GITNUXREPORT 2025

Elevator Industry Statistics

Elevator industry grows with technological innovation, urbanization, and energy efficiency.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Modernizing older elevators can improve energy efficiency by up to 40%

Statistic 2

Elevators are responsible for approximately 20% of a building's energy consumption in tall buildings

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The use of eco-friendly and energy-efficient elevator systems increased by 22% worldwide between 2018 and 2022

Statistic 4

The integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, is being explored in elevator systems to reduce carbon footprint

Statistic 5

The average energy consumption of a modern elevator is approximately 1.3 kWh per round trip in a typical commercial building

Statistic 6

In urban high-rise buildings, elevator traffic can account for up to 80% of total building energy usage during peak hours

Statistic 7

The use of regenerative drives in elevators can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%

Statistic 8

The use of energy-efficient LED lighting in elevator cabins has increased by 35% in the last five years, reducing energy consumption

Statistic 9

Eco-sustainable building certifications, like LEED, often require elevator energy efficiency measures, influencing modernization projects

Statistic 10

Elevator modernization projects tend to have a return on investment period of around 7-10 years through energy savings and improved reliability

Statistic 11

The adoption rate of eco-friendly refrigerants in elevator systems has increased by 30% in the past five years, reducing environmental impact

Statistic 12

The global elevator and escalator market was valued at approximately $86.5 billion in 2022

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The number of elevators worldwide was estimated to be over 1.1 million units as of 2021

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The elevator industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2023 to 2030

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Approximately 17,000 new elevator units are installed annually in North America

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The elevator maintenance market is expected to reach $23 billion by 2025

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The use of AI in elevator systems is growing at a CAGR of 15.2% through 2027

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China has the largest number of elevators in the world, accounting for over 600,000 units in 2022

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The growth in urbanization is a key driver for elevator industry expansion, with over 55% of the world’s population living in urban areas as of 2022

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The average cost to install a new elevator ranges from $25,000 to $100,000 depending on specifications

Statistic 21

The global demand for residential elevators is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 22

The elevator industry accounts for approximately 3% of the global construction equipment market

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Europe is expected to see a CAGR of 4.2% in elevator installations over the next five years

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The global elevator sensors market is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.8%

Statistic 25

The adoption rate of destination dispatch systems in elevators increased by 35% from 2018 to 2022

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The adoption of IoT-enabled elevator systems will grow at a CAGR of 12.5% through 2025

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The elevator maintenance market in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% through 2028

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The elevator industry employs over 1 million people globally, including manufacturing, service, and installation workers

Statistic 29

The average cost of elevator modernization ranges from $100,000 to $250,000 depending on scope

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The global smart elevators market is projected to reach $8.5 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 10.3%

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Japan has an elevator density of approximately 813 units per 100,000 people, the highest globally

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The global demand for vertical transportation solutions is driven by increasing skyscraper constructions, with over 1,800 new skyscrapers over 200 meters planned globally by 2030

Statistic 33

The number of elevator service providers worldwide exceeds 1,500 companies, services range from maintenance to modernization

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The installation of low-speed elevators (less than 0.5 m/s) is common in residential buildings, comprising about 40% of new installations in small-scale projects

Statistic 35

The global elevator control system market is projected to reach $4.2 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.1%

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The global market for elevator door systems is expected to reach $1.8 billion by 2025, driven by technological upgrades

Statistic 37

The average cost of an elevator installation in a commercial high-rise building ranges from $100,000 to $300,000 depending on complexity

Statistic 38

The market share of Chinese elevator manufacturers is approximately 55% of the global market, indicating dominance in production

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The average lifespan of a commercial elevator is approximately 25-30 years with proper maintenance

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In 2020, there were over 60,000 elevator-related injuries reported in the U.S.

Statistic 41

About 70% of elevator accidents occur during maintenance or repair

Statistic 42

The number of annual elevator service calls in the U.S. exceeds 10 million

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The average elevator downtime due to repairs is approximately 2 hours per incident, impacting building operations

Statistic 44

About 85% of elevator shaft accidents are preventable with proper safety inspections

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Nearly 30% of the global elevator stock is over 20 years old and due for replacement or modernization

Statistic 46

The average elevator maintenance cost in the U.S. is approximately $1,500 annually per unit

Statistic 47

The average lifespan of a replacement elevator component is about 10-15 years, depending on usage

Statistic 48

The use of cloud-based elevator monitoring systems increased by 45% from 2019 to 2022, enabling predictive maintenance

Statistic 49

The use of maintenance robots for elevator inspections has increased by 20% over the past three years, enhancing safety and efficiency

Statistic 50

Elevator safety barriers and sensors have improved safety standards, reducing the risk of accidents by over 50%

Statistic 51

The average wait time for an elevator in high-rise buildings can range from 20 to 60 seconds

Statistic 52

The first electric elevator was invented in 1880 by Werner von Siemens

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Nearly 50% of elevator modernization projects involve technological upgrades rather than complete replacements

Statistic 54

The elevator industry is expected to see a significant shift towards the use of magnetic levitation (maglev) technology for future high-speed elevation

Statistic 55

The use of biometric access controls in elevators increased by 18% between 2019 and 2022, enhancing security

Statistic 56

Approximately 75% of new elevator installations are automated or feature touchless controls, especially post-2020

Statistic 57

The elevator industry invests roughly 2% of its revenue in research and development annually

Statistic 58

Around 90% of elevator equipment manufacturers are adopting digital twins to improve maintenance and design processes

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The average noise level during elevator operation is approximately 60-70 decibels, with modern designs aiming to reduce noise further

Statistic 60

The majority of new elevators installed in the last five years feature touchscreen user interfaces, with over 80% adoption rate in urban markets

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Key Highlights

The global elevator and escalator market was valued at approximately $86.5 billion in 2022
The number of elevators worldwide was estimated to be over 1.1 million units as of 2021
The elevator industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2023 to 2030
Approximately 17,000 new elevator units are installed annually in North America
The average lifespan of a commercial elevator is approximately 25-30 years with proper maintenance
The elevator maintenance market is expected to reach $23 billion by 2025
In 2020, there were over 60,000 elevator-related injuries reported in the U.S.
The use of AI in elevator systems is growing at a CAGR of 15.2% through 2027
Modernizing older elevators can improve energy efficiency by up to 40%
The average wait time for an elevator in high-rise buildings can range from 20 to 60 seconds
Elevators are responsible for approximately 20% of a building's energy consumption in tall buildings
About 70% of elevator accidents occur during maintenance or repair
The first electric elevator was invented in 1880 by Werner von Siemens

From towering skyscrapers to smart, energy-efficient systems, the global elevator industry is riding a wave of innovation and expansion, projected to reach $86.5 billion in 2022 with a marked growth driven by urbanization, technological advancements, and a focus on safety and sustainability.

Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

Modernizing older elevators can improve energy efficiency by up to 40%
Elevators are responsible for approximately 20% of a building's energy consumption in tall buildings
The use of eco-friendly and energy-efficient elevator systems increased by 22% worldwide between 2018 and 2022
The integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, is being explored in elevator systems to reduce carbon footprint
The average energy consumption of a modern elevator is approximately 1.3 kWh per round trip in a typical commercial building
In urban high-rise buildings, elevator traffic can account for up to 80% of total building energy usage during peak hours
The use of regenerative drives in elevators can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%
The use of energy-efficient LED lighting in elevator cabins has increased by 35% in the last five years, reducing energy consumption
Eco-sustainable building certifications, like LEED, often require elevator energy efficiency measures, influencing modernization projects
Elevator modernization projects tend to have a return on investment period of around 7-10 years through energy savings and improved reliability
The adoption rate of eco-friendly refrigerants in elevator systems has increased by 30% in the past five years, reducing environmental impact

Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Interpretation

As urban skyscrapers consume nearly a fifth of their energy powering elevators, modernizing these vertical veins with eco-friendly, regenerative, and energy-efficient solutions not only slashes their power use by up to 40% but also propels the industry towards a greener, more sustainable future—one elevator ride at a time.

Market Size and Growth Trends

The global elevator and escalator market was valued at approximately $86.5 billion in 2022
The number of elevators worldwide was estimated to be over 1.1 million units as of 2021
The elevator industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2023 to 2030
Approximately 17,000 new elevator units are installed annually in North America
The elevator maintenance market is expected to reach $23 billion by 2025
The use of AI in elevator systems is growing at a CAGR of 15.2% through 2027
China has the largest number of elevators in the world, accounting for over 600,000 units in 2022
The growth in urbanization is a key driver for elevator industry expansion, with over 55% of the world’s population living in urban areas as of 2022
The average cost to install a new elevator ranges from $25,000 to $100,000 depending on specifications
The global demand for residential elevators is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2030
The elevator industry accounts for approximately 3% of the global construction equipment market
Europe is expected to see a CAGR of 4.2% in elevator installations over the next five years
The global elevator sensors market is projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.8%
The adoption rate of destination dispatch systems in elevators increased by 35% from 2018 to 2022
The adoption of IoT-enabled elevator systems will grow at a CAGR of 12.5% through 2025
The elevator maintenance market in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% through 2028
The elevator industry employs over 1 million people globally, including manufacturing, service, and installation workers
The average cost of elevator modernization ranges from $100,000 to $250,000 depending on scope
The global smart elevators market is projected to reach $8.5 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 10.3%
Japan has an elevator density of approximately 813 units per 100,000 people, the highest globally
The global demand for vertical transportation solutions is driven by increasing skyscraper constructions, with over 1,800 new skyscrapers over 200 meters planned globally by 2030
The number of elevator service providers worldwide exceeds 1,500 companies, services range from maintenance to modernization
The installation of low-speed elevators (less than 0.5 m/s) is common in residential buildings, comprising about 40% of new installations in small-scale projects
The global elevator control system market is projected to reach $4.2 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.1%
The global market for elevator door systems is expected to reach $1.8 billion by 2025, driven by technological upgrades
The average cost of an elevator installation in a commercial high-rise building ranges from $100,000 to $300,000 depending on complexity

Market Size and Growth Trends Interpretation

As urbanization propels the elevator industry into a $86.5 billion ascent with over a million units worldwide, it's clear that while our cities climb skyward, so does the industry’s innovation—especially as AI and smart systems make lifts smarter and more efficient, ensuring humanity keeps reaching new heights both literally and figuratively.

Regional Markets and Industry Participants

The market share of Chinese elevator manufacturers is approximately 55% of the global market, indicating dominance in production

Regional Markets and Industry Participants Interpretation

With over half the global market, Chinese elevator manufacturers are clearly elevating their dominance to new heights, leaving competitors hanging on each floor.

Safety, Accidents, and Maintenance

The average lifespan of a commercial elevator is approximately 25-30 years with proper maintenance
In 2020, there were over 60,000 elevator-related injuries reported in the U.S.
About 70% of elevator accidents occur during maintenance or repair
The number of annual elevator service calls in the U.S. exceeds 10 million
The average elevator downtime due to repairs is approximately 2 hours per incident, impacting building operations
About 85% of elevator shaft accidents are preventable with proper safety inspections
Nearly 30% of the global elevator stock is over 20 years old and due for replacement or modernization
The average elevator maintenance cost in the U.S. is approximately $1,500 annually per unit
The average lifespan of a replacement elevator component is about 10-15 years, depending on usage
The use of cloud-based elevator monitoring systems increased by 45% from 2019 to 2022, enabling predictive maintenance
The use of maintenance robots for elevator inspections has increased by 20% over the past three years, enhancing safety and efficiency
Elevator safety barriers and sensors have improved safety standards, reducing the risk of accidents by over 50%

Safety, Accidents, and Maintenance Interpretation

While modern technology and vigilant maintenance have elevated elevator safety and efficiency, the staggering statistic that nearly 70% of accidents happen during repair underscores that the real lift in safety still depends on human diligence and timely upgrades, lest our vertical journeys become perilous without proper oversight.

Technology and Innovation in Elevators

The average wait time for an elevator in high-rise buildings can range from 20 to 60 seconds
The first electric elevator was invented in 1880 by Werner von Siemens
Nearly 50% of elevator modernization projects involve technological upgrades rather than complete replacements
The elevator industry is expected to see a significant shift towards the use of magnetic levitation (maglev) technology for future high-speed elevation
The use of biometric access controls in elevators increased by 18% between 2019 and 2022, enhancing security
Approximately 75% of new elevator installations are automated or feature touchless controls, especially post-2020
The elevator industry invests roughly 2% of its revenue in research and development annually
Around 90% of elevator equipment manufacturers are adopting digital twins to improve maintenance and design processes
The average noise level during elevator operation is approximately 60-70 decibels, with modern designs aiming to reduce noise further
The majority of new elevators installed in the last five years feature touchscreen user interfaces, with over 80% adoption rate in urban markets

Technology and Innovation in Elevators Interpretation

Elevator industry statistics reveal a high-stakes ascent from Werner von Siemens' first electric lift in 1880 to a future where maglev tech, biometric security, and digital twins propel us into an increasingly automated, quieter, and smarter vertical world.