Updated on
11th Nov 2026
The global wellness economy has reached a record $7.5 trillion (£5.7 trillion), with the spa sector one of the fastest-growing markets, according to new research from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI)
The Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2026, released on 11 November 2026, found the wellness economy grew by 8.9% between 2024 and 2025. It is forecast to reach $8.2 trillion (£6.1 trillion) by the end of 2026 and almost $10.9 trillion (£8.2 trillion) by 2030
The findings highlight continued opportunities for businesses operating across the beauty, spa and wider wellness industries, as consumer spending on health and wellbeing continues to increase
Spa industry records 12.8% annual growth
The global spa market was valued at $184 billion (£6.2 trillion) in 2025, up from $163 billion (£123 billion) in 2024 and $120 billion (£90 billion) in 2019. This represents annual growth of 7.3% between 2019 and 2025
Spas were the second-fastest-growing wellness sector between 2024 and 2025, recording a 12.8% increase. Wellness tourism also performed strongly, growing by 11.4% over the same period, while thermal and mineral springs increased by 10.4%
The Global Wellness Institute forecasts that the spa market will reach $270 billion (£203 billion) by 2030, representing average annual growth of 8% over the next five years
Global beauty and personal care market reaches $1.4 trillion
Personal care and beauty remains the largest sector of the global wellness economy, with a market value of $1.4 trillion (£1.1 trillion) in 2025. The sector has grown at an average annual rate of 5% since 2019, when it was valued at $1.1 trillion (£829 billion). GWI projects that the market will reach $1.8 trillion (£1.4 trillion) by 2030, with average annual growth of 5.1%
The report classifies personal care and beauty as a mature but steadily expanding wellness market, alongside physical activity, healthy eating and nutrition, and traditional and complementary medicine
Wellness tourism and mental wellbeing create further growth opportunities
Wellness tourism reached $982 billion (£740 billion) in 2025, up from $882 billion (£665 billion) in 2024. The sector is forecast to grow by an average of 7.1% annually through to 2030, reaching $1.4 trillion (£1.1 trillion)
Mental wellness is another significant growth area. The market nearly doubled between 2019 and 2025, reaching $301 billion (£227 billion), with an average annual growth rate of 11.9%. It is forecast to grow by a further 12.6% annually through to 2030
The research also highlights growing markets within mental wellness, including meditation and mindfulness, sleep and other wellbeing-related services. For salon and spa businesses, these figures provide further context for the expanding consumer focus on holistic wellbeing, with beauty, relaxation and wellness increasingly represented as interconnected areas of the global economy
Global wellness economy forecast to reach $10.9 trillion (£8.2 trillion) by 2030
The GWI expects the global wellness economy to grow by an average of 7.7% annually between 2025 and 2030, around 50% faster than projected global GDP growth
By 2030, seven wellness sectors are expected to be valued at more than $1 trillion (£753.6 billion) each. These include personal care and beauty, wellness real estate, physical activity, healthy eating and nutrition, wellness tourism, public health and preventative medicine, and traditional and complementary medicine
“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 Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2026 includes market data, regional analysis and growth forecasts across all 11 wellness sectors
India Hurford-Jones
Published
11th Nov 2026
