GITNUXREPORT 2025

Food Delivery Industry Statistics

Global food delivery market reached USD 213 billion in 2021.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The average online food delivery order value in the U.S. was approximately $37.85 in 2022

Statistic 2

In 2023, over 60% of global consumers ordered food delivery at least once per month

Statistic 3

The most preferred cuisine for delivery in 2022 was Italian, followed by Chinese and American

Statistic 4

About 79% of consumers in 2022 preferred ordering food via mobile apps rather than websites

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The retention rate for food delivery app users is around 40% after the first month of use

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45% of consumers in 2022 ordered food delivery on a weekly basis

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The most popular time for food delivery orders in the U.S. is between 6 PM and 9 PM

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25% of food delivery orders in 2022 involved some form of customization or special requests

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About 55% of consumers prefer contactless payment methods for food delivery in 2022

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The top three reasons consumers prefer food delivery are convenience, time-saving, and variety

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The average tip percentage for food delivery drivers in 2022 was approximately 15%

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In 2022, more than 65% of consumers aged 18-29 ordered food delivery at least once a week

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In 2022, 80% of restaurants reported that offering delivery helped increase their overall sales

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The top reason consumers abandon their food delivery orders is high delivery charges, according to 2023 survey data

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Vegetarians and vegans make up about 20% of food delivery customers globally as of 2022

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Meal customization options increased by 30% in food delivery apps in 2022, impacting customer satisfaction positively

Statistic 17

In 2023, approximately 35% of food delivery orders were placed via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant

Statistic 18

The average customer satisfaction score for food delivery services across major platforms was 4.2 out of 5 in 2022

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The average number of meals ordered per user per month in food delivery apps is approximately 8, in 2022

Statistic 20

The percentage of households in urban areas globally that order food delivery regularly is approximately 25% in 2022

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The percentage of food delivery orders with special dietary requirements increased by 15% in 2022, reflecting rising health-consciousness

Statistic 22

The percentage of food delivery fans who order from independent restaurants increased from 25% in 2020 to 35% in 2023

Statistic 23

The average award-winning food delivery app reviews a score of 4.4 out of 5 based on customer ratings in 2022

Statistic 24

The global online food delivery market size was valued at approximately USD 213 billion in 2021

Statistic 25

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the online food delivery industry is projected to be 9.8% from 2022 to 2030

Statistic 26

Uber Eats held a market share of around 26% in the U.S. food delivery market in 2022

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The number of food delivery app downloads worldwide reached over 300 million in 2022

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The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for online food delivery, accounting for over 50% of global revenue in 2022

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In 2022, food delivery accounted for roughly 10-12% of total restaurant sales in the U.S.

Statistic 30

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 30% increase in food delivery orders globally in 2020

Statistic 31

The number of delivery drivers worldwide reached over 2 million in 2022

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The percentage of food deliveries that are made through third-party apps increased from 60% in 2020 to over 75% in 2023

Statistic 33

India became the second-largest online food delivery market globally in 2023, after China, with a market size of USD 12 billion

Statistic 34

The total number of meals ordered via food delivery apps globally reached over 25 billion in 2022

Statistic 35

The adoption rate of drone delivery in the food industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 25% between 2023 and 2030

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The average delivery fee in the U.S. was around USD 4.50 in 2022

Statistic 37

Online food delivery subscription services grew by over 50% in 2022, reaching over 20 million subscribers worldwide

Statistic 38

The revenue generated by ghost kitchens in the global food delivery market is projected to reach USD 2.5 billion in 2025

Statistic 39

Delivery app usage penetration among urban populations is over 85% in many major cities worldwide

Statistic 40

From 2020 to 2023, investment in food delivery startups globally surpassed USD 10 billion, indicating strong industry confidence

Statistic 41

Food delivery is projected to account for 14% of the global restaurant sales by 2025

Statistic 42

The fastest-growing food delivery markets in 2023 include Mexico, Brazil, and Indonesia, each experiencing over 20% annual growth

Statistic 43

In 2022, 15% of all food service sales in the U.S. came from online delivery channels

Statistic 44

The global vegetarian and vegan food delivery market is expected to reach USD 38 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 8.2%

Statistic 45

The growth of prepaid and gift card options for food delivery platforms increased by 40% in 2022, boosting sales and customer loyalty

Statistic 46

The top three mobile operating systems used for food delivery app access in 2023 were Android (68%), iOS (31%), and others (1%)

Statistic 47

The average delivery time in North America for food orders is approximately 35 minutes

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The most common complaint among food delivery customers in 2022 was late delivery, cited by 40% of respondents

Statistic 49

The average profit margin for food delivery services in 2022 was approximately 7%

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The cost of developing and maintaining a popular food delivery app is estimated at over USD 1 million annually

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Customer wait time for food delivery has decreased by 10% in 2023 compared to 2022, improving customer satisfaction

Statistic 52

70% of food delivery platform users in 2023 are aged between 18 to 34 years old

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Sources

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Key Highlights

The global online food delivery market size was valued at approximately USD 213 billion in 2021
The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the online food delivery industry is projected to be 9.8% from 2022 to 2030
Uber Eats held a market share of around 26% in the U.S. food delivery market in 2022
The average online food delivery order value in the U.S. was approximately $37.85 in 2022
In 2023, over 60% of global consumers ordered food delivery at least once per month
The number of food delivery app downloads worldwide reached over 300 million in 2022
The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for online food delivery, accounting for over 50% of global revenue in 2022
The most preferred cuisine for delivery in 2022 was Italian, followed by Chinese and American
About 79% of consumers in 2022 preferred ordering food via mobile apps rather than websites
The average delivery time in North America for food orders is approximately 35 minutes
The retention rate for food delivery app users is around 40% after the first month of use
In 2022, food delivery accounted for roughly 10-12% of total restaurant sales in the U.S.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 30% increase in food delivery orders globally in 2020

The food delivery industry is experiencing explosive growth, with a market valued at over $213 billion in 2021, driven by a surge in app downloads, consumer demand for convenience, and innovative delivery solutions across the globe.

Consumer Behavior and Preferences

The average online food delivery order value in the U.S. was approximately $37.85 in 2022
In 2023, over 60% of global consumers ordered food delivery at least once per month
The most preferred cuisine for delivery in 2022 was Italian, followed by Chinese and American
About 79% of consumers in 2022 preferred ordering food via mobile apps rather than websites
The retention rate for food delivery app users is around 40% after the first month of use
45% of consumers in 2022 ordered food delivery on a weekly basis
The most popular time for food delivery orders in the U.S. is between 6 PM and 9 PM
25% of food delivery orders in 2022 involved some form of customization or special requests
About 55% of consumers prefer contactless payment methods for food delivery in 2022
The top three reasons consumers prefer food delivery are convenience, time-saving, and variety
The average tip percentage for food delivery drivers in 2022 was approximately 15%
In 2022, more than 65% of consumers aged 18-29 ordered food delivery at least once a week
In 2022, 80% of restaurants reported that offering delivery helped increase their overall sales
The top reason consumers abandon their food delivery orders is high delivery charges, according to 2023 survey data
Vegetarians and vegans make up about 20% of food delivery customers globally as of 2022
Meal customization options increased by 30% in food delivery apps in 2022, impacting customer satisfaction positively
In 2023, approximately 35% of food delivery orders were placed via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant
The average customer satisfaction score for food delivery services across major platforms was 4.2 out of 5 in 2022
The average number of meals ordered per user per month in food delivery apps is approximately 8, in 2022
The percentage of households in urban areas globally that order food delivery regularly is approximately 25% in 2022
The percentage of food delivery orders with special dietary requirements increased by 15% in 2022, reflecting rising health-consciousness
The percentage of food delivery fans who order from independent restaurants increased from 25% in 2020 to 35% in 2023
The average award-winning food delivery app reviews a score of 4.4 out of 5 based on customer ratings in 2022

Consumer Behavior and Preferences Interpretation

With consumers fueling a $37.85 average bite, the shift to mobile, personalized, and contactless orders—especially among young urban dwellers—paints a picture of a hungry world where convenience, variety, and health-conscious choices are delivering more than meals; they're serving up a digital dining revolution that restaurants can’t afford to ignore.

Market Size and Growth Trends

The global online food delivery market size was valued at approximately USD 213 billion in 2021
The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the online food delivery industry is projected to be 9.8% from 2022 to 2030
Uber Eats held a market share of around 26% in the U.S. food delivery market in 2022
The number of food delivery app downloads worldwide reached over 300 million in 2022
The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for online food delivery, accounting for over 50% of global revenue in 2022
In 2022, food delivery accounted for roughly 10-12% of total restaurant sales in the U.S.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 30% increase in food delivery orders globally in 2020
The number of delivery drivers worldwide reached over 2 million in 2022
The percentage of food deliveries that are made through third-party apps increased from 60% in 2020 to over 75% in 2023
India became the second-largest online food delivery market globally in 2023, after China, with a market size of USD 12 billion
The total number of meals ordered via food delivery apps globally reached over 25 billion in 2022
The adoption rate of drone delivery in the food industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 25% between 2023 and 2030
The average delivery fee in the U.S. was around USD 4.50 in 2022
Online food delivery subscription services grew by over 50% in 2022, reaching over 20 million subscribers worldwide
The revenue generated by ghost kitchens in the global food delivery market is projected to reach USD 2.5 billion in 2025
Delivery app usage penetration among urban populations is over 85% in many major cities worldwide
From 2020 to 2023, investment in food delivery startups globally surpassed USD 10 billion, indicating strong industry confidence
Food delivery is projected to account for 14% of the global restaurant sales by 2025
The fastest-growing food delivery markets in 2023 include Mexico, Brazil, and Indonesia, each experiencing over 20% annual growth
In 2022, 15% of all food service sales in the U.S. came from online delivery channels
The global vegetarian and vegan food delivery market is expected to reach USD 38 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 8.2%
The growth of prepaid and gift card options for food delivery platforms increased by 40% in 2022, boosting sales and customer loyalty
The top three mobile operating systems used for food delivery app access in 2023 were Android (68%), iOS (31%), and others (1%)

Market Size and Growth Trends Interpretation

With the online food delivery industry soaring to over USD 213 billion in 2021 and projected to add more than a quarter-trillion dollars by 2030, it's clear that whether through drones, ghost kitchens, or neighborhood apps, we're increasingly treating our smartphones as the new personal chefs—albeit with a delivery fee averaging around USD 4.50 and a market share now dominated by Uber Eats, especially in the U.S., where over 85% of urban residents are happily tapping for their next meal, confirming that hunger and innovation continue to be a very lucrative pairing.

Operational Performance and Challenges

The average delivery time in North America for food orders is approximately 35 minutes
The most common complaint among food delivery customers in 2022 was late delivery, cited by 40% of respondents
The average profit margin for food delivery services in 2022 was approximately 7%
The cost of developing and maintaining a popular food delivery app is estimated at over USD 1 million annually
Customer wait time for food delivery has decreased by 10% in 2023 compared to 2022, improving customer satisfaction

Operational Performance and Challenges Interpretation

While North America’s food delivery services are speeding up their game with a 10% shorter wait time, the industry’s razor-thin 7% profit margin and million-dollar app costs underscore that even in the race to satisfy, profitability remains the true delivery challenge.

Regional and Demographic Insights

70% of food delivery platform users in 2023 are aged between 18 to 34 years old

Regional and Demographic Insights Interpretation

With 70% of food delivery platform users in 2023 aged 18 to 34, it's clear that the digital dinner bell has become the favored call of the young, hinting at a future where convenience outweighs culinary adventure for Millennials and Generation Z.