70+ Affiliate Marketing Statistics for You to Know in 2025

Affiliate marketing is booming right now. If you’ve ever clicked on a product link in a blog or YouTube video, chances are it was an affiliate link. And onward 2025, this industry will be bigger and better than ever.

Why should you care?

Because people are making real money doing it. Businesses are growing fast using affiliate marketing. And if you’re not paying attention, you might miss out.

In this post, we’re going to break down 70+ must-know affiliate marketing stats in 2025. Don’t worry, there is no boring stuff. We have tried of keep it simple, helpful, and fun for you.

Affiliate Marketing Statistics: Global Market Overview

Affiliate marketing has been around us (unknowingly) for a long time. But it became very popular in the middle 90s, especially when Amazon launched its affiliate program in 1996.

Below is a table showing the rise of affiliate marketing over the last half a decade-

Source: Hostinger

These are today’s numbers, but what about tomorrow? The future looks just as promising. Verified Market Research predicts affiliate marketing revenue could reach between $44B – $45B by 2031, with a CAGR rate of 16.4%.

* CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate

Geography-Based Statistics of Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is popular worldwide, thanks to the borderless nature of the internet. However, its success can vary slightly across different regions, depending on the availability and growth of ecommerce in those areas. To make things easier to understand-

1. North America

• Accounted for 40% of the global affiliate marketing market in 2024.
• Around 67% (USA 57% and Canada 10%) of all affiliate marketers are from this region. (QRCodeTiger)
• Market size: $7.4 billion in 2024, projected to reach $11.3 billion by 2031 (CAGR 6.2%). (Wix)
• U.S. affiliate marketing spending was $10.72 billion in 2024, expected to cross $11.99 billion by 2025 (+11.9%).

2. Europe

• Made up roughly 27% of the affiliate marketing market in 2025. (Framer)
• Europe’s affiliate marketing sales revenue stood at 4.6 billion in 2025 (Cognitive Market Research)
• Market value of $5.55 billion in 2024 and forecasted to reach $8.63 billion by 2031 (CAGR 6.5%). (Whop)

3. Asia–Pacific (APAC)

• The fastest-growing regional affiliate market with an estimated CAGR crossing over 10% every year. (Publift)
• Market size: roughly $4.3 billion in 2024, predicted to surge to $8.3 billion by 2031 .
• 60%+ of affiliate traffic in APAC comes from mobile devices, emphasizing mobile-first strategies (Earnkaro)
• Affiliate ROI in APAC averages $6.50–$15 per $1 spent, matching global performance benchmarks.

4. South America

• The other America represented around 5% of all global affiliate marketing, with a value of $925.6 million in 2024. (Cognitive Market Research)
• Forecast at a CAGR of 7.4%, estimating market size reaching $1.5 billion by 2031.

5. Middle East & Africa (MENA)

• Holds a small 2% share of the global affiliate market in 2024 ($650 m+).
• MENA influencer ad spending forecast at $648.9 million in 2025, with 8.4% CAGR to 2029. (Statista)

Affiliate Earnings & Revenue Potential

Affiliate marketing can be surprisingly profitable, but earnings vary a lot depending on your skills, strategy, and niche. 

A survey done by Authority Hacker on some 2270 affiliates shows that on average, an affiliate marketers earn around $8,038 per month, which adds up to nearly $96,000 a year.

Another survey done by AffiliateWP suggests that about 81.2% of affiliates make over $20,000 annually, and around 15% earn between $80k to over $100k per year. A rare but impressive 1% even generates seven figures per annum.

So when we compile data from multiple sources, we get an average of-

• 23% affiliates earn nothing
• 41% make under $1,000/month
• 50% earn between $1k–$50k/month
• 9% pull in $50k–$100k/month
• And 6% exceed $100k/month 

Source: DesignRush, Affiliate24, Hostinger

So what affects these numbers?

Experience plays a big role. Beginners often earn less than $1,000/month. Intermediate affiliates usually make between $1k–$10k, while advanced marketers pull in $10k–$100k/month. Top-level super affiliates? They earn over $100k each month.

Industry & Niche‑Specific Stats

• The technology and software (SaaS) niche offers some of the highest affiliate payouts, with average commissions ranging from 20% to 50% per sale.
• Finance affiliates earn an average of $150 to $200 per lead, making it one of the most lucrative niches.
• The health and wellness sector accounts for nearly 30% of affiliate marketing revenue globally, with a steady growth of 8% CAGR (Hostinger).
• Fashion and lifestyle affiliates typically see average earnings of $500 to $1,500 monthly, with lower commission rates around 5% to 15% but higher volume (Designrush).
• Emerging niches like eco-friendly products and online education are growing rapidly, with an estimated 15–20% year-over-year growth in affiliate program participation (Publift).
• Affiliates in gaming and entertainment report an average conversion rate of 3.5%, higher than the global average of 1.5% across all industries.
• The travel niche faces seasonal fluctuations but averages a 6% commission rate and a 4% annual growth in affiliate revenues

Table on average affiliate marketers’ comission rate across various sectors-

Average income every month (Nieche-based):

• Education/E‑Learning: $15,551
• Travel: $13,847
• Beauty/Skincare: $12,475
• Finance: $9,296
• Technology/Gadgets: $7,418
• Health & Fitness: $7,194
• eCommerce: $5,967

Source: AuthorityHacker, Publift

Consumer Behavior & Buyer Journey (Affiliate Marketing Statistics)

• Live-streaming and short-form video are dominating the awareness stage, with 34% of viewers buying after watching affiliate content. (Backlinko)
• 83% of affiliate-driven purchases involve a single touchpoint. Meaning the consumer converted instantly after coming in contact with the first affiliate offer. (CJ Affiliate)
• Around 7 in 10 consumers state that consumer reviews at least ‘frequently’ influence their purchase decisions. This makes content-driven affiliate campaigns very effective. (Backlinko)
• Mobile-based affiliate conversions saw a staggering year-on-year increase of 49%. (Rewardful)
• 83% of shoppers cite coupons as their primary motivator for affiliate purchases.
• Zero-click searches are rising, meaning buyers often get product info without leaving Google. (Affiliate Roulette)
• Millennials (ages 35–44) represent the largest demographic of affiliate buyers, accounting for 32%+ of all tracked affiliate purchases. (OptinMonster)
• Trust, social proof, and personalized recommendations are the top psychological drivers of affiliate conversions. (Springer Research)

Affiliate Marketing Platform, Channel, and ROI Insights

• 78% of affiliates rely on SEO for organic traffic, making it the dominant acquisition channel. (WeCanTrack)
• Affiliate campaigns deliver an average 12:1 ROAS. Meaning every $1 spent can return up to $12. (sqmagazine.co.uk)
• Email-driven affiliate campaigns outperform all, with an average 14:1 ROI, driving strong conversions. (sqmagazine.co.uk)
• 21% of affiliate marketers say short-form videos (YouTube, TikTok, etc) deliver the highest ROI. (HubSpot)

Affiliate Marketing Statistics Speak for Themselves

The days of affiliate marketing aren’t over yet, as in 2025 the industry accumulated 37+ billion dollars in revenue and is growing 10% CAGR. With enough skills, experience, passion, and hard work, a big number of affiliates are earning 6/7 digits a year. 

When it comes to statistics, North America leads in both the number of affiliates and overall market size. In terms of niches, tech-related services such as e-learning and SaaS products offer the highest commission rates and affiliate earnings.

Affiliates use various marketing methods like social media, content marketing, and videos to reach audiences. But in the end, what truly matters is understanding your product’s target users, choosing the right affiliates, and putting in consistent effort to grow.

We hope the 70+ statistics above help you make informed, data-driven decisions to take your eCommerce business further.

Relevent blog: How to Set Up a Multilevel Affiliate Program in WooCommerce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is affiliate marketing still profitable in 2025?

Absolutely. With average earnings of $8k/month and top affiliates earning $100k+/month, it’s a financially viable path for those who build quality, optimized content. 

What niches pay best?

In 2025, the highest-paying affiliate marketing niches include e-learning, travel, beauty, and finance. Among them, e-learning leads the way, with top affiliates earning an average of $15,500 per month. SaaS affiliate programs are also highly profitable, often offering 20% to 70% in recurring commissions.

SEO vs. social media, which works best for affiliate marketers?

In 2025, SEO offers better long-term ROI (8 to 12x) and higher conversion rates. On the other hand, social media brings faster reach and works well for trends and visuals. But it has lower ROI (4 to 6x). Smart affiliates combine both SEO for long-term stability and social media for quick visibility and engagement.

Is mobile optimization critical for affiliate marketing?

Yes. Mobile optimization is not just necessary but also mandatory for affiliate marketers. More than half of the chunk of affiliate traffic is generated are mobile users. Stores not optimized for mobile risk losing over half of their potential audience