Citable reference
Halloween statistics & facts
A quick, citable reference of widely-reported Halloween numbers — candy, spending, candy corn, trick-or-treaters, and pumpkins — with the source each figure comes from. Use it for a blog post, a school report, a news article, or a newsletter, and link back to this page if it helps.
Figures are industry estimates rounded for readability and should be cited as approximations.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Americans celebrating | ~171 million | National Retail Federation (annual Halloween surveys) |
| Total U.S. spending | ~$12–13 billion | National Retail Federation spending estimate |
| Candy purchased | ~600 million lbs | Confectioners' association industry estimates |
| Candy corn sold | ~35 million lbs | Confectioners' association industry estimates |
| Average spend per person | ~$70–$100 | National Retail Federation spending estimate |
| Trick-or-treaters | ~41 million | U.S. Census Bureau age distribution |
| Pumpkins grown | ~1.5 billion | USDA / state agricultural summaries |
| Largest pumpkin | ~2,700 lbs | Great Pumpkin Commonwealth records |
| Date of Halloween | October 31 | Calendar / liturgical tradition |
| Origin of the holiday | ~2,000+ years | Folklore and historical scholarship |
What the numbers mean
~171 million
Americans celebrating
Roughly 171 million people in the United States celebrate Halloween in some form each year.
~$12–13 billion
Total U.S. spending
Combined spending on costumes, decorations, candy, and cards in recent peak Halloween seasons.
~600 million lbs
Candy purchased
Approximate weight of Halloween candy bought in the U.S. each season — about 3,000 loaded freight trucks.
~35 million lbs
Candy corn sold
Roughly 35 million pounds of candy corn sell each Halloween season, mostly in the six weeks before October 31.
~$70–$100
Average spend per person
Average planned spend per Halloween celebrant on costumes, candy, and décor in recent seasons.
~41 million
Trick-or-treaters
Approximate number of children aged 5–14 who could go trick-or-treating, per U.S. Census age data.
Frequently asked questions
- How much candy do Americans buy for Halloween?
- Americans buy roughly 600 million pounds of Halloween candy each season — the largest candy-selling holiday in the U.S. by a wide margin, ahead of Easter and Valentine's Day.
- How much is spent on Halloween each year?
- Total U.S. Halloween spending on costumes, décor, candy, and cards is estimated in the $12–13 billion range in peak recent seasons, with the average person spending roughly $70–$100.
- How many Americans celebrate Halloween?
- Roughly 171 million people in the United States celebrate Halloween in some form each year, according to National Retail Federation surveys.
- How much candy corn is sold at Halloween?
- About 35 million pounds of candy corn sell each Halloween season, most of it in the six weeks before October 31 — making it one of the most divisive but best-selling Halloween candies.
- When did Halloween originate?
- Halloween traces back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the thinning of the veil between the living and the dead.
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