United States: number of dollar stores 2017-2024

In 2024 there were almost 38,500 dollar stores in the United States. This was an increase of approximately 1,400 in comparison to the previous year, and more than 4,000 since 2021. 

Profitable years for dollar stores

While many industries struggled in 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and difficult financial circumstances, dollar stores in the United States experienced significant growth. Discount department stores experienced falling sales as an industry from 2007 to 2020, but saw a massive rebound since 2021 when sales reached the highest levels since 2016. Dollar stores have fared better; revenues are estimated to have steadily grown since 2016.

Dollar General sales

The sales of Dollar General, one of the market leaders, reflect this pattern. In the fiscal year 2023, Dollar General's net sales amounted to approximately 38.7 billion U.S. dollars. The company’s sales have consistently grown since 2007, seeing the most significant year-on-year growth in 2020. This growth is understandable, considering that in 2021, Dollar General was the retailer with the most U.S. stores, followed by rival Dollar Tree.