At Rs 2L per person, India ranks 2nd in world for spending annually on clothes

Hyderabad: A new study by Public Desire has revealed that India, despite having some of the lowest prices for popular brands, ranks second in the world for the average amount spent on clothes per person annually.

The study, which analyzed data from Numbeo, Statista, and official reports, sheds light on global clothing expenditure patterns by examining apparel market revenue, average apparel prices, annual spending on clothes per person, the average number of clothes purchased, and the average value per item.

India's High Spending on Clothing

India's apparel market revenue stands at $165 billion. Indians spend an average of $2,500 per person annually on clothing, purchasing around 24.2 items each year. The country boasts the lowest prices for popular brand clothes, such as $32.20 for a pair of jeans and $35.33 for a summer dress, with an average value of $103.31 per item.

United States Leads in Market Revenue

The United States tops the global rankings in clothing expenditure, with the largest apparel market valued at $351.35 billion. Americans spend an average of $1,500 per person on clothes annually, purchasing about 53 items each year at an average cost of $28.30 per item. Popular brand costs include $75.55 for a pair of jeans and $111.24 for Nike running shoes.

Norway: High Spending Per Item

Norway stands out with the least amount of clothes purchased annually per person at 12 items. Despite this, Norwegians spend an average of $1,150 per year on clothes, with an average price per item of $95.83. Key costs include $89.23 for a pair of jeans and $134.42 for men's leather business shoes.

China: Lowest Average Spending

China holds the fourth spot with the second-highest apparel market revenue at $313.82 billion. Chinese consumers buy around 21 clothing items annually, spending a total of $259.09, the lowest in the study. The average price per item is also the lowest at $12.11, with $65.26 for a pair of jeans and $35.06 for a summer dress.

Switzerland: Highest Spending Per Person

Switzerland is the country with the highest average spending on clothing per person, totaling $2,825 annually. The average price of clothing items is also the highest, with a pair of jeans priced at $148.44 and a summer dress at $62.45. Swiss consumers purchase the most clothing annually, at around 118 items, averaging $23.95 per item.

Iceland: High Item Value

Iceland ranks sixth with an average annual clothing expenditure of $1,570 per person. Icelanders purchase around 57.2 items annually, with a high average item value of $27.45. Popular brand items cost $473.37 in total.

Denmark: Significant Annual Spending

Denmark holds the seventh position with an apparel market revenue of $5.92 billion. Danes spend an average of $1,723.21 per person annually, purchasing about 60 clothing items each year at an average value of $28.72 per item.

Australia: Moderate Purchase Volume

Australia ranks eighth, with an average annual expenditure of $2,500 per person. Australians purchase around 56 clothing items each year, with an average value of $44.64 per item. Key costs include $78.47 for a pair of jeans and $52.25 for a summer dress.

United Kingdom: High Item Value

The United Kingdom ranks ninth, with an apparel market revenue of $82.89 billion. The average annual spending on clothes is $1,320.78 per person, with approximately 20 items purchased annually. Each item averages $66.04, the second-highest in the study after Norway.

Ireland: Third Cheapest Popular Brand Costs

Ireland rounds out the top ten with an apparel market revenue of $5.06 billion. Irish consumers purchase about 23 clothing items annually, with an average value of $48.80 per item. Key costs include $94.08 for a pair of jeans and $40.41 for a summer dress, with a total cost of popular brand items at $330.62.

A spokesperson from Public Desire commented on the study: "It's interesting to see how different countries' cultures, economies, and societies shape their spending patterns. In the United States, high market revenue and spending per person highlight the importance of fashion in American culture. In Switzerland, high spending per item shows a preference for quality and brand prestige. Norway's fewer purchases but higher spending per item suggest a focus on quality over quantity. These insights are valuable for fashion retailers and marketers to better understand and meet the varied needs of global consumers."