.S., placed 25th with a U.S. sales growth of 7.8% in 2022.
- Chedraui and Raley’s Supermarkets, which saw U.S. sales growths of 137.3% and 73.5% respectively due to their acquisitions of new chain stores, were omitted as outliers.
| Rank | Retailer | % Sales Growth (’21 to ’22) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7-Eleven | 30.2% |
| 2 | BJ’s Wholesale Club | 22.9% |
| 3 | Ulta Beauty | 18.3% |
| 4 | Verizon Wireless | 17.7% |
| 5 | Costco Wholesale | 16.9% |
| 6 | Sephora | 15.0% |
| 7 | Total Wine & More | 14.6% |
| 8 | Chewy.com | 13.6% |
| 9 | Publix Super Markets | 13.6% |
| 10 | Schnucks | 13.5% |
Top U.S. Retailers by Market Cap
Market capitalization measures a company’s size by the total value of its outstanding shares of stock. Many of the top U.S. retailers also rank in the global Top 10.
- Among both global and U.S. companies, Amazon led in 2023 market capitalization with $1.59 trillion.
- Walmart held second place both globally and in the U.S. with a market capitalization of $437.2 billion.
- With a market capitalization of $307.3 billion, Costco ranks 4th place among U.S. companies.
Top U.S. Retailers by Number of Stores
Dollar stores and convenience stores lead by number of U.S. locations.
- Dollar General leads with 19,503 locations in 2022.
- In 2022, 7-Eleven held third place with 12,645 stores, 31.4% of its total number of stores worldwide.
- Walmart, the largest retailer globally and in the United States, took 10th place with 5,330 locations in 2022.
These data and insights were compiled by the Capital One Shopping team based on publicly available data.
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