Global footwear production totalled 24.6 billion pairs in 2025, representing a marginal 0.1% increase compared with the revised 2024 figure, according to the newly released World Footwear Yearbook 2026 published by the Portuguese Footwear Association APICCAPS.
The latest edition of the annual report updates last year’s production estimates after incorporating new data from several of the world’s largest manufacturing countries. As a result, global output for 2024 has been revised upwards to 24.5 billion pairs, indicating annual growth of almost 10%, substantially higher than the 6.9% previously reported.
Despite the revised figures, the geographical distribution of footwear manufacturing remained largely unchanged. Asia continued to dominate global production, accounting for 88.7% of total output.
China retained its position as the world’s largest footwear producer with 13.7 billion pairs, representing 55.6% of global production. India strengthened its role as the second-largest manufacturing country, producing 3 billion pairs and accounting for 12.2% of worldwide output. Vietnam ranked third with 1.7 billion pairs, increasing its global share to 6.7%.
Outside Asia, production remains comparatively limited. Brazil accounted for 3.4% of global footwear manufacturing, while Mexico represented 0.9%, making them the only non-Asian countries among the world’s ten largest footwear producers.
Now in its 16th edition, the World Footwear Yearbook provides an overview of key developments across the global footwear industry. The 2026 edition includes updated data on production, consumption, exports and imports, alongside detailed analyses of 84 footwear markets and the performance of the industry’s leading global players.
