19 Astonishing Canadian Social Commerce Statistics

Canada has been a bit slow in embracing the shift to ecommerce.

The thing is:

2019 figures show around 36% of surveyed Canadians shopped online occasionally. This is equivalent to only about two to six purchases a year. Nevertheless, the country is keeping up with its giant neighbor next door, especially when it comes to social commerce.

Now:

More and more Canadians are shopping through social media. This compelled us to look deeper into the interesting social commerce statistics that govern the Canadian retail industry in general and its shift to social commerce in particular.

The statistics in Canada on social ecommerce tell us that Canadians are slowly but surely heading towards a social commerce revolution, heavily influenced by necessity during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Social media platforms, needless to say, have become more than just a place for social interactions.

With that in mind, let’s delve further into the stats.

Astounding Social Commerce Statistics (Editor’s Choice) 

• 55% of Canadian ecommerce retailers sell through social media platforms.     
• There are 23.35 million Canadian social network users.
• 47% of Canadians have bought something on social media.
• 70% of Canadians who shop on social media prefer to pay with PayPal.
• Facebook is the most popular platform for Canadian shoppers (29%).
• 34% of Canadians make online purchases every month.
• 42% of Canadians shopped through social media while commuting.
• Impulse buying on social media platforms is common among 52% of Canadians.

Social Commerce Sales Statistics in Canada

1. According to stats on Canada ecommerce, about 55% of Canadian ecommerce retailers actively sell through social media channels.

(Source: Retail Insider)

Before the pandemic, a survey conducted by PayPal Canada showed a growing trend among Canadians who use social media to buy stuff through those platforms. That’s why more than half of the surveyed retailers with ecommerce capabilities have utilized social media channels to sell their products. 

Here’s the scoop:

The overwhelming majority (95%) have taken to Facebook. Next is Instagram, with 69% of respondents using it. Pinterest and Snapchat are trailing way back, with 11% and 3%, respectively. This social commerce 2020 trend clearly demonstrates the increased adoption of social media platforms as an extension of ecommerce transactions. 

Key takeaway:

We can no longer overlook the benefits of social media in e-commerce.

2. There are currently 25.35 million Canadian social network users.

(Source: Statista)

The number of Canadian social network users has been growing steadily in the last few years. As a result, the social network penetration rate is now at 67%. This makes Canadians one of the world’s most connected populations. Currently, there are more than 25 million Canadians who use social media. According to social network trends, this number will grow even bigger by 2025, with projections at more than 80%.

3. Facebook remains the leading mobile social media website in Canada, with over 60% market share.

(Source: Statista, Statista)

According to Facebook commerce statistics in Canada, Facebook has been dominant, amassing around 60% of the market share. In addition, it generates almost three times as many visits  (57.52% of all visits) as Pinterest (17.88%).

4. The online shopping decisions of Canadians were heavily influenced by YouTube, with a rate of 53%. 

(Source: Digital Marketing Community)

Social media is very influential when it comes to Canadian shoppers’ purchasing decisions, online media statistics tell us. Canadians take reviews, comments, and feedback on social media platforms seriously. 

Now:

The top platform that impacts their online buying is YouTube, with a 53% rate. Instagram is second, with a rate of 46%, Instagram commerce statistics for Canada tell us. Facebook ranks third as the most influential platform in decision-making for Canadian online shoppers.

5. An estimated 47% of Canadian social media users have completed purchases through various social media platforms, social commerce purchase statistics confirm.

(Source: Retail Insider)

More and more Canadian social media users have come to appreciate the ease and convenience of social media platforms for online shopping. A survey found that nearly half of them have made purchases through social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Their average spending on social channels is around $924 every year.

6. Around 29% of Canadians frequent Facebook for shopping. 

(Source: Newswire.ca)

In 2020, Facebook launched Facebook Shops, allowing Canadian users to set up free online shops on Facebook and Instagram. So, it’s not surprising that Facebook is the leading social media platform among Canadians when it comes to shopping. Snapchat is second (26%), and Instagram a close third (25%), but both of them are owned by Facebook. 

Key takeaway:

These social commerce usage statistics show how dominant Facebook is on Canada’s social media scene.

7. PayPal is the number one payment platform for 70% of Canadians who shop on social media, social commerce statistics confirm.

(Source: Newswire.ca)

Canadian shoppers on social media prefer to use PayPal when paying for their purchases. This is because they’re more comfortable using this payment method compared to others. Only around 62% do so with credit gift cards and 54% with regular credit cards. Finally, 43% of Canadians pay for their social media purchases with debit cards.

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Online Shopping Statistics

8. Ecommerce sales in Canada amounted to $3.13 billion in 2021.

(Sources: Statista, Statista)

The latest online commerce statistics show a drop of around 35% in the recorded e-commerce retail trade sales as of February 2021. The highest peak was December 2020, when sales amounted to an all-time high of $4.82 billion. 2020 also saw retail ecommerce sales grow by 18.2%, an increase widely attributed to the beginning of the Coronavirus lockdown.

9. Around 34% of Canadians make online purchases every month.

(Sources: iProspect, Statista)

In recent years, there has been a positive trend among Canadians who embrace online shopping. However, when it comes to online buying, Canadians are more often doing it on a monthly basis. In contrast, only 11% of users prefer making weekly purchases. Meanwhile, around 34% of respondents shopped occasionally, with two to six purchases every year.

10. Online retail sales went up by over 100% in 2021, social commerce sales statistics in Canada confirm.

(Source: Victoria News)

The boom in ecommerce in Canada continues in 2021, with online retail sales rising by a staggering 110.7% in January compared to the same month in 2020. However, the rise in online sales is in sharp contrast to the overall retail sales statistics across Canada.

This is due to the introduction of physical distancing measures, which greatly caused a decline in 6 out of 11 retail sub-sectors, including clothing and accessories, sporting goods, music stores, and furniture and home furnishings stores.

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Social Commerce Users Statistics

11. Around 33% of Canadian men shop through social media channels, social commerce stats reveal.

(Source: Newswire.ca)

It might come as a surprise, but more Canadian men than women use social media for shopping women, 33% and 26%, respectively. 54% mostly buy shoes, clothing, and accessories. Additionally, around 29% spend on electronics, while 21% go for toys and games.

12. According to social ecommerce stats, about 42% of Canadians did their online shopping through social media while commuting.

(Source: Newswire.ca)

There is a growing trend among Canadian social media shoppers when it comes to their preferred location and timing. 

Here’s the thing:

More than 40% said they shop on social media while commuting, while about 32% admitted to doing so during a conference call or work meeting. Curiously, 50% of single Canadians spend more time shopping on social media than on dating apps.

13. Social media influencers inspire two in five Canadians in their purchase decisions, social commerce statistics confirm.

(Source: Newswire.ca)

Social media influencers and content creators are quite powerful. Their product and service recommendations have influenced 41% of Canadian social media users. 

What’s more: 

Around 62% say they are inspired by holiday gift recommendations on social media rather than what they see in-store.

14. About 52% of Canadians admitted to impulsive buying on social media platforms. 

(Source: Newswire.ca)

Social media has evolved dramatically in the last few years. So, social networking platforms have become more than just a place to connect with family and friends. In addition, many of these sites allow users to experience shopping without leaving the platform, making impulse buying inevitable. 

In fact, more than half of Canadians admitted to buying on impulse on social media platforms, saying they find it hard to resist something they love when they happen to see it on their feeds.

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Global Social Commerce Statistics

15. The growth of the global social commerce market is expected to exceed $762 billion by 2027.

(Source: Retail Insider)

The current estimated worth of the global social commerce market is $113 billion. This figure is expected to increase by a mind-blowing 700% by 2027, at an excess of $762 billion, as social commerce trends in 2021 demonstrate. 

Now:

The global rise in social commerce is mainly attributed to the convenience it poses to online shoppers. Social commerce allows shoppers to scroll through their feeds and shop at the same time, all without leaving their favourite platforms. The increasing use of social media by ecommerce vendors will also contribute to this staggering growth.

16. Around 14% of internet users aged 25 to 34 said a “buy button” will likely persuade them to purchase a product online, social shopping statistics reveal.

(Source: Statista)

A 2019 survey found how different age groups of internet users make use of social media. Those aged between 16 and 24 discover brands through social media ads, as shown by ecommerce social media marketing statistics. Around 40% of those ages between 35 and 44 use social networks in researching products online. 

Next:

For the age group of 25 to 34, a “buy button” will increase the likelihood of their purchasing decision. That’s why social media networks like Instagram and Facebook have already integrated social commerce within their platforms, allowing users to shop seamlessly while scrolling through their feeds.

17. Between 2021 and 2028, the compound growth rate of the global social commerce market’s compound growth rate is projected at 28.4%.

(Source: Grand View Research)

In 2020, the global social commerce market size value was at US$474.8 billion. It is expected to have a compound growth of more than 28%. The largest market share is held by the B2C segment, comprising 53%. B2B, on the other hand, captured 35% of the market share.

18. The apparel sector has the largest market share of 21.69%. 

(Source: Grand View Research)

As one of the best-selling products on social media platforms, apparel gets the bulk of the market share, as illustrated by some social media shopping statistics. The second-largest share is held by personal beauty and care. This segment is only expected to grow, with projections placed at 34% from 2020 to 2028.   

19. Asia-Pacific has the largest revenue share in the global arena, accounting for 68.47%.

(Source: Grand View Research)

The Asia-Pacific region is one of the fastest-growing regions when it comes to social commerce. The growth is largely attributed to the increasing investments in telecommunication infrastructure. Moreover, there’s evident demand for smartphones and widespread use of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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In Conclusion 

Many Canadian social media users have used the platforms as a research tool for the products or services they are interested in, often relying on reviews and feedback they find on popular sites like Facebook and Instagram. 

So, businesses have also come to appreciate how social media platforms can be highly beneficial as a marketing tool as well as an extension of their ecommerce sites. 

Social commerce statistics in Canada highlight this growing trend further. Without a doubt, it will continue to rise in the future, just as the need for convenience, ease of access, and a seamless shopping experience are fully integrated into most social networking sites. 

It will be interesting to see how social commerce develops down the road.