Daniel Slotta
Research expert covering Greater China
Washing machines - statistics & facts
In the fabric of modern life, one vital appliance has threaded itself through most homes worldwide, a multi-billion-dollar market: Washing machines. This major home appliance is owned by most households worldwide, reaching 70 percent of homes in the United States, with even higher ownership rates in countries like Germany, Spain, the UK, Canada, Japan, and Turkey. Given that, it is unsurprising that washing machines represent a core part of the major domestic appliances market, accounting for over 65 billion U.S. dollars of the global revenue for domestic market appliances in 2023.
Overall, the washing machine market exhibit similar trends to those of the general major appliance market, with steady growth expected in the coming years.
China is the largest market for washing machines
China has generally led the global home appliance market, both in terms of production and sales. The trend was similar for washing machines, with production of washing machines in the country exceeding 80 million units annually since 2020. In 2023, it reached a record high of 104.5 million units.  Sales of washing machines in China came to over 36 million units in the same year, representing more than a quarter of all washing machines sold globally.Smart washing machines on the rise
With the industry for smart appliances expected to grow in the future, washing machines account for a big part of the global smart home appliances market. Today, around 18 percent of households in the United States already own major smart appliances such as refrigerators or washing machines. This ownership rate is projected to increase as the smart washing machine market is forecast to grow from over two billion U.S. dollars in 2023 to around 6 billion U.S. dollars over the next five years.Overall, the washing machine market exhibit similar trends to those of the general major appliance market, with steady growth expected in the coming years.
