Market overview
The global soft drinks market is worth USD 497 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 735 bn by 2036, growing at a 4.0% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Carbonated soft drinks is the largest by product segment.
| Scope | Non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages: carbonated soft drinks, juices and nectars, ready-to-drink tea and coffee, squashes and sports drinks. Energy drinks and bottled water are counted separately. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food and Beverage |
| Value 2025 | USD 480 bn |
| Value 2026 | USD 497 bn |
| Value 2036 | USD 735 bn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 4.0% |
| Volume 2026 | 389,406 million litres |
| Volume 2036 | 521,822 million litres |
| Average price 2026 | USD 1.28 per litre |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
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Soft Drinks market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 497 bn |
| 2027 | USD 517 bn |
| 2028 | USD 537 bn |
| 2029 | USD 559 bn |
| 2030 | USD 581 bn |
| 2031 | USD 604 bn |
| 2032 | USD 629 bn |
| 2033 | USD 654 bn |
| 2034 | USD 680 bn |
| 2035 | USD 707 bn |
| 2036 | USD 735 bn |
Soft Drinks market segmentation
By product
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbonated soft drinks | 46.0% | 42.6% | USD 229 bn | 3.2% |
| Juices and nectars | 20.0% | 18.5% | USD 99.4 bn | 3.2% |
| Ready-to-drink tea and coffee | 14.0% | 17.3% | USD 69.6 bn | 6.2% |
| Sports and functional drinks | 8.0% | 10.3% | USD 39.7 bn | 6.7% |
| Squashes and concentrates | 7.0% | 6.2% | USD 34.8 bn | 2.7% |
| Other soft drinks | 5.0% | 5.1% | USD 24.8 bn | 4.2% |
By packaging
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PET bottle | 56.0% | 55.1% | USD 278 bn | 3.8% |
| Can | 20.0% | 22.7% | USD 99.4 bn | 5.3% |
| Glass bottle | 7.0% | 5.9% | USD 34.8 bn | 2.3% |
| Carton and pouch | 12.0% | 11.8% | USD 59.6 bn | 3.8% |
| Fountain and other | 5.0% | 4.5% | USD 24.8 bn | 2.8% |
By sweetener type
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar-sweetened | 62.0% | 54.0% | USD 308 bn | 2.6% |
| Low-calorie and zero-sugar | 28.0% | 35.0% | USD 139 bn | 6.3% |
| Unsweetened and naturally sweet | 10.0% | 11.0% | USD 49.7 bn | 5.0% |
By channel
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarkets and hypermarkets | 38.0% | 34.0% | USD 189 bn | 2.9% |
| Convenience and traditional stores | 27.0% | 24.0% | USD 134 bn | 2.8% |
| Foodservice and on-premise | 20.0% | 19.0% | USD 99.4 bn | 3.5% |
| Online and delivery | 7.0% | 13.0% | USD 34.8 bn | 10.6% |
| Vending and other | 8.0% | 10.0% | USD 39.7 bn | 6.3% |
By price tier
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value and private label | 36.0% | 34.0% | USD 179 bn | 3.4% |
| Mainstream brands | 44.0% | 41.0% | USD 219 bn | 3.3% |
| Premium and craft | 20.0% | 25.0% | USD 99.4 bn | 6.3% |
Top 25 countries for soft drinks by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 66.5% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 91.0%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | USD 99.4 bn | 20.0% | USD 123 bn | 2.1% |
| 2 | China | USD 69.6 bn | 14.0% | USD 115 bn | 5.1% |
| 3 | Brazil | USD 32.3 bn | 6.5% | USD 48.5 bn | 4.2% |
| 4 | Mexico | USD 29.8 bn | 6.0% | USD 40.4 bn | 3.1% |
| 5 | India | USD 24.8 bn | 5.0% | USD 59.6 bn | 9.1% |
| 6 | Japan | USD 19.9 bn | 4.0% | USD 24.3 bn | 2.0% |
| 7 | Germany | USD 14.9 bn | 3.0% | USD 17.6 bn | 1.7% |
| 8 | United Kingdom | USD 14.9 bn | 3.0% | USD 18.4 bn | 2.1% |
| 9 | Indonesia | USD 12.4 bn | 2.5% | USD 22.8 bn | 6.3% |
| 10 | Russia | USD 12.4 bn | 2.5% | USD 16.2 bn | 2.7% |
| 11 | France | USD 11.9 bn | 2.4% | USD 17.7 bn | 4.0% |
| 12 | Canada | USD 11.3 bn | 2.3% | USD 15.4 bn | 3.1% |
| 13 | Italy | USD 10.4 bn | 2.1% | USD 14.2 bn | 3.1% |
| 14 | Spain | USD 9.6 bn | 1.9% | USD 13.0 bn | 3.1% |
| 15 | Saudi Arabia | USD 9.1 bn | 1.8% | USD 15.4 bn | 5.4% |
| 16 | Thailand | USD 8.7 bn | 1.8% | USD 13.2 bn | 4.3% |
| 17 | Philippines | USD 8.2 bn | 1.7% | USD 14.0 bn | 5.4% |
| 18 | South Africa | USD 7.8 bn | 1.6% | USD 11.9 bn | 4.3% |
| 19 | Turkey | USD 7.4 bn | 1.5% | USD 11.3 bn | 4.3% |
| 20 | Egypt | USD 7.0 bn | 1.4% | USD 11.8 bn | 5.4% |
| 21 | South Korea | USD 6.5 bn | 1.3% | USD 8.9 bn | 3.2% |
| 22 | Australia | USD 6.5 bn | 1.3% | USD 8.9 bn | 3.2% |
| 23 | Nigeria | USD 6.1 bn | 1.2% | USD 11.3 bn | 6.3% |
| 24 | Argentina | USD 5.7 bn | 1.1% | USD 7.7 bn | 3.1% |
| 25 | Vietnam | USD 5.2 bn | 1.1% | USD 9.6 bn | 6.3% |
| Rest of world | USD 44.9 bn | 9.0% | USD 65.7 bn | 3.9% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- Coca-Cola Company
- PepsiCo
- Keurig Dr Pepper
- Suntory Beverage & Food
- Nestle
- Danone
- Red Bull
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- Asahi Soft Drinks
- Ito En
- Britvic
- Monster Beverage
- Nongfu Spring
- Uni-President
- Coca-Cola HBC
- Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
- Arca Continental
- Refresco
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- Jones Soda
- Zevia
- Olipop
- Poppi
- Celsius Holdings
- Reed's
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the soft drinks market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 4.0% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by product, by packaging, by sweetener type, by channel, by price tier. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the soft drinks market?
The global soft drinks market is estimated at USD 480 bn in 2025 and USD 497 bn in 2026.
How fast will the soft drinks market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 735 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 4.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 239 bn.
Which country is the largest market for soft drinks?
United States is the largest market by revenue at USD 99.4 bn in 2026, 20.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 40.5%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 9.1% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which soft drinks segment is largest?
In the by product split, Carbonated soft drinks is the largest segment with 46.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading soft drinks companies?
Global leaders include Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, Suntory Beverage & Food.
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