17 Affiliate Marketing Statistics Every Marketer Should Know

Affiliate marketing has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry, moving far beyond bloggers and niche sites to become a key revenue channel for brands, publishers, and creators worldwide. In 2025, it’s bigger and more competitive than ever, with businesses increasing investments and affiliates focusing on SEO, mobile, and high-ROI niches.

But with rising competition and challenges like traffic generation, success now depends on data-driven strategies. The following affiliate marketing statistics for 2025 provide a clear snapshot of the industry and insights to help you refine your approach and maximize results.

How we collected this data

The statistics in this guide come from reputable industry research and trusted marketing platforms, including Cognitive Market Research, Datanyze, eMarketer, Authority Hacker, and Influencer Marketing Hub. These organizations publish annual reports and surveys with insights from affiliate marketers, advertisers, and publishers across industries.

17 Key affiliate marketing statistics

1. The global affiliate marketing industry was valued at $18.5 billion in 2024. [Cognitive Market Research]

2. North America holds the largest market share, accounting for 40% of the global affiliate marketing industry. [Cognitive Market Research]

3. U.S. affiliate marketing spending is projected to reach nearly $12 billion in 2025, an increase of 11.9% from the previous year. [eMarketer]

4. Affiliate marketing is responsible for 16% of all internet orders in the U.S. [Authority Hacker]

5. 81% of brands have affiliate programs, and 84% of publishers participate in affiliate marketing. [Rakuten Advertising]

6. Amazon Associates is the biggest affiliate network in the world, with nearly 95,000 companies using the network in 2025. [Datanyze]

7. The largest group of affiliate marketers is aged 35–44, comprising 32% of the market, while 60% of affiliates are male. [Influencer Marketing Hub].

8. The average affiliate marketer earns $8,038 per month. [Authority Hacker]

9. Affiliate marketers with more than 3 years of experience earn 9.45x more than beginners. [Authority Hacker]

10. 81.2% of affiliate marketers make more than $20,000 annually. [AffiliateWP]

11. 45.3% of affiliate marketers say getting traffic is their biggest challenge. [Authority Hacker]

12. 78.3% of affiliate marketers use SEO as their primary traffic source. [Authority Hacker]

13. 50% of all affiliate traffic comes from mobile devices. [WeCanTrack]

14. Over 81% of services promoted by affiliates are B2C products or services. [DemandSage]

15. The three most profitable affiliate niches in 2025 are education, travel, and beauty. [Authority Hacker]

16. 82% of websites earning six or more figures annually monetize with display ads and affiliate products [Authority Hacker].

17. Affiliate marketing generates $15 for every dollar spent — a 1,400% ROI. [Authority Hacker]

Conclusion

Overall, these affiliate marketing statistics give you a clear picture of where the industry is headed in 2025. From rapid U.S. spending growth to high ROI benchmarks, the data shows just how powerful this channel can be.

To get the most out of affiliate marketing, focus on the proven revenue-driving niches, double down on SEO and mobile traffic, and learn from the strategies of experienced affiliates. By grounding your campaigns in data instead of assumptions, you’ll be better positioned to drive sales, build sustainable partnerships, and scale your affiliate efforts effectively.