Forex Market Statistics 2026
Cited global FX market figures plus practical session notes for retail traders who need turnover, pair and liquidity context in one place.
Updated July 2026 Key takeaways
BIS reported $9.6 trillion average daily OTC FX turnover in April 2025 (+28% vs 2022). The US dollar remains on one side of most trades and EUR/USD is still the clearest major-pair reference for beginners.
Global forex market
$9.6T
Daily global turnover
Average daily OTC FX turnover (net-net)
BIS Triennial Survey, April 2025
+28%
Growth vs 2022
Up 28% from $7.5T in the prior Triennial Survey
BIS Triennial Survey, April 2025
≈88%
US dollar share
Of all FX trades have USD on one side
BIS Triennial Survey, April 2025
EUR/USD
Most traded pair
EUR/USD leads global FX volume
BIS Triennial Survey, April 2025
United Kingdom ≈38%
Largest trading hub
Largest reported FX trading centre share
BIS Triennial Survey, April 2025
24/5
Market hours
Sunday open to Friday close across global sessions
ForexTradeLab data, 2026
Structure & timing
Spot + swaps dominate
Instrument mix reminder
FX swaps and spot drive most turnover; options are smaller but volatile
BIS Triennial Survey, April 2025
Institutional volume
Why swaps matter
Retail CFD screens do not equal the full OTC mix
BIS Triennial Survey, April 2025
1–2 majors
Beginner pair focus
Prefer liquid majors while learning costs and sessions
ForexTradeLab data, 2026
London–NY overlap
Highest retail liquidity window
Often tighter spreads; still verify live costs
ForexTradeLab data, 2026
Related statistics
Gold Statistics XAU/USD CFD context: sessions, costs, EU leverage caps and volatility. Broker Statistics ForexTradeLab aggregates: deposits, spreads, licenses and platforms. Retail Traders Statistics Loss-rate disclosures, risk-per-trade rules and process benchmarks. CFD Statistics What CFDs are, cost lines, EU leverage caps and negative-balance rules.
Sources & methodology
Market-level figures come from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Triennial Central Bank Survey (April 2025). Retail-loss and leverage-cap figures come from regulator product-intervention disclosures (ESMA). Broker-level figures are ForexTradeLab's own aggregates from public Terms of Business and regulator license registers, re-verified quarterly.
Frequently asked questions
The BIS Triennial Survey reported $9.6 trillion average daily OTC FX turnover in April 2025, up 28% from $7.5 trillion in 2022.
EUR/USD remains the most widely referenced major pair for retail education and usually has deep liquidity and competitive spreads. Always check live broker costs.
No. Market size does not guarantee your fill, spread or outcome. Retail CFD risk depends on leverage, position size, costs and discipline.
Many retail traders focus on the London–New York overlap for majors, but strategy, news calendar and your broker's live spread still decide timing.