The world market research represents a sales turnover of 28.2 billion dollars in 2007 according to the annual Esomar report.

The European market has captured 43% of the world market with a sales turnover of 10.6 billion dollars. The North American market is second with 36%, then the Asia-Pacific rim (14%), Latin America (5%) and the MEA region (2%). All this in a world-wide market that increased by 6.8% in 2006 (an increase of 14.6 billion dollars).

The research market has greatly expanded in the last few years. On one hand, the major, well-known, world research institutes such as ACNielsen, Taylor Nelson Sofres, IMS and GfK are continuing their ascent by launching into other growing markets and consolidating their international presence. The top ten world-wide research groups reported a sales turnover of more than 11 billion Euros in 2004 (a growth of 19.5% over 2003).

On the other hand, smaller companies are maintaining their market share by providing research analysis software, strategic marketing advice and online methodologies. Internet research is thus enabling small companies to compete with the larger ones by offering simplified, “low-cost” studies that are custom-designed for specific needs.

According to Esomar, online quantitative studies represented 25% of all the research studies in 2007. According to Synthec Etudes de Marché et D’opinion, online studies (qualitative and quantitative) represented 22% of the research market in France in 2007.