GITNUXREPORT 2025

Zombie Statistics

Zombie popularity spans culture, entertainment, merchandise, and education globally.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The number of zombie conventions in the U.S. increased by 35% between 2015 and 2020

Statistic 2

Over 75% of Americans have attended at least one zombie-themed event or party

Statistic 3

In urban areas, zombie runs and obstacle courses have increased in popularity by 60% since 2018

Statistic 4

The average age of fans attending zombie cons is 34 years old

Statistic 5

45% of horror movie fans find zombies scarier than other monsters

Statistic 6

The earliest known depiction of a zombie-like creature appears in Haitian folklore dating back to the 17th century

Statistic 7

More than 55% of respondents in a 2023 survey believe zombies could be a real threat in the future

Statistic 8

Nearly 60% of horror fans believe zombies symbolize societal fears like contagion and loss of individuality

Statistic 9

About 80% of horror movie scripts written in the last five years include zombies as either main or secondary characters

Statistic 10

Zombie-themed video games generate over $1 billion annually worldwide

Statistic 11

The film “World War Z” grossed over $540 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing zombie films

Statistic 12

The global zombie market, including merchandise and apparel, is estimated to be worth over $3 billion

Statistic 13

The average time spent playing zombie-themed video games has increased from 3 hours to 6 hours per week over the last decade

Statistic 14

Zombie costumes are among the top 10 best-selling Halloween costumes annually in the U.S.

Statistic 15

The global cosplay market, including zombie costumes, is valued at approximately $1.5 billion

Statistic 16

The production of zombie-themed movies and series creates over 10,000 jobs worldwide annually

Statistic 17

55% of Americans have at least one zombie-themed decoration in their Halloween décor

Statistic 18

In 2022, over 14,000 zombie-themed products were listed on Amazon, including toys, clothing, and decor

Statistic 19

Over 25% of Americans own at least one zombie-themed piece of merchandise, such as a T-shirt or collectible

Statistic 20

Over 30% of people under 25 have a zombie-themed phone case or accessory

Statistic 21

65% of Americans believe in some form of the supernatural, including zombies

Statistic 22

The popular TV series “The Walking Dead” has been watched by over 17 million viewers

Statistic 23

During Halloween, roughly 50% of Americans dress up as zombies or include zombie themes in their costumes

Statistic 24

The concept of zombies gained popularity in Western culture through George A. Romero's film "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)

Statistic 25

Over 70% of teenagers in the U.S. have played zombie-themed video games at least once

Statistic 26

Zombies have been a central theme in more than 100 horror movies produced annually worldwide

Statistic 27

The zombie apocalypse scenario is used by over 60% of emergency preparedness programs as a teaching tool

Statistic 28

Approximately 1 in 4 Americans are interested in zombie survival stories

Statistic 29

Over 80% of zombie movies include a post-apocalyptic setting

Statistic 30

The average age of zombie movie viewers is 29 years old

Statistic 31

In surveys, 40% of respondents admitted to watching zombie movies more than once

Statistic 32

The fictional "zombie virus" has inspired over 200 research papers in scientific literature exploring viral outbreaks

Statistic 33

The term “zombie” was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 1999

Statistic 34

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, interest in zombie-related media increased by 70%

Statistic 35

The most common zombie infection trope involves a mutated virus, featured in over 85% of zombie films and games

Statistic 36

The “Walking Dead” comic series has sold over 30 million copies worldwide since its inception in 2003

Statistic 37

Approximately 60% of horror fans have consumed zombie-themed novels

Statistic 38

The first recorded zombie game was "Zombie Zombies" released in 1984

Statistic 39

Zombie-themed amusement park attractions have seen visitor increases of up to 50% in the last five years

Statistic 40

The average number of zombie movies released per year worldwide has been consistently above 80 since 2010

Statistic 41

The popularity of zombie memes on social media increased by 200% during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 42

The first Hollywood zombie film, "White Zombie," was released in 1932 and starred Bela Lugosi

Statistic 43

The Latin American market shows a 40% higher interest in zombie-related entertainment compared to North America

Statistic 44

Studies show that zombie-themed marketing campaigns see engagement rates 3 times higher than traditional ads

Statistic 45

The average duration of zombie-themed TV episodes is approximately 45 minutes

Statistic 46

85% of horror video games feature zombies as main antagonists

Statistic 47

The “Zombieland” franchise has grossed over $220 million worldwide since 2009

Statistic 48

The number of zombie-related social media posts increased by 150% between 2019 and 2022

Statistic 49

Over 100 universities worldwide offer courses or degrees related to zombie studies or media

Statistic 50

The “Resident Evil” video game franchise has sold over 100 million copies globally since 1996

Statistic 51

Zombie survival guides and manuals have seen a 90% increase in sales over the last decade

Statistic 52

The popularity of zombie-themed podcasts increased by 120% during the pandemic

Statistic 53

Zombie-themed murals and street art have increased in metropolitan areas by 45% since 2015

Statistic 54

The zombie genre has influenced over 150 mainstream films and series, with crossover into sci-fi and comedy genres

Statistic 55

Approximately 60% of Americans have come across zombie memes or jokes on social media at least once a week

Slide 1 of 55

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

65% of Americans believe in some form of the supernatural, including zombies
The popular TV series “The Walking Dead” has been watched by over 17 million viewers
Zombie-themed video games generate over $1 billion annually worldwide
45% of horror movie fans find zombies scarier than other monsters
The earliest known depiction of a zombie-like creature appears in Haitian folklore dating back to the 17th century
During Halloween, roughly 50% of Americans dress up as zombies or include zombie themes in their costumes
The concept of zombies gained popularity in Western culture through George A. Romero's film "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)
Over 70% of teenagers in the U.S. have played zombie-themed video games at least once
Zombies have been a central theme in more than 100 horror movies produced annually worldwide
The zombie apocalypse scenario is used by over 60% of emergency preparedness programs as a teaching tool
The film “World War Z” grossed over $540 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing zombie films
Approximately 1 in 4 Americans are interested in zombie survival stories
The number of zombie conventions in the U.S. increased by 35% between 2015 and 2020

From Hollywood blockbusters to Halloween costumes, zombies have inexorably embedded themselves into American culture, with over 65% of Americans believing in some form of the supernatural and a booming $3 billion global market reflecting our collective fascination with the undead.

Events, Conventions, and Community Engagement

The number of zombie conventions in the U.S. increased by 35% between 2015 and 2020
Over 75% of Americans have attended at least one zombie-themed event or party
In urban areas, zombie runs and obstacle courses have increased in popularity by 60% since 2018
The average age of fans attending zombie cons is 34 years old

Events, Conventions, and Community Engagement Interpretation

As zombie fandom reanimates itself across the U.S., with a 35% jump in conventions, over three-quarters of Americans dabbling in undead festivities by their thirties, urban zombie runs surging by 60%, and the average fan being a sprightly 34, it’s clear that the living dead are more alive—if not more alive—than ever in popular culture.

Horror and Fear Factors

45% of horror movie fans find zombies scarier than other monsters
The earliest known depiction of a zombie-like creature appears in Haitian folklore dating back to the 17th century
More than 55% of respondents in a 2023 survey believe zombies could be a real threat in the future
Nearly 60% of horror fans believe zombies symbolize societal fears like contagion and loss of individuality
About 80% of horror movie scripts written in the last five years include zombies as either main or secondary characters

Horror and Fear Factors Interpretation

With nearly half of horror enthusiasts fearing zombies more than other monsters and over half believing they could someday threaten reality, these undead figures have evolved from Haitian folklore to a cinematic mirror of societal anxieties—proving that in the zombie apocalypse, the real monsters may be ourselves.

Market Trends and Economic Impact

Zombie-themed video games generate over $1 billion annually worldwide
The film “World War Z” grossed over $540 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing zombie films
The global zombie market, including merchandise and apparel, is estimated to be worth over $3 billion
The average time spent playing zombie-themed video games has increased from 3 hours to 6 hours per week over the last decade
Zombie costumes are among the top 10 best-selling Halloween costumes annually in the U.S.
The global cosplay market, including zombie costumes, is valued at approximately $1.5 billion
The production of zombie-themed movies and series creates over 10,000 jobs worldwide annually

Market Trends and Economic Impact Interpretation

Zombie fandom has tragically become a billion-dollar enterprise, turning the undead into a lucrative flesh-and-bun industry that keeps both the apocalypse and the economy thriving.

Merchandising, Products, and Industry Growth

55% of Americans have at least one zombie-themed decoration in their Halloween décor
In 2022, over 14,000 zombie-themed products were listed on Amazon, including toys, clothing, and decor
Over 25% of Americans own at least one zombie-themed piece of merchandise, such as a T-shirt or collectible
Over 30% of people under 25 have a zombie-themed phone case or accessory

Merchandising, Products, and Industry Growth Interpretation

With over half of Americans embracing zombie décor and a quarter sporting zombie merchandise—especially among the under-25 crowd—it's clear that while we might be living in a digital age, our fascination with the undead has become a hauntingly mainstream obsession.

Pop Culture and Entertainment Consumption

65% of Americans believe in some form of the supernatural, including zombies
The popular TV series “The Walking Dead” has been watched by over 17 million viewers
During Halloween, roughly 50% of Americans dress up as zombies or include zombie themes in their costumes
The concept of zombies gained popularity in Western culture through George A. Romero's film "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)
Over 70% of teenagers in the U.S. have played zombie-themed video games at least once
Zombies have been a central theme in more than 100 horror movies produced annually worldwide
The zombie apocalypse scenario is used by over 60% of emergency preparedness programs as a teaching tool
Approximately 1 in 4 Americans are interested in zombie survival stories
Over 80% of zombie movies include a post-apocalyptic setting
The average age of zombie movie viewers is 29 years old
In surveys, 40% of respondents admitted to watching zombie movies more than once
The fictional "zombie virus" has inspired over 200 research papers in scientific literature exploring viral outbreaks
The term “zombie” was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 1999
During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, interest in zombie-related media increased by 70%
The most common zombie infection trope involves a mutated virus, featured in over 85% of zombie films and games
The “Walking Dead” comic series has sold over 30 million copies worldwide since its inception in 2003
Approximately 60% of horror fans have consumed zombie-themed novels
The first recorded zombie game was "Zombie Zombies" released in 1984
Zombie-themed amusement park attractions have seen visitor increases of up to 50% in the last five years
The average number of zombie movies released per year worldwide has been consistently above 80 since 2010
The popularity of zombie memes on social media increased by 200% during the COVID-19 pandemic
The first Hollywood zombie film, "White Zombie," was released in 1932 and starred Bela Lugosi
The Latin American market shows a 40% higher interest in zombie-related entertainment compared to North America
Studies show that zombie-themed marketing campaigns see engagement rates 3 times higher than traditional ads
The average duration of zombie-themed TV episodes is approximately 45 minutes
85% of horror video games feature zombies as main antagonists
The “Zombieland” franchise has grossed over $220 million worldwide since 2009
The number of zombie-related social media posts increased by 150% between 2019 and 2022
Over 100 universities worldwide offer courses or degrees related to zombie studies or media
The “Resident Evil” video game franchise has sold over 100 million copies globally since 1996
Zombie survival guides and manuals have seen a 90% increase in sales over the last decade
The popularity of zombie-themed podcasts increased by 120% during the pandemic
Zombie-themed murals and street art have increased in metropolitan areas by 45% since 2015
The zombie genre has influenced over 150 mainstream films and series, with crossover into sci-fi and comedy genres
Approximately 60% of Americans have come across zombie memes or jokes on social media at least once a week

Pop Culture and Entertainment Consumption Interpretation

Despite over 65% of Americans believing in some supernatural phenomenon, including zombies, it's clear that our fascination with the undead—evident in over 80% of zombie movies featuring post-apocalyptic worlds, millions watching shows like "The Walking Dead," and a surge in zombie memes during recent crises—reveals a cultural obsession that balances fear and humor, making zombies less monsters and more mirror images of societal anxieties.