GITNUXREPORT 2025

Retail Investors Statistics

Retail investors dominate markets, increasingly diversify, and embrace automation tools.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

About 50% of retail investors plan to diversify their portfolio further in 2024

Statistic 2

The average age of retail investors in the US is approximately 38 years old

Statistic 3

Approximately 70% of retail investors have less than $10,000 invested

Statistic 4

The percentage of women retail investors increased to 30% in 2023, up from 22% in 2019

Statistic 5

40% of retail investors are beginners with less than 1 year of investing experience

Statistic 6

The average retail investor portfolio size is approximately $25,000

Statistic 7

The proportion of retail investors in cryptocurrency markets increased by 50% in 2022

Statistic 8

65% of retail investors plan to increase their investment contributions in 2024

Statistic 9

Approximately 35% of retail investors have experienced losses during recent market downturns

Statistic 10

The median age of retail investors engaging in ESG investing is 45 years old

Statistic 11

More than 60% of retail investors do not have access to financial advice and rely on self-education

Statistic 12

About 70% of retail investors consider market timing critical to their investment success

Statistic 13

About 60% of retail investors are concerned about inflation impacting their investments

Statistic 14

The average investment portfolio of retail investors holding cryptocurrencies reached $12,000 in 2023

Statistic 15

40% of retail investors are under 35 years old, showing a trend toward younger participation in markets

Statistic 16

50% of retail investors believe in using diversification as their main risk management strategy

Statistic 17

65% of retail investors consider ETFs as their primary investment vehicle

Statistic 18

Approximately 20 million retail investors actively traded US stocks in 2023

Statistic 19

Retail investors account for about 25% of all trading volume on major US stock exchanges

Statistic 20

The number of new retail investor accounts opened in the US increased by 35% in 2022

Statistic 21

Around 60% of retail investors expect market volatility to increase in 2024

Statistic 22

Retail investors make up about 10% of all options trading volume

Statistic 23

Retail investors are increasingly investing in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) funds, with a growth rate of 40% per year

Statistic 24

Retail investors’ participation in IPOs increased by 20% in 2023

Statistic 25

85% of retail investors using apps report increased confidence in managing their investments

Statistic 26

The number of retail investors using margin accounts increased by 15% in 2022

Statistic 27

Retail investor participation in SPACs declined by 30% in 2023 after a peak in 2021

Statistic 28

Approximately 40% of retail investors plan to increase their cryptocurrency holdings in 2024

Statistic 29

The percentage of retail investors holding international stocks increased to 45% in 2023

Statistic 30

Retail investors' participation in alternative investments like hedge funds and private equity remains under 5%

Statistic 31

The average annual return for retail investors’ portfolios was approximately 7% in 2023

Statistic 32

The percentage of retail investors adopting algorithmic trading strategies rose to 15% in 2023

Statistic 33

The number of retail investors participating in ESG and sustainable funds surged by 50% from 2022 to 2023

Statistic 34

30% of retail investors plan to allocate more funds to passive index investing in 2024

Statistic 35

Retail investor trading volume on Robinhood alone exceeded $150 billion in 2023

Statistic 36

Approximately 45% of retail investors diversify their investments across multiple asset classes

Statistic 37

Retail investors’ participation in meme stocks surged in early 2021, with around 15% of investors engaging actively

Statistic 38

The percentage of retail investors trading via social trading platforms grew to 22% in 2023

Statistic 39

The number of retail investors participating in fractional investing increased by 30% in 2023

Statistic 40

Retail investors’ average annual savings rate dedicated to investing increased to 15% in 2023

Statistic 41

55% of retail investors use mobile apps for trading

Statistic 42

Around 45% of retail investors have used social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter for investment ideas

Statistic 43

The percentage of retail investors using robo-advisors grew to 25% in 2023

Statistic 44

Retail investors’ use of educational platforms increased by 25% in 2023

Statistic 45

The proportion of retail investors using automated investment platforms increased by 35% in 2023

Statistic 46

Around 10% of retail investors use AI-powered trading tools, a 5% increase from 2022

Statistic 47

The most popular asset class among retail investors is equities, followed by ETFs and cryptocurrencies

Statistic 48

15% of retail investors engage in short-term trading, seeking quick profits

Statistic 49

Around 80% of retail investors use online brokerages to execute their trades

Statistic 50

The average holding period for retail investors’ stocks decreased to 6 months, indicating a more active trading style

Statistic 51

Retail investors’ use of margin for trading increased volatility by 10%, according to market studies

Statistic 52

About 55% of retail investors make their investment decisions based on peer advice or online communities

Statistic 53

Retail investors spend an average of 4 hours weekly researching investments

Statistic 54

Nearly 50% of retail investors have experienced trading regret at least once, according to studies

Statistic 55

About 25% of retail investors are actively engaged in learning about options trading

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Sources

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Key Highlights

Approximately 20 million retail investors actively traded US stocks in 2023
Retail investors account for about 25% of all trading volume on major US stock exchanges
The number of new retail investor accounts opened in the US increased by 35% in 2022
55% of retail investors use mobile apps for trading
The most popular asset class among retail investors is equities, followed by ETFs and cryptocurrencies
Around 60% of retail investors expect market volatility to increase in 2024
The average age of retail investors in the US is approximately 38 years old
Approximately 70% of retail investors have less than $10,000 invested
The percentage of women retail investors increased to 30% in 2023, up from 22% in 2019
40% of retail investors are beginners with less than 1 year of investing experience
Around 45% of retail investors have used social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter for investment ideas
The average retail investor portfolio size is approximately $25,000
15% of retail investors engage in short-term trading, seeking quick profits

Retail investors are transforming the financial landscape at a rapid pace, accounting for a quarter of all US stock trading volume in 2023 and embracing new technologies, asset classes, and social channels, signaling a dynamic shift in how everyday Americans approach investing.

Investment Goals and Attitudes

About 50% of retail investors plan to diversify their portfolio further in 2024

Investment Goals and Attitudes Interpretation

With half of retail investors gearing up to diversify their portfolios in 2024, it's clear that many are finally embracing the age-old wisdom: don't put all your eggs—and assets—in one basket.

Investor Demographics and Characteristics

The average age of retail investors in the US is approximately 38 years old
Approximately 70% of retail investors have less than $10,000 invested
The percentage of women retail investors increased to 30% in 2023, up from 22% in 2019
40% of retail investors are beginners with less than 1 year of investing experience
The average retail investor portfolio size is approximately $25,000
The proportion of retail investors in cryptocurrency markets increased by 50% in 2022
65% of retail investors plan to increase their investment contributions in 2024
Approximately 35% of retail investors have experienced losses during recent market downturns
The median age of retail investors engaging in ESG investing is 45 years old
More than 60% of retail investors do not have access to financial advice and rely on self-education
About 70% of retail investors consider market timing critical to their investment success
About 60% of retail investors are concerned about inflation impacting their investments
The average investment portfolio of retail investors holding cryptocurrencies reached $12,000 in 2023
40% of retail investors are under 35 years old, showing a trend toward younger participation in markets
50% of retail investors believe in using diversification as their main risk management strategy
65% of retail investors consider ETFs as their primary investment vehicle

Investor Demographics and Characteristics Interpretation

With a median age of 38, many retail investors are young enough to swipe left on traditional advice but old enough to know that relying solely on market timing and self-education amid rising crypto stakes—and a mere $25,000 average portfolio—makes diversification their best shot at staying afloat while juggling inflation fears and a growing, if still predominantly female, crowd of beginners and ESG enthusiasts.

Market Participation and Trends

Approximately 20 million retail investors actively traded US stocks in 2023
Retail investors account for about 25% of all trading volume on major US stock exchanges
The number of new retail investor accounts opened in the US increased by 35% in 2022
Around 60% of retail investors expect market volatility to increase in 2024
Retail investors make up about 10% of all options trading volume
Retail investors are increasingly investing in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) funds, with a growth rate of 40% per year
Retail investors’ participation in IPOs increased by 20% in 2023
85% of retail investors using apps report increased confidence in managing their investments
The number of retail investors using margin accounts increased by 15% in 2022
Retail investor participation in SPACs declined by 30% in 2023 after a peak in 2021
Approximately 40% of retail investors plan to increase their cryptocurrency holdings in 2024
The percentage of retail investors holding international stocks increased to 45% in 2023
Retail investors' participation in alternative investments like hedge funds and private equity remains under 5%
The average annual return for retail investors’ portfolios was approximately 7% in 2023
The percentage of retail investors adopting algorithmic trading strategies rose to 15% in 2023
The number of retail investors participating in ESG and sustainable funds surged by 50% from 2022 to 2023
30% of retail investors plan to allocate more funds to passive index investing in 2024
Retail investor trading volume on Robinhood alone exceeded $150 billion in 2023
Approximately 45% of retail investors diversify their investments across multiple asset classes
Retail investors’ participation in meme stocks surged in early 2021, with around 15% of investors engaging actively
The percentage of retail investors trading via social trading platforms grew to 22% in 2023
The number of retail investors participating in fractional investing increased by 30% in 2023
Retail investors’ average annual savings rate dedicated to investing increased to 15% in 2023

Market Participation and Trends Interpretation

With 20 million retail investors now controlling a quarter of US trading volume, a 35% surge in new accounts, and a 50% rise in ESG investing, it's clear that in 2023, individual investors are not only more confident and diversified but are also increasingly shaping the market's future—albeit with a cautious eye on volatility and a penchant for digital innovation.

Technology Adoption and Digital Platforms

55% of retail investors use mobile apps for trading
Around 45% of retail investors have used social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter for investment ideas
The percentage of retail investors using robo-advisors grew to 25% in 2023
Retail investors’ use of educational platforms increased by 25% in 2023
The proportion of retail investors using automated investment platforms increased by 35% in 2023
Around 10% of retail investors use AI-powered trading tools, a 5% increase from 2022

Technology Adoption and Digital Platforms Interpretation

As retail investors increasingly embrace mobile apps, social media insights, and AI-driven tools, the market is shifting from traditional intuition to a digital, data-driven battleground where education and automation are becoming as vital as the investments themselves.

Trading Behavior and Investment Preferences

The most popular asset class among retail investors is equities, followed by ETFs and cryptocurrencies
15% of retail investors engage in short-term trading, seeking quick profits
Around 80% of retail investors use online brokerages to execute their trades
The average holding period for retail investors’ stocks decreased to 6 months, indicating a more active trading style
Retail investors’ use of margin for trading increased volatility by 10%, according to market studies
About 55% of retail investors make their investment decisions based on peer advice or online communities
Retail investors spend an average of 4 hours weekly researching investments
Nearly 50% of retail investors have experienced trading regret at least once, according to studies
About 25% of retail investors are actively engaged in learning about options trading

Trading Behavior and Investment Preferences Interpretation

Retail investors are increasingly active and impulsive, with a swift turnover of assets, reliance on online communities, and a growing appetite for risk through short-term trading and margin use, revealing both a quest for quick gains and a tendency toward emotional decision-making.