18 Affiliate Marketing Statistics All Marketers Must Know in 2025

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Affiliate Marketing Statistics That Every Marketer Needs to Know

Are you in search of affiliate marketing statistics to boost your earnings?

Learning about the latest affiliate marketing statistics will help you optimize your strategies and stay ahead of the curve.

Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or new to affiliate marketing, these statistics offer valuable guidance for maximizing your success and achieving your financial goals.

In this article, we’ll share 18 recent and relevant affiliate marketing statistics you need to find profitable opportunities and boost your conversion rates.

Let’s get started.

1. The Market Value of Affiliate Marketing Exceeds $20 Billion (& Is Growing!)

Affiliate marketing has become a huge business. According to a report by Astute Analytica, it’s worth well over $20 billion as of 2024.

This huge number is just a start. Astute Analytics expects the market size to double over the next few years, reaching nearly $40 billion by 2031.

Affiliate marketing statistics chart from Astute Analytics. It projects the global affiliate marketing platform market size growing from ,430.1 million in 2022 to ,805.4 million in 2031.

This shows that affiliate marketing is an exciting field growing more rapidly.

2. More Than 80% of Advertisers & Publishers Use Affiliate Marketing Programs

A study by Rakuten/Forrester Research found that 81% of advertiseres and 84% of publisheers use affiliate marketing programs.

That’s because it helps businesses reach more people, drive leads, and boost sales, all without spending much money on hiring a marketing company.

3. Searches For “Affiliate Marketing” on Google Have Doubled Since 2016

According to Google Trends data, there has been a consistent increase in people searching worldwide for the term “affiliate marketing” since 2016. This search interest peaked even more from 2020 onwards. This was likely because many businesses, even those with physical stores, were selling online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The graph from Google Trends below shows how much people are interested in the term “affiliate marketing” on a scale from 0 to 100. By the end of July 2023, the interest in this term reached a high of 100, which is the highest it has ever been.

google-trends-graph

4. Amazon Associates Holds 46.11% of the Affiliate Market Share

As of 2024, the largest global affiliate program is Amazon Associates, holding a significant 46.11% market share. Following that:

  • Rakuten takes the 2nd position with a market share of 7.78%
  • Awin claims the 3rd spot with a 6.68% market share
  • ShareASale holds a 6.46% market share and ranks 4th
  • CJ Affiliate ranks 5th with a 6.24% market share

5. Affiliate Marketing Contributes to 16% of eCommerce Sales in the US

Affiliate marketing is a big deal in online marketing, driving 16% of all online orders in the United States.

As nearly everyone promotes products and services online, it’s clear that businesses must use affiliate marketing smartly to sustain their growth.

6. SEO Is the Top Traffic Source for More Than 69% of Affiliate Marketers

More than 69% of affiliate marketers rely on search engine optimization (SEO) to get the most visitors to their websites.

Next up is social media, with 67% of marketers using it to connect with possible customers. Blogging secures the third spot, with 65% of marketers doing it. And Pay-per-click (PPC) ads are fourth on the list, bringing website visitors for around 34% of marketers.

7. The Most Valuable Affiliate Marketing Niche Is the Health and Wellness Industry

Popular industries for affiliate marketing include fastion, wellness, hobbies, and technology. However, which of these industries makes the most money?

The most profitable niche is health and wellness, worth over $6.32 trillion. It covers fitness, diets, medicine, organic food, and more.

8. Influencers Have Inspired 88% of Consumers to Make Purchases

Today, people are looking more for real suggestions from sources they trust. When brands partner with influencers, it creates a unique bond between them and the buyers as they go through the buying process.

According to Nielsen Trust In Advertising Sell Sheet, 88% of customers have made buying choices because an influencer recommended something.

9. 9 in 10 Consumers Make Buying Decisions Based on Reviews

Customer reviews are super important when people decide to buy something, with 9 out of 10 shoppers trusting them. That’s why businesses need to keep an eye on their online reputation to stay ahead in the market.

10. Cost Per Action (CPA) Is the Most Commonly Used Payment Model Among Affiliate Marketers

You can earn money in different ways as an affiliate marketer. However, 99% of programs use the CPA (cost per action) payment model. With this, you get a commission whenever someone buys something through your affiliate link.

But there are other payment models, too. For example, you might get paid depending on how many people click your link (CPC or cost-per-click), even if they don’t buy anything.

11. Annual Growth Rate of Affiliate Marketing Revenue Reaches 10%

Affiliate marketing has been growing a lot, making 10% more revenue every year since 2015. And that’s still happening in 2025.

It’s an excellent way to make money, and more experts and agencies might start doing it in the upcoming years.

12. SaaS-Based Products Offer Affiliates Commissions From 20 to 70%

products affiliate commissions

A study found that SaaS products can be a great way for affiliate marketers to make money. They can get up to 70% commissions, which is the market’s highest.

But remember, the amount of money you can get varies a lot. Some SaaS products might only give you as little as 20% commissions.

13. 50% of All Affiliate Traffic Comes From Mobile Devices

More than 50% of the people who visit affiliate sites use phones or tablets.

That’s why affiliate marketers need to make sure their websites work well on mobile devices. This makes the site easy to use and brings in more visitors.

14. Top Coupon Affiliate Websites Are Declining in Revenue

Groupon is a famous company that uses affiliate commissions to run its business. According to Statista, Groupon reached its peak in 2016 when it earned over $3 billion. That figure. has steadily declined, plummeting to $515 million in 2023.

That’s still a lot of money, but the decline shows that the popularity of coupon affiliates is past its prime.

15. Bluehost Paid Over $5M in Commissions

Selling web hosting is now one of the most profitable and popular ways for affiliate marketers to make a lot of money.

Since more people are creating blogs and businesses, they need websites. To make websites work well, they need good hosting services. This is where affiliate marketers can help.

Bluehost, a web hosting company, paid a huge amount of $5 million to affiliates in just one year. People promoting Bluehost’s hosting and other products can earn about $65 to $130 for each sale.

16. Affiliate Marketers Can Earn an Average of oveer $56,000 Annually

According to PayScale, the average base salary for an affiliate marketer in the US is $56,141, as of December 2024. This is based on the salaries reported by those working in the field and those who have self-reported their pay. It also takes into account factors such as experience and education level.

17. Individuals Between the Age of 35 to 44 Make up 32% of the Total Affiliate Marketing Industry

Recent studies show that about 32% of affiliate marketers are between 35 and 44 years old.

This age group makes up the highest percentage of affiliate marketers, and they tend to have the highest success rate.

Next up, 25 to 34-year-olds make up 24% of affiliate marketers. The smallest group comprises people aged 45 to 54, who only make up 10% of the total.

18. 83% of Affiliate Recruiters Discover New Affiliates Through Affiliate Network Dashboards

83% of brands and publishers recruit new affiliates via network dashboards.

Network dashboards help brands and publishers find potential affiliates easily. This saves time and resources in recruiting. Additionally, these dashboards let affiliates access all the necessary information about the brands they want to work with.

Boost Your Earnings With These Affiliate Marketing Statistics

These factual affiliate marketing statistics show the vast possibilities of this marketing strategy. 

You can use these numbers to customize your methods, improve your campaigns, and create meaningful partnerships. This way, you can position yourself to make the most out of your earnings.

Want to step into the affiliate marketing world? Here are some resources to help:

Want to start building your affiliate marketing email list? Try OptinMonster risk-free today!


Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that we believe will add value to our readers.



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