Global Wellness Institute values UK wellness economy at $224 billion

The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has released the first detailed report of the United Kingdom’s total wellness economy.

According to GWI, the UK’s wellness market reached $224 billion (£171 billion) in 2022, ranking fifth in the world (behind the US, China, Germany and Japan).

The new report highlights that in 2022, the UK wellness industry reached 131% of its pre-pandemic (2019) market value, ranking first globally for this metric.

The UK was also highlighted by GWI as one of the two fastest-growing wellness markets (among the top-25 markets) since 2020, growing 19.4% annually, just behind Mexico.

The GWI report was released at a special press event in London to officially launch the first Global Wellness Summit in the UK. Global Wellness Summit 2024 will be held at the Old Course Hotel & Spa at St Andrews, November 4-7.

Wellness tourism leads growth in the UK

According to GWI, the fastest-growing UK wellness sectors (annual growth rates, 2020-2022) were wellness tourism at 79%; public health, prevention and personalised medicine at 45%; and wellness real estate at 26%. The slowest growing market for the UK was workplace wellness at minus 4.1%.

UK consumers were spending 31% more on wellness ($3,342/£2,559 per year) compared with 2019. This feeds into how the wellness economy represented a growing percentage of the total UK economy/GDP, at 7.3%.

In the UK, physical activity was the largest sector of the market, valued at $50.4 billion (£38.6 billion) and public health/prevention/personalised medicine at $44.9 billion (£34.4 billion), ranking no.3 globally in these categories.

Rapid growth in wellness tourism

GWI states that the UK wellness market hit a record valuation of $170.5 billion (£131 billion) in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and shrunk to $157 billion (£120 billion) in the pandemic year of 2020.

After the impact of lockdowns in 2020, wellness tourism was stated to be UK’s fastest-growing wellness market, reporting 79% annual growth (2020-2022), more than double the global average of 36%.

UK focuses on preventative health

The 45.3% annual growth rate for the public health, prevention and personalised medicine segment was very striking – driven by government investments in the prevention space – as the average growth rate globally was only 6.6%.

“Not only are British companies innovators in spa, hospitality, fitness, beauty, wellness real estate, and other wellness sectors, but the government is a global leader in pioneering wellness policies in physical activity, mental wellness, prevention, and encouraging a healthy lifestyle,” said Katherine Johnston and Ophelia Yeung, GWI senior research fellows.

Significant growth

Referencing data from the GWI’s 2024 Country Rankings report, the UK market grew significantly faster than all other top-ten wellness markets from 2020 to 2022, including the US (14% annual growth), China (8.9%), Germany (16.8%), Japan (-3.9%), France (11.6%), India (16.5%), Canada (13.5%), South Korea (9.4%) and Italy (7.9%).

“Wellness is rapidly ascending in the UK, reflecting a growing national focus on holistic health and wellbeing,” said Ashley Kohler, director of wellness for Destination Kohler Hospitality & Real Estate. “This trend highlights a widespread commitment to integrating physical, mental and emotional wellness into everyday life, driving innovative approaches across multiple sectors.”

The report is the latest instalment in the GWI’s Geography of Wellness platform, where governments and companies support a deep dive into a nation’s wellness market. This new report was created in partnership with Kohler Co., a global leader in the design, innovation and manufacture of kitchen and bath products for 150 years.

About the Global Wellness Institute

The GWI is a non-profit organisation examining the global wellness industry, known for introducing major industry initiatives and regional events that bring together leaders to chart the future. The Institute positively impacts global health and wellness by educating public institutions, businesses and individuals on how they can work to prevent disease, reduce stress and enhance overall quality of life. Its mission is to empower wellness worldwide.

ACCESS THE FREE REPORT HERE