Stat: Consumers globally are buying clothes they never wear

Global – According to Statista Consumer Insights, a notable number of shoppers admit to buying clothes they never wear – a wasteful habit most common among female consumers.

The report, based on surveys conducted from April 2024 to March 2025, shows that 29% of women and 17% of men in the UK admit to buying clothes they never wear, compared to 9% of women and 8% of men in China.

In the US, 21% of women and 15% of men confessed to the same habit. India reported 25% of women and 18% of men often purchasing unworn clothes, while in Germany, the figures dropped to 15% for women and 10% for men. In France, 17% of women and 13% of men acknowledged overbuying fashion that they don’t wear.

Our New Codes of Value report identified a growing trend of resistance among consumers who are sick of their ingrained consumption habits, and are seeking anti-consumerism communities online and opting for resale or refurbished products instead of buying new.