multi level MLM network marketing statistics

Network marketing is an ever-evolving industry that constantly adapts to consumer needs and technological advancements. As we get to the year 2024, the industry is experiencing some exciting new trends that will shape how businesses approach network marketing.

There are new network marketing statistics, and I have arranged them so you can see what is currently happening in the direct selling industry. So, let’s dive in and discover the latest network marketing statistics and trends of 2024!

What is Network Marketing?

Network marketing is a business model that depends on person-to-person sales by independent representatives who frequently work from home.

A network marketing business may need you to build a network of business partners, salespeople, or entrepreneurs to assist with lead generation and closing sales.

Network marketing is identified by various names, including multi-level marketing (MLM), cellular marketing, pyramid schemes, consumer-direct marketing, referral marketing, or home-based business franchising.

The following are some network marketing statistics that would inform your decision if you’re interested in going into network marketing:

Network Marketing Industry Worth & Growth Statistics

1. As of 2022, the global direct-selling industry was worth over $287 million. It is expected to grow a CAGR of 5% between 2023 and 2028, thus reaching about $385.17 million by 2028. (source)

2. In 2021, America generated over $68 billion in direct selling retail sales. In addition, the global direct selling industry made a revenue of $186 billion. (source)

3. Over $600 billion in commissions were paid out between 2009 and 2017. Distributors throughout the world earned about $600 billion from 2009 to 2017. Meanwhile, network marketing companies generated nearly $1.5 trillion in sales in 8 years. (source)

4. The U.S. remains the leading country in the direct selling (MLM) industry, with over $42.67 billion generated in retail sales. Korea comes in second place with $19.42 billion, and Germany is in third place with $18.96 billion. (source)

Network Marketing Statistics — Worldwide Market

5. The U.S. has the largest market share in the global direct selling market, with 23%. However, China, Germany, and Korea each have a 10% market share. This makes them tie in second place. (source)

6. The direct selling market size in the U.S. is projected to be worth about $65.2 billion in 2023. (source)

7. Natura&Co, Latin America’s leading direct-selling company, has over $7 billion in revenue. (source)

8. Vorwerk, Germany’s leading direct-selling company in 2021, generates an annual revenue of over $4.5 billion. (source)

9. There are about 32.43 million Americans in the direct-selling community. Out of these people, over half of them are in North America. (source)

10. The global direct-selling community has over 128 million people worldwide (source)

11. There are over 2500 network marketing companies in the world. Out of these companies, 1000 of them are in the U.S. (source)

12. Amway is the biggest MLM company, with over $8.8 billion in revenue. (source)

13. In the USA, 1 out of 5 homes owns at least one Amway product. (source)

14. Amway upheld its position as the highest direct-selling company in 2020. (source)

15. Amway made an annual revenue of about $8.9 billion in 2021. Natura & Co recorded the second position on the list with $7.2 billion. Herbalife stands in third place with a revenue of $5.8 billion. (source)

16. The U.S Direct Selling industry (channel) got a record high revenue of $42.7 billion in retail sales in 2021. (source)

17. In 2019, there were 6.8 million direct sellers, and 87% of them were part-time. (source)

Direct Sales And Network Marketing Income Statistics

18. According to ZipRecruiter, the average network marketer in the U.S makes up to $35,430 annually (source)

19. According to a 2021 report by the World Federation of Direct Selling Association (WFDSA), there are over 125 million entrepreneurs who earn their income from direct selling (source).

The report also states that direct selling is available in more than 170 countries.

20. 74% of people involved in direct selling worldwide are women. The remaining 26% are men. (source)

21. Jessie Lee Ward for Prüvit is the highest-paid MLM seller, with an annual income of $18 million. (source).

22. MLM and Network marketers work an average of 13.3 hours per week. (source)

23. The monthly average gross income for an Amway active distributor in 2021 is $766. (source)

24. Dexter Yager, the top distributor of Amway’s Products, moves about $2 billion worth of products annually. He is sometimes referred to as the grandfather of network marketing. Though Dexter Yager died in 2019, he remains among the highest multi-level marketers. (source)

25. The average top earner in direct selling earns up to $20,000 monthly. This amounts to approximately $240,000 per year. (source)

26. Here are the top 5 highest earners in the direct selling industry. (source)

Ranking from number 1-10 is:

Rank	Name	Monthly Income (Estimated)	Yearly Income (Estimated)	Company
1.	Jessie Lee Ward	$1.5 million	$18 million	Pruvit
2.	Viraj Patil	$1.2 million	$14.6 million	iX Global
3.	Juan Fernando Franco and Ivan Martinez	$1.1 million	$13.2 million	BE
4.	Jenna Zwagil	$1.06 million	$12.7 million	MyDailyChoice
5.	Allan Badilla	$867,000	$10,404,000	Zeta Group

Network Marketing Statistics: MLM Demographics

27. 99% of MLM participants are high school graduates, and 52% of them hold a degree or have graduated from a college. (source)

28. In the U.S., direct selling prospects are diverse, with 48% women, 35% millennials, and 20% African Americans. (source)

29. The highest age groups in MLM are people aged between 35-44. About 26% who contributed to the direct selling crowd were from the age group 35-44 in 2020, while 25% among the direct sellers were from the age group 45-54. Notwithstanding, 23% of direct sales consumers belong to the age group 55 and above. (source)

30. Gen-Z accounts for nearly 10% of the direct selling industry. However, millennials still have the highest number of people involved in the industry. (source)

Network Marketing Statistics by Generation

31. About 75% of people involved in direct selling in the U.S. are women. These people include both direct sellers and discount buyers. (source)

Network Marketing Success And Failure Rate Statistics

32. 99% of MLM participants lose their money. According to a survey carried out by the Federal Trade Commission, about 99% of consumers lose their money to network marketing opportunities in the United States. This could be because the commissions go to the top distributors. (source)

33. Some Ponzi schemes are disguised as MLM. An increase in Ponzi schemes brought about $5.3 billion worth of losses. (source)

34. At least 50% of network marketers quit in less than one year of starting. 90% give up within five years of starting. In 10 years, 95% give up, and only those close to the top remain. (source)

35. 73% of people who engage in network marketing opportunities lose money or make no money. (source)

36. In the United Kingdom, 88% of Arbonne distributors made no income in 2018. In 2018, Arbonne only showed income analysis for 12% of their 21,000 independent consultants who made money. However, only 5% earned more than $60 annually. (source)

37. In 2019, the average Arbonne Independent Consultant earned only between $120–$502 in commissions. This is the only thing they got. According to the statistics, 99.6% of Arbonne reps earn below the National Living Wage. Most Arbonne reps work between 520 and 780 hours for free every year. (source)

38. MLM participants are 7% more likely to declare bankruptcy during their lifetime. According to MLM statistics from the AARP, individuals involved with network marketing declare bankruptcy at higher rates (18%) than those who don’t (11%). (source)

Network Marketing Social Selling Statistics

39. 46% of Americans would accept contact from direct sellers regarding business opportunities on social media. (source)

40. 72% of sales representatives using social selling as part of their sales process did better than their colleagues who didn’t use social selling. On top of that, they exceeded the quota 23% more often. (source)

41. 90% of top-performing salespeople now use social media as a sales strategy. (source)

42. Sales agents with high social network activity achieve 45% more sales opportunities and are 51% more likely to hit their sales targets. (source)

43. 89% of top-performing sales agents claim social networking platforms, such as LinkedIn, play a major role in closing deals and are part of their sales strategy. Moreover, 70% of sales professionals are active on LinkedIn for business purposes, compared to 64% on Facebook and 43% on Twitter. (source)

44. 54% of sales agents using social media can track their social media usage back to a minimum of one closed deal. (source)

45. A good social selling program can drive 16% better win rates, 2x pipeline, and deliver 48% better deals. (source)

46. 50% of revenue is influenced by social selling in 14 common industries, including computer software, healthcare, and marketing & advertising. (source)

47. 93% of sales executives lack formal social selling training. (source)

Top Network Marketing Trends Of 2024

Despite these challenges, the network marketing industry is poised for significant growth in the coming years, thanks to several emerging trends. Here are some of the top network marketing trends of 2024.

1. Personalization

Today’s consumers are looking for products and services that are tailored to their individual needs and preferences, and network marketing companies are starting to take notice. By personalizing your products and marketing messages, you can create a more engaging and meaningful experience for your customers.

Using data and analytics to understand your target audience, you can create personalized marketing campaigns that resonate with your customers.

Another way is through the use of chatbots. Chatbots can be programmed to engage with customers in real-time, answering their questions and providing personalized recommendations based on their needs and preferences.

2. Increased Focus on E-commerce and Online Sales

With more consumers shopping online, network marketing companies are shifting their focus away from traditional in-person sales methods and toward online sales channels.

One way they’ve achieved that is through the use of online marketplaces. By listing their products on popular e-commerce platforms, businesses can reach a wider audience and increase sales.

Another way is through the use of mobile apps. By developing mobile apps that allow customers to shop and engage with their brand on the go, you can increase your sales and build stronger relationships with your customers.

3. Influencer Marketing

This has been a growing trend in network marketing for some time, and it will continue even more in 2024. Influencers have a highly engaged audience that trusts their recommendations. This makes them a powerful tool for businesses looking to build brand awareness and increase sales.

Influencer marketing involves partnering with social media influencers to promote products and services to their followers. By leveraging the power of social media influencers, you can reach a wider audience and create more buzz around your products.

One way of leveraging this is through micro-influencers with smaller followings but are highly engaged and strongly connected with their audience. You can reach a highly targeted audience and build brand awareness by partnering with micro-influencers in their niche.

Also, use user-generated content to encourage customers to share photos and videos of your products on social media.

5. Mobile Optimization

With more and more consumers using their mobile devices to shop and engage with brands, businesses must have a strong mobile presence to remain competitive.

One way that businesses are optimizing for mobile is through the use of mobile apps. You can develop mobile apps that allow customers to shop and engage with your brand on the go. This will help increase your sales and build stronger relationships with your customers.

By creating websites that are optimized for mobile devices, you can provide a seamless user experience and increase your engagement.

Final Notes: Do I Recommend Network Marketing?

I understand network marketing is a controversial topic, but it is still a huge industry. It is a legitimate way to make money and is 100% legal.

And, like all businesses, the MLM business model comes with risks.

The current network marketing statistics show that:

Many people lose their money.
Only a few make it past the first year.
It is highly possible to make money through direct selling.

So, we can conclude that to be successful in network marketing, you require hard work, commitment, and perseverance.

Congratulations on doing your research first if you want to venture into the MLM industry.

I recommend you learn more about the companies, their pricing tiers, and what you must do to get paid, and verify that the companies are members of the DSA.

The world is changing fast. And I understand people may find it difficult to cope with the changes initially.

That’s why I will keep this post updated with the latest network marketing statistics and trends you can find to help you make more informed decisions.

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47 Multi-Level And Network Marketing Statistics, Facts & Trends (2024)