16 Most Consumed Products in the World

Let’s face it – making the list of 16 most consumed products in the world is as easy as herding cats.

Premium performances or improved value for the same amount of money, high accessibility and convincing reinforcement to customers are some of the basic features which follow the most consumed products in the world. Ads with snappy catchphrases and easy-to-remember, succinct slogans contribute to overall product’s selling capacity, like a lot. Whenever you see or hear “Just Do It” or “Because You’re Worth It”, not only do you instantly have an image of the exact brand in your mind, but you also become filled with a positive way of thinking about the same stuff! So yeas, this is a sort of manipulation, but on the other hand, the very quality of the specific product speaks for itself. Moreover, the most consumed products in the world are often the bestsellers, or sometimes even the all-time record-breakers in the world of high consumerism.

Selling face to face or online, the overall profit is all that it matters to merchandisers and investors. During the last two years, best selling products online are mainly beauty products, as evidenced in 25 Best Selling Products Online in 2017. Top 5 most popular online marketplaces nowadays are eBay, Etsy, Bonanza, Rover.com, and Amazon. If you are wondering which may be the top selling products on Amazon in 2017, Amazon Echo (also Amazon Echo Dot), TechMatte MagGrip Air Vent Magnetic Universal Car Mount and Instant Pot 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cooker were the absolute best-sellers. For a more detailed view of best-selling stuff, do check out our lists of 10 Best Selling Consumer Products in the World and 10 best selling products online in 2018.

Before we start with the countdown, we have to note that there are several reasons why ranking products according to the level of global consumption was a pretty challenging task for our team to cope with. First, when it comes to products’ consuming evaluation, there is no precise technique which can provide “the most reliable results”. Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2017 Rankings, PePartnership‘s reports on consumption as well as GlobalSources helped us in our product-based selection. Due to the definition of ‘product’, (an item that is expressed physically or virtually in our reality, offered for sale) we were free to choose among goods that remain consistently present in consumers’ (or better say our) lives. Therefore, products which are related to food (including beverage) consumption, entertainment, vehicles, electronic devices as well as home-products, were all respectively included in the same race. After the preliminary selection has been made, out team investigated how much product’s units have been sold, mainly in the last two years, and in some cases including the year of very introduction of the certain product. Correspondingly, the following list starts from the small-scale totals and ends with enormous amounts of sold product’s units. Now, when we’ve made stuff crystal clear, let ‘s start with our list of 16 most consumed products in the world!

16. Power bank

Total sales: 10 million units

Almost everybody has experienced at least once in a lifetime how much annoying is when your battery power has accidentally leaked. Also known as ’Power Station’, Battery Banks is a battery backup quite useful for topping-up your device (smartphone, tablet and other types of portable media) while you find yourself far from a wall outlet. In practice, everything that charges from USB at your home can be charged from a Power Banks. There are three main types of Power Banks – the Universal, Solar-charged and the older-style battery phone case. Although they come in various sizes and with different configurations, what is the most important about these devices is the mAh capacity. This informs you straightforward about the total capacity of the batteries. In order to have your device fully charged, you should take a Power Bank with more mAh than your phone’s battery capacity. Although situated on the bottom of our 16 most consumed products in the world list,  according to Zion Market Research, global power bank market was valued at USD 15.09 billion in 2014, and it is expected to reach USD 17.2 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of above 20% between 2015 and 2020.

15. Toyota Corolla

Total sales: 43 million vehicles

It is estimated that since its first model’s appearance in October 1966 (Japan), on every 36 seconds one Corolla is bought somewhere around the world. Except in Japan, fifty years ago, you could find this car model only in Australia since it was its first export market and the first country which started the production of Toyota Corolla (besides its hometown). Since that time, 43 million vehicles have been sold across 140 countries and built in 19 locations across the globe, which places this car brand on the top of best-selling car list of all time but 15th on 16 most consumed products in the world list. Car experts claim that its secret of success lays in outstanding quality and persistent improvement. Reducing fuel consumption, affordable price (the 2017 Toyota Corolla started at around $18,500, well under the average new car price of $33,560) and high safety measures also contribute to its best-seller title.

14. Electric scooters

Total sales:  55 million units

Although this product is 14th in our 16 most consumed products in the world list, one might say that electric scooters are the future of global transportation. Among the obvious benefits such as clean environment and gas savings, lower speed of electric scooter maximizes the urban safety. Most models will plug right into your standard wall outlet, making it extremely convenient to charge anywhere. Typically, their battery capacity is about 12 volt, which means three inline 12-volt batteries. However, many companies take into consideration the so-called ‘fuel cell’ advanced technology. What makes them approachable is also their light weight. According to a report from Navigant Research, sales of electric motorcycles and scooters are expected to be over 55 million units from 2015 to 2024.

13. Smartwatch

Total sales: 141 million units

Apple Watch 3, Ticwatch E, LG Watch Style and Samsung Gear Sport, are some of the best-selling smartwatches today. These are both a mobile device (access to mobile apps, Bluetooth connectivity, and availability of smartphone’s operating system) and a wearable computer (portable media players, digital cameras, tiny speakers, SD card, etc.). Typically, they support both Wi-Fi and GPS. Touchscreen, rechargeable battery, thermometers, accelerometers, heart rate monitor, barometers, and compasses contribute to smartwatches’ high global consumption. A device such as a smartwatch takes 13th place in 16 most consumed products in the world list. However, there is a statistical belief that in 2018, the number of their users is about to reach 141 million worldwide.

12. Minecraft (video game)

Total sales: 144 million copies

At the very core of Minecraft lays the 3D procedurally generated world which enables you an innovative approach to various playing modes such as a survival mode (maintaining health and acquiring building resources), creative mode (ability to fly and boundless building means), an adventure mode (enjoying large variety of maps, previously created by some other players), as well as a spectator mode (unlimited moving ability through space). 55 million players per month entertain ourselves with this multiple video game which had been sold in more than 144 million copies by early 2018.

11. PlayStation (2)

Total sales: 157.68 million units

Although the original was launched in Japan, the first version of PlayStation in the U.S. was released in 1994. Today, PlayStation is a surname of 4 home video game consoles and at the same time an online service and media center. The network is an online service with over 110 million users worldwide which also includes a virtual market (PlayStation Store). Its ‘parent’ company Sony Interactive Entertainment made an enormous profit by selling more than 70 million PlayStations by the time PlayStation 2 (a six generation of video game consoles) saw the light of the day in 2000. Although it takes the 11th place in our 16 most consumed products in the world list, since 2015, it is proclaimed as the most successful and best-selling console of all time.

10. Tetris

Total sales: 170 million units

There is hardly any man in the world who have not heard a word ‘tetris’ at least once in a lifetime. It is scientifically estimated that playing this gripping video game increases the memory capacity and also improves attention span. It is also beneficial in reducing the manifestations of negative flashbacks and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well. There is a study conducted in Plymouth University claiming that playing Tetris can help you ‘lose weight, cut back on drinking, or quit smoking’. You can find this game on Guinness World Records list as the most ported game (it appears on 65 different platforms).

9. Rubik’s Cube

Total sales: 350 million cubes

The 9th position of 16 most consumed products in the world list is saved for the ‘Magic Cube’. This 3-D combination of 26 miniature cubes (‘cubies’/’cubelets’) is invented by Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor Ernő Rubik in 1974. It’s definitely one of the unique products in the world. This toy is in the best selling toys of all time list for a good reason – it looks so simple, but it asks for an involvement of a large number of gray cells in solving this puzzle game. The current world record in solving the Rubik’s Cube holds SeungBeom Cho from South Korea (4.59 sec). There is a widely spread belief that 1/5 of the global population had played a cube at least once in a lifetime by the mid-1980s and over 350 million cubes had been sold so far.

8. The iPad

Total sales: (more than) 350 million units

The most famous tablet device in the world is somewhere in between Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch. This is one of the products in high demand right now. Since its first appearance on the market (3rd April 2010), Apple produced six iPad versions and also has sold more than 350 million units worldwide which place this device on 8th position on our 16 most consumed products in the world list. According to Statista, in the first quarter of 2018, 13.17 million iPads were sold on a global level.

7. Harry Potter Saga

Total sales: (more than) 500 million copies

Harry Potter books are sold in more than 500 million copies worldwide and translated into 80 languages. It’s also one of the best selling products in USA. Even though the first copy was published by Bloomsbury in 1997, today you can find both in print and eBook versions of all seven books. This leads to the fact that, approximately though, one in fifteen people around the globe owns at least one Harry Potter book. The best-selling book of the all seven is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, but the place for the fastest selling book of fiction of all time is reserved for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in the series. Although the story about the adventures of young wizard Harry and his friends did finish in this final book, the Harry Potter books’ editions are moderately evolving throughout the brand-new, state-of-the-art cover illustrations which make these books seem even more ‘collectible’.

6. Lay’s potato chips

Total sales: 372 million bags (per year)

The 6th place in 16 most consumed products in the world list is taken by the potato chip company, founded in U.S., 1932. Since those times, it is the leading potato chip brand in the world. Owned by PepsiCo’s 1965. Other brand names are used in the United Kingdom and Ireland (Walkers), in Australia (Smith’s), in Colombia (Margarita), Mexico (Sabritas), Vietnam (Poca), Egypt (Chrispy) and in Canada (Hostess). According to The Washington Post, the company sells more than  372 million bags of Lay’s per year. Their famous slogan „Lay’s. Get your smile on. No one can eat just one.“ totally makes sense now, don’t you think?

5. Starbucks (coffee)

Total sales: 4 billion cups of coffee  (per year)

In the United States, for instance, 62 percent of the daily coffee consumption is purchased in a coffee outlet. Americans spent between one and five U.S. dollars on coffee per week. In the spring of 2016, 36.38 million people in the United States visited a coffeehouse or coffee bar for breakfast, lunch or dinner within a period of 30 days. Founded in Seattle, Washington (1971), the Starbucks that we know today was actually developed by Howard Schultz in 1987. The rapid increase in the sale of Starbucks’ coffees began in 2016 which at the same time brings the most revenue for this coffeehouse chain which is predicted to exceed 32 billion U.S. dollars in 2016. According to calculations, Starbucks sells about 4 billion cups of coffee every year (3,861,778,846 cups) which places its product on the 5th place on 16 most consumed products in the world ranking.

4. McDonald’s French fries

Total sales: 10 billion small orders (per year)

Whether it is Chicken nuggets, Happy Meal or a Big Mac, a few could resist a crunchy and salty taste of McDonald’s fast-food. Maybe it’s not the biggest, but it certainly is the most profitable fast food chain in the world. Only in 2016, the chain had 14,155 restaurants in the United States, and also further 22,744 in locations worldwide. Nowadays, there are approximately 37,000 locations in over 100 countries. According to statistics, Mc Donald’s chains sell more than 75 hamburgers every second and 68 million people per day eat them which is — about 1% of the world’s population. According to numerous forums and online lists, Mc Donald’s French fries are the absolute winner when it comes to fast food consumption – approximately 7 percent of all potatoes grown in the United States end up as McDonald’s fries. It is calculated that somewhere around 320 billion fries per year or 10 billion small orders of Mc Donald’s French fries are sold annually.

3. iPhone

Total sales: 1.16 billion units

The bronze medal in 16 most consumed products in the world list is reserved for iPhone. Nowadays, it’s just too painful to imagine our lives without these devices. The iPhone 7 was proclaimed to be the top-selling cell phone in the third quarter of 2017.  In the first quarter of 2018, 77.32 million iPhones were sold worldwide. In 2017, Apple sold 216.76 million iPhones.

2. Disposable baby diapers (Pampers)

Total sales: 25 million (around 9 billion daily)

Second place in our list is taken by Pampers which is definitely one of the most commonly used products in the world. The first prototype of disposable diaper appeared in 1946, and it is invented by a housewife Marion Donovan. As for its quality, since then, the main priority is to produce ‘a highly absorbent product that isn’t leaky‘. Changing and disposing of baby diapers was never so easy and convenient, keeping babies’ skin dryer for a much longer period. The thinness of diapers is also an important factor here, which contributes to functionality and overall aesthetics of disposable diapers. The appearance of bio-degradable and eco-friendly diaper largely increased on the market. These products consist of non-renewable chemicals and/or less raw materials that are beneficial both for environment and baby skin condition. Approximately, one family would use about 7,300 diapers for 2.5 years, which makes up 50% of overall household waste. Pampers is the leading brand in this sector, with $9 billion in annual revenue. Pampers also takes 48th place in Forbes World’s Most Valuable Brand list. According to P&G’s statements, 25 million babies in 100 countries on a daily basis wear their products.

1. Coca-Cola

Total sales: 1.9 billion servings (per day)

According to our list, Coca-Cola is the #1 selling product in the world. It is the most famous soda product in the globe. Invented in the late 19th century by dr. John Pemberton, the initial purpose of this carbonated soft drink was to be used as a sort of patient medicine (alongside with its two original ingredients, kola nuts, and coca leaves). The current formula of Coca-Cola still remains secret. What is produced by the Coca-Cola Company is its concentrate, which is further sold to licensed Coca-Cola bottlers worldwide. The finished product (consisting of concentrate and a combination of filtered water and corresponding sweeteners) is then sold, distributed and merchandised by bottlers’ companies. After Apple and Google, Coca-Cola is the world’s 3rd biggest and most valuable brand. It is available in every country in the world, except in Cuba and North Korea. However, it is reported that even there Coca-Cola is available in the form of gray import. Despite the controversy that is rich in sugar and in caloric value which eventually is the leading cause of obesity, it is still the No.1 American Brand. Speaking of numbers, more than 1.9 billion servings of Coca-Cola drinks are served on a daily basis. So no wonder this is the best selling product in the world, at least on our list.

This was all of our 16 most consumed products in the world, hope you’ve enjoyed it!