MIAMI—The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the leading nonprofit dedicated to research and education in the global wellness industry, has released new data on the United States’ fast-growing wellness economy, now valued at $2.1 trillion. The findings, made possible through a partnership with Fountain Life, show that the U.S. remains the undisputed leader in the global wellness economy, dwarfing other top markets.
Growing at an annual rate of 7.9 percent from 2019 to 2024, the U.S. ranks among the 10 fastest-growing wellness markets worldwide and holds the largest market share in nine of eleven wellness sectors.
Wellness economy per capita spending in the U.S. surpassed the $6,000 threshold in 2024, reaching $6,293, while the sector now accounts for 7.33 percent of the nation’s GDP.
“With a large pool of sophisticated consumers who spend an average of nearly $6,300 per person per year on wellness, the U.S. wellness market is deep, dynamic, and innovative,” said Susie Ellis, Chair and CEO of the GWI. “This significant level of personal investment in health and prevention underscores a powerful shift toward proactive, individual engagement in wellbeing. We’re proud to partner with Fountain Life to make this data widely accessible—equipping policymakers, investors, and business leaders with the insights they need to better understand and navigate this rapidly expanding market.”
From 2019 to 2024, the fastest-growing U.S. wellness sectors include wellness real estate (18.8 percent CAGR), mental wellness (14.2 percent), thermal/mineral springs (10.2 percent), and traditional and complementary medicine (10 percent). The public health, prevention, and personalized medicine segment reached $240 billion in 2024, growing at an annual rate of 8.8 percent over the same period.
“Today’s wellness economy reflects a profound shift in how Americans think about health, not as something to react to after problems arise, but as something to proactively protect, optimize, and extend,” said Dr. Bill Kapp, co-founder and CEO of Fountain Life. “As a leader in longevity, healthspan, lifespan, and prevention, Fountain Life is proud to partner with the Global Wellness Institute to help bring greater visibility to this rapidly expanding market. The data confirms what we are seeing firsthand: consumers are investing more than ever in personalized, preventive, and performance-driven health solutions that empower them to live longer, healthier lives.”
Living Well in the U.S.
The United States is a global innovation leader in many wellness sectors, pioneering new products, services, and therapies in many spaces—from food and beverages, fitness programs, and mind-body treatments to longevity, recovery, sensory experiences, and diagnostic technologies that meet the emerging and diverse wellness needs of consumers. A growing number of Americans live and work in intentionally planned wellness real estate developments, which put human health and wellbeing at the center of their design and operations.
Key Wellness Experiences in the U.S.
U.S. parks and forests offer millions of acres of grounds for hiking, climbing, camping, and water sports. Majestic landscapes—from the deserts and canyons of Arizona, to the snowy mountains of Colorado, to the coastal beaches and the five Great Lakes—provide a respite from busy everyday life and opportunities for sports and recreation. Numerous city hotels prioritize wellness; not only are they equipped with gyms and spas, but many also place a high priority on sleep, healthy and nutritious food, mental wellness, and social connections.
U.S. cities offer diverse immersive experiences through music (e.g., festivals in Austin, Chicago, Nashville, and more), food (e.g., regional/ethnic cuisines, a healthy food landscape that spans organic, plant-based, farm-to-table, raw foods, etc.), and the arts. Many cities have created art installations, public recreational spaces, and urban trails and greenways (e.g., the Highline in New York) that enable walking, running, and cycling in proximity to nature.
For those seeking wellness treatments and therapies, the United States is home to more than 30,000 spas (day spas, medical spas, destination spas, hotel/resort spas) and nearly 400 thermal/mineral springs where you can experience communal bathing and the healing powers of water. The United States is also a hub for longevity science and innovation, with new protocols and diagnostics available that help to detect, treat, and manage emerging disease, and maximize your healthspan. Events like Global Wellness Day, celebrated the first Saturday in June, and World Wellness Weekend, celebrated in September, help bring free wellness activities to people across the country.
