UFI releases a new set of global exhibition industry statistics
According to UFI, 4.7m. exhibiting companies welcomed 318m. visitors in 2024. 368 billion euros of economic impacts on hosting territories, supporting 4.3 million jobs.
PARIS – UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, released the new research data covering the year 2024 alongside other existing data for the first time which unveils some new trends since 2019.
The UFI Global Exhibition Industry Statistics report estimates that 32,000 exhibitions were held worldwide in 2024, a similar number to pre-pandemic. Their activity, measured by the space rented by exhibiting companies, is close to the level of 2019: 138 million sqm against 143.7 million sqm, showing a slight decrease of -0.8% per year on average. Additional research from the 'Global Exhibitors and Visitors Insights / Net Promoter Score' report produced by Explori shows that satisfaction from participants has improved post-pandemic, between +10 and +31 points for visitors, and +20 and + 29 points for exhibiting companies, depending on the region of the world.
The new Global Economic Impact of Exhibitions (2024) report, produced by UFI and Oxford Economics, evaluates the direct output generated by the production of exhibitions and other exhibitors and visitors' spending at 150 ($162) billion euros. This first level of impact, which includes inflation, benefits not just the exhibition industry, but all related sectors, such as accommodation, restaurants and transport, and it has increased by 3.8% per year on average since 2019. Adding on the indirect and induced impacts generated in the economy, the total global economic impact of exhibitions on hosting territories reaches 368 ($398) billion euros in total output and 215 ($233) billion euros in total GDP, corresponding to 4.3 million full-time equivalent jobs.
'These reports demonstrate the resilience and recovery of our industry and whilst the numbers and size of individual exhibitions may have changed, from a global perspective we can see customer satisfaction has increased, and the economic significance of our industry remains hugely important to our industry, our host cities and the markets we serve' says Chris Skeith OBE, UFI Managing Director and CEO.
Detailed results
Europe was the largest market in terms of visitors, welcoming 102 million in 2024 (32% of the total worldwide). North America ranked second, with 89 million visitors, followed by the Asia-Pacific with 84 million visitors.
Since 2019, the total space rented by exhibitors has performed differently across regions, with average annual trends varying from -1.4% in Europe to -0.9% in Asia-Pacific, -0.4% in Central and South America, -0.3% in North America, stable in Africa, and +0.9 % in the Middle East.
Direct spending related to exhibitions (including organiser operations, exhibitor investments, and visitor expenditure) totalled 150 ($162) billion euros. When accounting for indirect and induced effects across supply chains and local economies, the sector's total contribution reached 368 ($398) billion euros in total output: 175 ($189) billion euros in North America, €108 ($117) billion in Europe and 73 ($79) billion euros in Asia-Pacific.
Overall, exhibitions globally generated a total output of 78,800 ($85,200) euros per exhibiting company and 8,500 ($9,200) euros per square meter of venue gross indoor exhibition space.
The 'Global Economic Impact of Exhibitions' report shows the far-reaching impact of the exhibition sector, which generates 215 ($233) billion euros of total GDP supported by exhibitions globally would rank the sector as the 57th largest economy globally, larger than the economies of countries such as Hungary, Qatar, Nigeria, and Ecuador.
The report was produced by UFI in collaboration with Oxford Economics and is based on comprehensive industry data and econometric modeling covering more than 180 countries.
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