Essential Walmart Statistics for 2024

Walmart is a household name and one of the best-known brands in the world. The multinational corporation runs superstores, hypermarkets, and discount stores across the US and beyond. Established in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962 by Sam Walton, Walmart now operates thousands of stores, employing more than two million people globally. Check out the following Walmart numbers to learn more about where and how the company operates.  

Editor’s Choice: Key Walmart Stats for 2024

• Walmart is the largest private-sector employer in the US, with over 1.6 million employees.
• In 2023, Walmart’s global revenues hit $630.79 billion.
• There are over 10,500 Walmart stores in the world.
• Walmart stores attracted around 240 million customers per week globally in 2023.
• Bananas are the best-selling item in Walmart stores.
• Walmart’s eCommerce sales nearly doubled from 2020 to 2023.

General Walmart Statistics

Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, with stores in 20 countries.

(Walmart) (Statista) 

Walmart is officially the world’s largest retailer. The company has stores in 20 different countries. Outside the US, the countries and regions with the highest number of Walmart outlets include Mexico, Central America, the United Kingdom, Africa, and Canada. 

In 2023, Walmart’s global revenue hit $630.79 billion.

( CompaniesMarketcap)

This marks an increase from $600.11 billion in 2022 and $571.96 billion in 2021. In the last decade, the company’s revenue grew by over $200 billion. According to data, the company’s net income reached $11.68 billion in 2023, down 14.58% fom the year before. 

Walmart operates more than 10,500 stores, and half of those are outside the US.

(Walmart)

The latest Walmart numbers show that the retailer now runs more than 10,500 stores across the world. In the United States, there are 4,616 Walmart stores and 599 Sam’s Club US branches. 

In 2023, Walmart stores attract around 240 million customers per week worldwide.

(Statista)

Walmart shopper statistics reveal that more than 240 million people visit Walmart stores every week. The numbers dropped from 275 million weekly visitors in 2019 due to the pandemic and the rising popularity of online shopping, but has increased by 10 million compared to 2022. 

Where Can You Find a Walmart Store?

Mexico has the highest number of Walmart stores outside of the US.

(Statista)

The US has the highest number of Walmart stores in the world. But the country with the second-highest number is just south of the border. In 2023, there were more than 2,862 stores in Mexico. Other countries and regions where Walmart is popular include Central America (882 stores), Africa (375 stores), China (365), Canada (402 stores) and Chile (392 stores).

Texas has the highest number of Walmart stores per state in 2023.

(24/7 Wall St.)

Shoppers in the Lone Star state are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding a local Walmart store. Texas has 509 Walmart outlets. Other states with a high number of stores include Florida (340), California (278), North Carolina (192), and Georgia (189). Washington DC, Vermont, and Alaska have the lowest number of Walmart stores. 

An estimated 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store in 2023.

(Forbes)

The vast majority of Americans don’t have any trouble locating a local Walmart store. In fact, over 90% of the US population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart outlet. 

The Walmart store in Doral, Florida, boasts the highest national sales.

(Miami New Times)

With 4,616 stores in the US, it’s no mean feat to be the top-selling Walmart location in the US. This title is currently held by a store in the city of Doral, Florida. 

The first Walmart store opened in Arkansas in 1962.

(Walmart)

Walmart founder, Sam Walton, opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. By 1967, the chain had expanded to 24 stores, and by 1980, there were 276 stores. The first Supercenter opened in Washington, Missouri in 1988. 

Walmart Employment Numbers

Walmart is the biggest employer in the US, excluding public administrative bodies.

(USA Today)

According to Walmart employment data, there are currently around 1.6 million people working for the company in the US. Statistics show that Walmart is the largest employer in the country after state governments. In Texas, the number of Walmart employees exceeds 175,000. 

Walmart is the world’s largest private-sector employer.

(Love Money)

The latest Walmart data shows that the brand is the world’s largest private-sector employer. There are currently more than 2.1 million people working for Walmart across the globe. Other companies on the list include McDonald’s, Amazon, Volkswagen, and FedEx. 

56.44% of the Walmart workforce is female in 2023.

(Walmart)

Statistics show that the majority of people who work for Walmart are female. By March 2023, 56.44% of the Walmart workforce was female both in the US and globally. 

Walmart Diversity and Inclusivity

In 2023, 50.04% of management positions were held by women.

(Walmart)

In 2023, women held more than 50% of management positions at Walmart, and this number has been increasing steadily over the past years.

The percentage of US management positions at Walmart held by people of color is 40.65% in 2023.

(Walmart)

Walmart diversity statistics show that Walmart has increased the percentage of management positions in the US held by people of color by 4.65% since 2021, when 37% of these positisons wer held by people of color.

40.05% of management promotions went to women in 2023.

(Walmart)

In 2023, only 40.05% of total management promotions in the US went to women. This represents a continued drop from 2019, when 43% of promotions involved women. 

Walmart as an Online Retailer

Walmart online sales in 2023 amounted to $82.1 billion.

(Statista)

The shift to online shopping during the pandemic triggered a surge in sales for Walmart, growing by 74% in that year alone. Since then, the total amount of online sales has more than doubled.

During the second quarter of 2020, Walmart’s US eCommerce sales increased by a staggering 97%.

(Quartz)

Walmart emerged as one of the most successful online retailers during the pandemic, with sales surging by an incredible 97% during the second quarter of 2020. One of the major draws for customers was proximity to Walmart stores.

Walmart online sales in the US hit $53.4 billion in 2023.

(Statista)

This represents a $5.6 billion increase compared to the sale numbers from 2022, as more and more of our shopping is done online. 

Walmart Logistics

Walmart’s vast network of stores is served by 210 distribution centers, 9,000 tractors, and 80,000 trailers.

(Walmart)

Walmart boasts a vast network of stores. Providing customers with products and keeping the shelves stacked is a massive logistical undertaking. Walmart logistic statistics show that there are currently 210 distribution centers, which utilize 9,000 tractors and 80,000 trailers to store, move and distribute stock. There are six disaster distribution centers, which are strategically placed to keep supply chains open in the event of a natural disaster. 

Walmart employs over 11,000 drivers in 2023.

(Walmart)

More than 11,000 drivers work for Walmart in the US alone. They drive 1.1 billion miles every year and make millions of deliveries. 

Every distribution center spans more than one million square feet.

(Walmart)

It’s not easy to imagine the sheer scale of Walmart’s distribution operation. To give you some idea of how things work, it’s worth pointing out that every one of Walmart’s 210 distribution centers covers at least one million square feet. Each center employs more than 600 staff who are responsible for unloading and loading trailers ready for shipping. 

Theft and Crime

In 2016, there was about one violent crime reported every day at a Walmart store.

(Business Insider)

There was a dramatic spike in everything from stabbings to attempted kidnappings at Walmart stores after the company introduced cost-cutting policies, which led to reductions in security spending and a rise in self-checkout scanners.     

Walmart will lose approximately $12-18 billion in 2023 due to theft.

(AS USA)

With retail stores now losing more than $100 billion due to theft in just one year, Walmart's losses also continue to grow, which has already led to some drastic measures, like the fact that the company is the first to introduce an on-site police station in their Atlanta store.

In 2023, Walmart closed all of its stores in Portland due to rampant theft.

(New York Post)

With some numbers showing an overall 50% increase in retail theft compared to last year, Walmart and other retailers are closing down some of their stores. Most notably, the company closed down its last two remaining stores in Portland this year, and has closed half of the stores in Chicago.

Walmart Products

Walmart sells around 160 million different products.

(Washington Post)

Of all the weird and wonderful Walmart facts, this is definitely one of the best. Walmart now offers customers access to an astonishing range of products that includes over 160 million different items, more than double it did just a few years ago. This figure includes store and online products. 

Bananas are the best-selling item in Walmart stores.

(Mashed) (Business Insider)

Walmart CEO Doug Mcmillon revealed that bananas had been a top-selling product at Walmart for years. Every year, the company sells “billions of bananas,” according to Mcmillon. In 2016, the vice president of produce and floral, Dorn Wenninger, estimated that Walmart had sold over 1.5 billion pounds of bananas in 2015. Other top-sellers in 2020 included exercise bikes and fitness equipment, toys, storage containers, and coffee machines. 

The pandemic drove a surge in demand for games consoles, hygiene products, and toilet paper at Walmart.

(Statista)

Hygiene products, toilet paper, and games consoles were in high demand at the start of the pandemic. Products including the Nintendo Switch, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes were among the most popular online purchases in 2020. Other products that became increasingly sought-after during that year included home fitness equipment and activewear.