The wellness economy in the United Kingdom has reached a remarkable valuation of $223.83 billion, positioning it as the fifth largest globally, according to the latest report from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) [49f58ba5]. This growth marks a significant increase from $170.5 billion in 2019, reflecting a robust annual growth rate of 19.4%, second only to Mexico [49f58ba5]. The spa industry alone contributes approximately $3.2 billion to this total, with the number of spas increasing to 3,797 [49f58ba5].
Key sectors driving this growth include Physical Activity, valued at $50.4 billion, Public Health at $44.87 billion, and Personal Care at $37.35 billion [49f58ba5]. Notably, UK consumers are now spending 31% more on wellness annually compared to 2019, demonstrating a heightened focus on health and wellbeing [49f58ba5]. The wellness tourism sector has also seen impressive growth, expanding by 79% annually [49f58ba5].
In comparison, the United States remains the largest wellness economy globally at $1.8 trillion, with Brazil following as the largest in Latin America at $790 billion [82a2fc2d]. The US leads in several wellness sectors, while Brazil excels in beauty and healthy eating [c95b3ae9]. The wellness real estate market, projected to reach $913 billion by 2028, has seen significant growth, driven by increased awareness of health impacts from environments [64da947c].
The GWI has also released a Wellness Policy Toolkit: Mental Wellness, which emphasizes strategies for enhancing mental wellbeing globally [c451c225]. This toolkit highlights the economic burdens of poor mental health and outlines actionable strategies to improve mental wellness [c451c225]. The Mental Wellness economy is valued at $181 billion and is projected to reach $330 billion by 2027 [c451c225].