Yacht Industry Statistics 2026

January 13, 2026

The global yacht industry stands at a pivotal moment in 2026, balancing explosive market growth with transformative shifts in buyer demographics, sustainability mandates, and ownership models. With a global luxury yacht market valued at USD 10.76 billion in 2026 and projected to reach USD 14.61 billion by 2031, the industry continues to attract ultra-high-net-worth individuals whilst adapting to regulatory pressures and technological innovation.

Report Highlights

The global yacht market (builds, new/used sales and refit, not just charters) is valued at roughly €33 billion (around USD 26 billion) as of 2023–2024, with forecasts pointing to annual growth of around 6–8% through the late 2020s.
The global yacht charter market alone is worth around USD 8.3–8.4 billion in 2024, with projections to reach USD 15–18 billion by 2032–2034 at a CAGR of about 8%.
As of mid‑2024, there are around 5,900 superyachts over 30 metres in operation worldwide, with over 600 additional yachts in build; by mid‑2025 the operating fleet passes 6,100 units.
The Mediterranean remains the world’s charter hub: in 2025, 96% of summer charters take place there, and over 70% of the global charter fleet is positioned in the Med during peak season.
Yacht buyers and charter guests are getting younger. The average age of yacht owners has fallen by about 10 years in two decades, now typically in the 40–50 range and forecast to drop to 35–45 in the next 20 years.

Global Yacht Market Size (2024/2025)

The global yacht market (builds, new/used sales and refit, not just charters) is valued at roughly €33 billion (around USD 26 billion) as of 2023–2024.
Analysts expect annual growth of about 6–8% through the late 2020s.
One major forecast puts the market at USD 26 billion in 2023, reaching USD 40.4 billion by 2029 (CAGR 7.62%).
Another report values the yacht segment at USD 12.4 billion in 2024, growing to USD 22.7 billion by 2034 (CAGR 6.4%).

Yacht Charter Market Size & Growth

The global yacht charter market is worth about USD 8.3–8.4 billion in 2024.
It is projected to reach USD 15.5–18.3 billion between 2032 and 2034.
Growth forecasts for yacht charter range between 5.2% and 8.1% CAGR over the next decade.
Europe accounts for roughly 69% of global yacht charter revenue, making it the largest regional market.

Superyacht Fleet, New Builds & Sales

As of late July 2024, there are 5,932 superyachts over 30 metres in operation worldwide.
This fleet includes about 5,039 motor yachts and 893 sailing yachts.
At the same time, 633 new superyachts (30m+) are in build, including 600 motor yachts and 33 sailing yachts.
By mid‑2025, the operating fleet of 30m+ yachts passes roughly 6,100 units.
Over the last five years, an average of around 171 new superyachts have been completed each year, worth around €4.5 billion annually.
In 2023, about 202 new yachts over 30m were completed.
Superyacht sales data show 203 new yachts over 30m sold in 2023, down from 245 in 2022.
Used‑yacht transactions fell 27% year‑on‑year in 2023 (from 403 sales in 2022 to 296 in 2023), reflecting a normalisation after record post‑pandemic activity.

Regional Highlights & Charter Destinations

In 2025, the Mediterranean accounts for around 96% of summer yacht charters.
Over 70% of the global charter fleet is positioned in the Mediterranean during peak season.
The Eastern Mediterranean now represents about 51% of summer bookings, slightly ahead of the Western Mediterranean at 46%.
Greece accounts for roughly 30% of summer charter market share and 26% of annual bookings, making it the single most popular yacht charter destination.
Croatia’s share has grown from about 12% to 15% in recent years, while Turkey holds a stable 6%.
In the Asia‑Pacific region, around 530 unique superyachts were recorded in 2024, up from 372 in 2022 and 445 in 2023.

Yacht Prices & Ownership Costs

Pre‑owned yachts between 24–30 metres typically cost around €3.2 million.
30–40m yachts average roughly €5.6 million.
40–50m yachts average about €12.4 million.
50–70m yachts range from around €20.7 million to €44.8 million.
Yachts over 70m can reach around €95.6 million or more.
A 2024 guide suggests:
- Yachts under 40m: roughly €1–10 million, with an average around €5 million.
- 40–60m superyachts: about €10–50 million, averaging around €30 million.
- 60m+ mega‑yachts: starting near €50 million, averaging around €100 million, with some builds exceeding €200 million.
In feet, the average price of a 56–79 ft yacht in 2024 is around USD 1.5 million.
Approximate price bands by length (feet):
- Under 50 ft: around USD 500,000–2.5 million.
- 50–70 ft: about USD 2–6 million.
- 70–90 ft: about USD 6–15 million.
- 90 ft+: typically USD 10 million+, with the very largest yachts costing several hundred million dollars.
A typical 25‑metre yacht on the second‑hand market sells for around €500,000–1.5 million

Charter Pricing Benchmarks

Mediterranean catamaran charters show average weekly rates typically around €4,400–9,300 per week, depending on month and season.
High‑end crewed catamaran charters in the Caribbean often start around USD 21,500–28,500 per week, rising to USD 48,900–59,000 per week for larger 60–70 ft models.
A 25‑metre yacht is commonly chartered for about €20,000–80,000 per week, depending on season, crew and specification.

Yacht Types, Sizes & Propulsion Trends

Motor yachts generate roughly 90% of global yacht charter revenue, making them the dominant charter type.
Yachts in the 20–50 ft range lead the market by length in terms of unit demand.
Crewed charters dominate revenue, especially in the superyacht segment, while bareboat contracts make up a large share of total charter numbers in regions like the Mediterranean.
The hybrid boat market is valued at about USD 1.77 billion in 2023, forecast to reach USD 4.01 billion by 2030 (CAGR 12%).
The electric boat market is estimated at around USD 6.78 billion in 2024, projected to reach USD 14.09 billion by 2030 (CAGR 13.5%).
Yachts and cruisers are among the fastest‑growing segments for electric propulsion, as luxury buyers seek quieter and more sustainable cruising.

Yacht Owner Demographics & Wealth

Global high‑net‑worth individual (HNWI) wealth reached about USD 86.8 trillion, with the HNWI population growing 5.1% to 22.8 million in 2023.
In 2024, HNWI wealth and population rose again by about 4.2% and 2.6%, respectively.
An estimated USD 83.5 trillion in wealth is expected to transfer to younger generations (Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z) by 2048, supporting long‑term demand for yachts and charters.
The average age of yacht owners has fallen by roughly 10 years in the last two decades, now typically in the 40–50 range.
This average is predicted to drop further to about 35–45 over the next 20 years.
The United States accounts for around 23.6% of global superyacht owners, the largest national share.
Russia holds roughly 8.1%, with Greece, Turkey, the UK, Italy, the UAE, Germany, Saudi Arabia and France each making up a further few percent of global ownership.
One marketplace reported a 76% increase in visits from women aged 25–34 over a 12‑month period, signalling a more diverse emerging customer base in yachting.

Sustainability & Regulation

Shipping (including yachts) is responsible for nearly 3% of global greenhouse‑gas emissions.
The IMO has adopted a net‑zero GHG strategy by 2050, targeting a 20–30% emissions reduction by 2030.
IMO Tier III NOx regulations demand roughly a 70–74% reduction in nitrogen‑oxide emissions compared with Tier II for new vessels in Emission Control Areas.
From 2024, the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) applies to large commercial yachts over 5,000 GT, adding carbon‑allowance costs for their CO₂ emissions.
These rules are driving greater adoption of hybrid and electric propulsion, cleaner fuels, solar integration and more efficient hull designs in new yachts and refits.

Sources

rizton – Yacht Market Global Outlook & Forecast 2024–2029
Global Market Insights – Yacht Market Size & Share, Growth Analysis Report 2025–2034
Italian Marine Industry Association / Deloitte – Global Yacht Market worth €33 billion
Precedence Research – Yacht Charter Market Size to Hit USD 18.30 Billion by 2034
Fortune Business Insights – Yacht Charter Market Size, Share | Statistical Analysis 2032
Grand View Research – Yacht Charter Market Size & Share | Industry Report, 2030
Cognitive Market Research – Recreational Boating Market Report
DataM Intelligence – Recreational Boats Market Size Analysis & Growth 2032
Monaco Yacht Show – Market Report 2024
Monaco Yacht Show – Market Report 2025
SuperYacht Times – New-build sales in 2024 decline
IYC – How Much Does It Cost To Own A Yacht?
Galati Yachts – How Much Does a Yacht Cost?
ATI Yachts – Luxury Yacht Prices: A Complete Guide to Your Future Purchase
12 Knots – Catamaran Charters in Mediterranean Sea
High Point Yachting – Best Crewed Caribbean Catamaran Charters
IYC – Is the Mediterranean Still Yachting’s Global Charter Hub?
Asia‑Pacific Superyacht Report 2025 – Preview (Hong Kong Boating Industry Association)
Capgemini – World Wealth Report 2024
Capgemini – World Wealth Report 2025 / Next‑Gen HNWIs
Boat Show Dubai – Shifting Demographics in Yacht Ownership
Superyacht Content – Which Country Has the Most Superyacht Owners in 2023?
Sustainability Academy – How Are Sustainability Regulations Changing Yachting?
Yachting Pages – IMO Tier III NOx Emission Rules for Superyachts
Yachtsourcing – The Future of the Global Yachting Market in 2024