Toy and games market in Russia - statistics & facts
Russia has the 10th-largest toys and games market worldwide, with its revenue estimated at nearly two billion U.S. dollars in 2023. The retail trade share of games and toys in the country stood at 1.6 percent in 2023, up 0.2 percentage points from two years prior. However, this expansion has been accompanied by price increases. The consumer price index (CPI) for toys, games, and hobby goods indicated that in 2023 these items cost 2.6 percent more than in the previous year. Notably, stuffed toys experienced the highest price growth among all categories, with an increase of over five percent from 2022.
Some of the trends shaping the Russian toys and games market are the large presence of goods imported from China, price growth in various categories, as well as a rising interest in board games among the population.
Children's toys
Sales of games and toys for children in Russia exceeded 251 billion Russian rubles in specialized stores alone in 2022, having increased by 14 percent from the previous year. In physical terms, the number of sold children's toys saw a slight increase in 2023, measuring at nearly 1.8 billion. Residents of Moscow demonstrated the highest per capita spending on children's toys, at over 3,300 Russian rubles.Foreign trade in toys and games in Russia
China has established itself as the dominant player in Russia's toy import market, with approximately 83 percent of children's toys and games imported to Russia originating from China. Hong Kong and Lithuania shared a distant second place, each accounting for only 1.9 percent of children's toy imports to Russia that year. As for Russia's toy exports, Kazakhstan was their primary destination, accounting for an over-60-percent share. The value of these exports to Kazakhstan amounted to around 55.5 million U.S. dollars, while Armenia secured the second position.Board games are more popular among men
Board games have been experiencing a surge in popularity in Russia, particularly among men. Six out of ten board game players in the country were male. In general, there is a growing interest in board games as a hobby, with 14 percent of Russians reporting board and card games among their leisure activities. The increasing popularity of board games is also reflected in the segment's financial performance. In 2022, board game sales in Russia reached 22 billion Russian rubles, marking a nearly 13-percent increase compared to the previous year.Some of the trends shaping the Russian toys and games market are the large presence of goods imported from China, price growth in various categories, as well as a rising interest in board games among the population.
