The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation released full-year 2025 semiconductor market results, incorporating finalised fourth-quarter data.
Global semiconductor sales reached $795.6 billion in 2025, representing an increase of 26.2% year-over-year and marking one of the strongest annual expansions in the industry’s history. Growth accelerated over the course of the year, culminating in Q4 2025 revenues of $238.9 billion, up 38.4% compared to Q4 2024, reflecting strong demand across several key application areas, particularly data centre infrastructure and AI-related systems.
End-market segments: computer applications lead industry expansion
From an end-market perspective, 2025 growth was primarily driven by the computer segment, which expanded by more than 60% year-over-year. this exceptional performance reflects continued investment in data centre infrastructure and ai-related computing platforms, making computer by far the largest contributor to overall semiconductor market growth.
Government-related demand increased by 15%, supported by defence and infrastructure spending. The Industrial segment returned to growth with an increase of 5%, suggesting that the inventory corrections and weaker capital expenditure environment seen in previous years are gradually easing.
Regional markets: strong growth in Asia Pacific and the Americas
Regionally, 2025 semiconductor sales increased strongly in Asia Pacific/All Others, up 45.4% year-over-year, followed by the Americas, which grew 31.4%, and China, up 17.9%, reflecting continued strength in data centre, AI-related, and advanced logic demand. Europe recorded moderate growth of 6.7%, while Japan declined by 4.3% on a full-year basis.
Product segments: logic and memory drive market growth
Growth in 2025 was broad-based across most semiconductor product categories but was clearly led by logic and memory devices. Logic devices delivered the largest contribution to overall market expansion, supported by demand for high-performance chips used in data centres, AI accelerators, and advanced computing systems.
The memory segment also recorded strong growth, continuing its recovery from the 2023 downturn, supported by improved pricing and strong demand for high-bandwidth and high-capacity memory solutions.
Other categories, including microprocessors, analog, and sensors, recorded solid growth, while discrete devices remained slightly negative on a full-year basis.
Outlook: continued global semiconductor growth towards $1 trillion
The global semiconductor industry delivered its strongest year on record in 2025, coming close to the $800 billion level. Based on the latest WSTS forecast, global semiconductor sales are expected to continue expanding in 2026, with the industry approaching the $1 trillion milestone.
WSTS will update its consensus semiconductor market forecast in May 2026 and will communicate the results via a dedicated press release on 2nd June 2026.
