Statista Consumer Market: Global Mask Sales Surge 30-Fold at the Start of the Pandemic

Market and consumer data company Statista, in its *Statista Consumer Insights* report, shows that global sales of face masks surged tens of times over at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was due to mask mandates implemented in most countries worldwide to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Statista estimates global mask sales at 12.5 billion units in 2019. This figure then increased to 378.9 billion in 2020.

“(Mask sales) represent a 30-fold increase, equivalent to almost 50 masks per person worldwide,” Statista stated on its website on Thursday (12/1/2023).

The mask sales figures include surgical masks, respirators (such as N95, FFP, KN85), and cloth masks.

Similarly, in 2021, mask sales increased again due to high market demand, reaching 402.1 billion units.

However, mask sales began to decline in 2022 as many countries lifted mask mandates and people returned to pre-pandemic habits. In 2024, according to the Statista report, global mask sales are estimated to shrink back to near pre-pandemic levels, at 14.9 billion units.

“For the coming years, we anticipate that the number of people wearing face masks will decrease further and their use will largely be limited to members of the medical community and those who are clinically vulnerable again. That is unless a dangerous new variant emerges or another epidemic/pandemic occurs,” Statista said.

In terms of revenue, global mask sales in 2020 also skyrocketed 160 times from the previous year. In 2019, global mask sales revenue was only US$1.4 billion, then it rose to US$224.1 billion.

With the surge in global mask prices due to demand far exceeding supply, manufacturers scrambled to increase mask production at lower prices. “This explains why almost half of the (mask) revenue dropped from 2020 to 2021, even though unit sales continued to increase,” Statista said.

Most recently, the Indonesian government has lifted the mask mandate in public facilities, including public transportation. This is based on the policy outlined in Circular Letter Number 1 of 2023 concerning Health Protocols during the Transition Period of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 Endemic.

This policy was implemented because the situation of Covid-19 control, with the increasingly controlled spread of cases in the world and Indonesia, and high community immunity. Therefore, mask use is no longer mandatory in public places.

"It is permissible not to wear a mask if you are healthy and not at risk of contracting or transmitting Covid-19, and it is recommended to continue wearing a well-fitting mask if you are unwell or at risk of Covid-19, before and during travel and activities in public facilities," the circular letter states.