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24 October 2026 · Updated at 07:47 GMT FR EN ES Member area Log in
Market

Geographic breakdown

Where sales are concluded: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

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Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748)North AmericaThe market's leading region: €27.1 billion in 2024, i.e. 40% of global volume.› Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748)EuropeThe market's second region: €21 billion in 2024, leading home of old masters and decorative arts.› Enjoying the Evening Cool Along the Sumida River, Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1797–98)Asia-PacificThe most dynamic region of the established market: €14.9 billion in 2024, +9.6% over a year.›

A market dominated by three poles

Boating in Moonlight (1600s)
Boating in Moonlight (1600s)

North America (40%), Europe (31%) and Asia-Pacific (22%) account for 93% of global volume. The Middle East, Africa and Latin America share the remaining 7%, but are growing fast.

The geographic breakdown attributes each sale to the place where it is concluded. It therefore measures the weight of marketplaces, not the origin of works or the nationality of buyers.

Three pages detail the major regions: North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Other regions

The regions in 2024

40%North America
31%Europe
22%Asia-Pacific
7%Other regions

Share of transaction volume.

Volume by region (€bn)

North America27.1
Europe21.0
Asia-Pacific14.9
Middle East2.7
Africa and Latin America2.0

2024 volume in billions of euros.

Reading the geography of the market

A marketplace is a place where auction houses, galleries, fairs, experts, carriers and collectors are concentrated. New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Geneva are the best known, but new marketplaces are emerging in Singapore, Dubai, Lagos and São Paulo.

Concentration is strong: ten cities account for 72% of global volume. This concentration is explained by economies of scale: a buyer goes where supply is abundant, and a seller sells where the buyers are.

It is also regulatory. Places that offer clear taxation, smooth customs procedures and a reliable legal framework attract more sales. Membership of OIMAP, with mutual recognition of certificates, promotes this smoothness.

Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748)
Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748)
Third Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (c. 1830)
Third Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (c. 1830)
Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748)
Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748)

Weight and change of the regions

The five regions in 2024
RegionShareVolumeIndex change
North America40%€27.1bn+5.1%
Europe31%€21.0bn+3.9%
Asia-Pacific22%€14.9bn+9.6%
Middle East4%€2.7bn+12.3%
Africa and Latin America3%€2.0bn+7.2%

The shift of the market

  1. Europe 38%, North America 37%

    A balanced market.

  2. North America ahead

    The region takes first place.

  3. Asia-Pacific at 19%

    Growth of private museums.

  4. Middle East at 4%

    Museum acquisitions.

Place of sale and origin of works

Historic marketplaces and emerging marketplaces

Ships near the Trieux River, Paul Signac (1925)

Historic marketplaces

New York, London, Paris, Geneva
  • High volume
  • Stable framework
  • Moderate growth

Maximum liquidity.

Dune Scene with Peasant Figures, Willem van de Velde (mid-1650s)

Emerging marketplaces

Singapore, Dubai, Lagos, São Paulo
  • Rapid growth
  • Lower volume
  • Framework under construction

Significant potential.

How a sale is located

  1. Declaration

    The place of sale is stated by the operator.

  2. Coding

    The place is attributed to a Member State.

  3. Grouping

    The State is assigned to one of the five regions.

  4. Aggregation

    Volumes are added up by region.

Choosing a place of sale

Otani Tokuji I as the Retainer Sodesuke in "Flowering Irises: A Soga Vendetta of the Bunroku Era", Tōshūsai Sharaku (1794)
Otani Tokuji I as the Retainer Sodesuke in "Flowering Irises: A Soga Vendetta of the Bunroku Era", Tōshūsai Sharaku (1794)
Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians" (c. 1600)
Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians" (c. 1600)
Whitby Harbor, Frank Meadow Sutcliffe (c. 1885)
Whitby Harbor, Frank Meadow Sutcliffe (c. 1885)

An auctioneer

Seven Jeweled Mountain (late 1800s)
« The right place to sell is where the buyers for your segment are, not necessarily the best known. »
Jun Takahashi, auctioneer in Tokyo

Geographic vocabulary

Marketplace
City where sales are concentrated.
Region
Grouping of States for statistical purposes.
Mutual recognition
Acceptance of certificates by the Member States.
Liquidity
Ease of buying and reselling.

Frequently asked questions

Why does North America dominate?

Through the size of its economy, the abundance of collectors and the density of its auction houses.

Is Africa under-represented?

In the figures, yes; it is nevertheless rising by 7.2%.

Where can I see the States?
Where can I see the growth?

Useful documents

Contacts

Roman Ruins, Villa Pamfili, Hubert Robert (1774)
Roman Ruins, Villa Pamfili, Hubert Robert (1774)
OIMAP ObservatoryParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 01 00observatoire@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm

Discover North America

Bowl with Flowering Vines Design in Relief (1100s–1200s)

The market's leading region.

North America
Image credits (19)
  • Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Enjoying the Evening Cool Along the Sumida River, Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1797–98) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Boating in Moonlight (1600s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Third Print from A Low Tide Pentaptych, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (c. 1830) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Nuova pianta di Roma data in luce da Giambattista Nolli l’anno MDCCXLVII, known as La Pianta Grande di Roma, Giovanni Battista Nolli (1748) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Ships near the Trieux River, Paul Signac (1925) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Dune Scene with Peasant Figures, Willem van de Velde (mid-1650s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Otani Tokuji I as the Retainer Sodesuke in "Flowering Irises: A Soga Vendetta of the Bunroku Era", Tōshūsai Sharaku (1794) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians" (c. 1600) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Whitby Harbor, Frank Meadow Sutcliffe (c. 1885) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Seven Jeweled Mountain (late 1800s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Roman Ruins, Villa Pamfili, Hubert Robert (1774) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • A Rocky Cove with Fishing Boats, Allart van Everdingen (late 1650s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Leftmost Print from Pleasure Boats on the Sumida River beneath Shin-Ōhashi Bridge, Chōbunsai Eishi (c. 1792) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Aureus: Bust of Claudius I (obverse); Triumphal Arch with Equestrian Statue and Trophies (reverse) (47–48 CE) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
  • Bowl with Flowering Vines Design in Relief (1100s–1200s) — Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 1.0
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