GITNUXREPORT 2025

Trading Card Industry Statistics

Trading card industry reaches $9.8 billion, with global growth and digital expansion.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The most expensive trading card ever sold is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which sold for $12.6 million in 2022

Statistic 2

The average value of a vintage trading card from the 1980s has increased by approximately 45% over the past five years

Statistic 3

The top 10 Pokémon cards have sold for over $70,000 each in recent auctions

Statistic 4

The most expensive Pokémon card, Pikachu Illustrator, has sold for over $375,000 at auction

Statistic 5

The highest graded card (PSA 10) of Charizard from 1999 has sold for over $100,000

Statistic 6

The average resale value of Pokémon cards bought in the last decade has increased by 65%

Statistic 7

The average price of newly released limited-edition trading cards is approximately $50

Statistic 8

The top-selling trading card in 2022 was a 1999 Charizard Holo from Pokémon, selling for over $150,000

Statistic 9

The most valuable sports trading card (Babe Ruth rookie) sold for $5.2 million at auction in 2023

Statistic 10

The average resale value of a vintage Pokémon card from the late 90s has experienced a 60% increase over five years

Statistic 11

The collectible trading card industry saw a 13% growth in sales during 2021

Statistic 12

The trading card industry has seen a 150% increase in eBay sales volume since 2019

Statistic 13

Unique trading card types have increased by 25% annually over the past three years

Statistic 14

The boom in sports card scouting reports increased by 60% in 2022

Statistic 15

The digital trading card market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20% through 2027

Statistic 16

The US sports trading card market grew by 35% in 2022, reaching over $1.2 billion in sales

Statistic 17

Card authentication services have grown by 40% in demand since 2020, current market size valued at around $500 million

Statistic 18

The number of graded cards surged by over 50% in 2022 compared to 2021

Statistic 19

The collectible trading card industry experienced a 22% growth in online sales during 2022

Statistic 20

Trading card tournaments have increased in popularity, with over 50,000 registered tournaments globally in 2022

Statistic 21

The average age of a collector purchasing trading cards is 35 years old

Statistic 22

The primary age group of vintage card collectors is between 40 and 55 years old

Statistic 23

About 60% of trading card collectors prefer to buy cards through online marketplaces rather than retail stores

Statistic 24

The primary reason collectors buy trading cards is nostalgia, cited by over 70% of respondents

Statistic 25

The global trading card market was valued at approximately $9.8 billion in 2022

Statistic 26

Pokemon Trading Card Game has sold over 27 billion cards worldwide since its inception

Statistic 27

Magic: The Gathering has over 35 million players worldwide

Statistic 28

The card grading market is valued at approximately $1 billion globally

Statistic 29

Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards generated over $500 million in revenue in 2022

Statistic 30

The trading card industry’s revenue in North America alone reached $4 billion in 2022

Statistic 31

During 2022, sales of sports trading cards surpassed 150 million units globally

Statistic 32

Collectors have spent over $100 million on rare trading cards in the past year

Statistic 33

The Pokémon TCG ranks among the top five most valuable trading card games globally

Statistic 34

The global collectible trading card industry is expected to reach $18 billion by 2025

Statistic 35

Over 40% of trading card collectors prefer graded cards for their investments

Statistic 36

The most active trading card trading platform in 2023 is TCGPlayer, with over 10 million unique visitors per month

Statistic 37

The resale market for graded trading cards is estimated to generate over $300 million annually

Statistic 38

The hobby of trading card collecting is estimated to have over 20 million active participants worldwide

Statistic 39

Digital trading card games like Pokémon TCG Online and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links have over 10 million active users combined

Statistic 40

The average profit margin for trading card retailers is estimated at around 30%

Statistic 41

Over 10,000 new trading card products are launched globally each year

Statistic 42

The average cost of professional grading for a single trading card is $20

Statistic 43

The size of the Japanese trading card market is estimated at $4 billion

Statistic 44

The average number of cards in a typical trading card collection is approximately 1,200

Statistic 45

The global e-commerce sales for trading cards are projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2025

Statistic 46

The most invested-in trading card franchise is Pokémon, with an estimated market share of 35%

Statistic 47

Approximately 80% of trading cards sold are now through digital platforms

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Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

The global trading card market was valued at approximately $9.8 billion in 2022
Pokemon Trading Card Game has sold over 27 billion cards worldwide since its inception
The most expensive trading card ever sold is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which sold for $12.6 million in 2022
The collectible trading card industry saw a 13% growth in sales during 2021
The average value of a vintage trading card from the 1980s has increased by approximately 45% over the past five years
Magic: The Gathering has over 35 million players worldwide
The top 10 Pokémon cards have sold for over $70,000 each in recent auctions
The trading card industry has seen a 150% increase in eBay sales volume since 2019
The card grading market is valued at approximately $1 billion globally
Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards generated over $500 million in revenue in 2022
The most expensive Pokémon card, Pikachu Illustrator, has sold for over $375,000 at auction
The average age of a collector purchasing trading cards is 35 years old
The trading card industry’s revenue in North America alone reached $4 billion in 2022

The booming trading card industry, valued at nearly $10 billion in 2022 and experiencing explosive growth in both physical and digital markets, is captivating collectors and investors worldwide with record-breaking sales, burgeoning online platforms, and a passionate community spanning generations.

High-Value and Collectible Cards

The most expensive trading card ever sold is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which sold for $12.6 million in 2022
The average value of a vintage trading card from the 1980s has increased by approximately 45% over the past five years
The top 10 Pokémon cards have sold for over $70,000 each in recent auctions
The most expensive Pokémon card, Pikachu Illustrator, has sold for over $375,000 at auction
The highest graded card (PSA 10) of Charizard from 1999 has sold for over $100,000
The average resale value of Pokémon cards bought in the last decade has increased by 65%
The average price of newly released limited-edition trading cards is approximately $50
The top-selling trading card in 2022 was a 1999 Charizard Holo from Pokémon, selling for over $150,000
The most valuable sports trading card (Babe Ruth rookie) sold for $5.2 million at auction in 2023
The average resale value of a vintage Pokémon card from the late 90s has experienced a 60% increase over five years

High-Value and Collectible Cards Interpretation

From record-breaking Mickey Mantle sales to astronomical Pokémon auctions, the trading card industry has evolved from nostalgic collectibles to a multi-million-dollar investment landscape, proving that in the world of trading cards, rarity and pedigree digital or physical are worth their weight in millions.

Industry Growth and Trends

The collectible trading card industry saw a 13% growth in sales during 2021
The trading card industry has seen a 150% increase in eBay sales volume since 2019
Unique trading card types have increased by 25% annually over the past three years
The boom in sports card scouting reports increased by 60% in 2022
The digital trading card market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20% through 2027
The US sports trading card market grew by 35% in 2022, reaching over $1.2 billion in sales
Card authentication services have grown by 40% in demand since 2020, current market size valued at around $500 million
The number of graded cards surged by over 50% in 2022 compared to 2021
The collectible trading card industry experienced a 22% growth in online sales during 2022
Trading card tournaments have increased in popularity, with over 50,000 registered tournaments globally in 2022

Industry Growth and Trends Interpretation

As the trading card industry accelerates into a billion-dollar digital and physical powerhouse, collectors and investors alike are racing to score devalued gems and newly minted rarities in a game where rarity, authentication, and online hype are proving more valuable than ever.

Market Dynamics and Consumer Behavior

The average age of a collector purchasing trading cards is 35 years old
The primary age group of vintage card collectors is between 40 and 55 years old
About 60% of trading card collectors prefer to buy cards through online marketplaces rather than retail stores
The primary reason collectors buy trading cards is nostalgia, cited by over 70% of respondents

Market Dynamics and Consumer Behavior Interpretation

With nostalgia fueling a digital-savvy demographic skewed towards 35 to 55-year-olds, the trading card industry has evolved into a virtual time capsule where passion and pixels collide.

Market Size and Valuation

The global trading card market was valued at approximately $9.8 billion in 2022
Pokemon Trading Card Game has sold over 27 billion cards worldwide since its inception
Magic: The Gathering has over 35 million players worldwide
The card grading market is valued at approximately $1 billion globally
Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards generated over $500 million in revenue in 2022
The trading card industry’s revenue in North America alone reached $4 billion in 2022
During 2022, sales of sports trading cards surpassed 150 million units globally
Collectors have spent over $100 million on rare trading cards in the past year
The Pokémon TCG ranks among the top five most valuable trading card games globally
The global collectible trading card industry is expected to reach $18 billion by 2025
Over 40% of trading card collectors prefer graded cards for their investments
The most active trading card trading platform in 2023 is TCGPlayer, with over 10 million unique visitors per month
The resale market for graded trading cards is estimated to generate over $300 million annually
The hobby of trading card collecting is estimated to have over 20 million active participants worldwide
Digital trading card games like Pokémon TCG Online and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links have over 10 million active users combined
The average profit margin for trading card retailers is estimated at around 30%
Over 10,000 new trading card products are launched globally each year
The average cost of professional grading for a single trading card is $20
The size of the Japanese trading card market is estimated at $4 billion
The average number of cards in a typical trading card collection is approximately 1,200
The global e-commerce sales for trading cards are projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2025
The most invested-in trading card franchise is Pokémon, with an estimated market share of 35%
Approximately 80% of trading cards sold are now through digital platforms

Market Size and Valuation Interpretation

With a booming $9.8 billion global market—where Pokémon alone commands a 35% share and over 80% of sales now happen digitally—collectors and investors alike are flipping not just cards, but the very future of the hobby, proving that in a world where over 40% of enthusiasts prefer graded assets and new releases top 10,000 annually, the trading card industry is truly president of the unpredictable (and profitable) deck.