Day trading is a fast-paced approach to buying and selling securities that has gained significant popularity among traders.

The growing availability of advanced trading tools and real-time analytics are increasing market accessibility, making day trading more appealing and potentially profitable. This trading solution is not only influencing individual traders but is also reshaping the crypto ecosystem by driving liquidity and market activity.

However, short-term price fluctuations make this approach inherently risky, often leading to significant losses. For investors, staying informed and cautious is essential for navigating this volatile space effectively.

Here are some statistics on day trading to give you an idea of the community and the current state of the space.

Demographics Of Day Traders

Most day traders work from home or remotely, either part-time or full-time. According to 2024 data, around 40% of day traders are 25-34, and 60% are 40 or older.

Men dominate this field, with 75% of day traders being men as of August 2024. In contrast, only 13% of day traders are women, based on a report from July 2024.

According to the data, 66.3% of traders are white, 12.4% are Asian, 11.5% are Hispanic or Latino, 5.5% are African American, and 0.2% are American Indian. Additionally, 4.1% of traders have an unknown ethnicity.

The vast community of day traders is spread across the globe. However, 95% of day traders hail from various regions of Asia, and the remaining 5% come from financial hubs like New York, London, Tokyo, or Singapore.

About 25% of day traders are professional or associated with financial firms. The majority, around 60%, are self-taught.

Success & Failure Statistics Of Day Traders

According to reports, 10% of day traders in the community are consistently profitable, with an average annual profit of about $80,000.

On average, day traders earn between 0.5% to 3% per day on their capital. Despite these gains, the risk remains high, as 90% of day traders lose money, based on the August 2024 report.

Additionally, trading data from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) reveals that 72% of day traders experience financial losses annually.

Many traders pursue day trading as a profession to earn a living. However, reports show that only 4% of people make a living from it.

Market Of Day Trading

Day traders thrive in highly volatile markets.

Day trading, known for its high-frequency trades, makes up 50% of all stock market transactions. After stocks, day traders often turn to the Forex and futures markets.

As of July 2024, Forex sees a daily trading volume of around $6.6 trillion from intraday traders. A survey of the U.S. stock market found that day traders contribute to 10% of its volume.

Day Trading Strategies & Tools

It’s a fact that 70% of day traders have a trading strategy established.

According to reports, 80% of traders use technical analysis to make trade decisions. Most professional day traders in high-frequency trading believe in a risk-reward ratio 1:2.

A survey by Tradeciety revealed that 30% of traders using the breakout trading method experienced success. This highlights the effectiveness of breakout trading in capturing short-term market momentum.

Breakout trading involves profiting when asset prices rise above predefined resistance levels.

The next most practiced strategy for day traders is trend following. Tradeciety’s survey shows that 20% of traders using trend analysis found success.

Beyond strategies, day traders rely heavily on tools and technology to maximize profits.

Reports indicate that 90% of active traders use advanced trading tools. Intraday traders increasingly turn to automated trading software for faster transactions and greater accuracy.

Many traders also take advantage of leverage or margin privileges offered by brokerages.

According to recent 2024 reports, many traders use leverage with a 4:1 ratio when trading.

Challenges Of Day Trading

Day trading can be profitable, but it demands intense focus and quick decision-making, which can be stressful over time. A day trader spends an average of 3-5 hours actively trading each day.

In a week, this adds up to nearly 30 hours. Additionally, day traders dedicate an average of 12 hours a week to research before actually trading.

However, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll always make a profit. About 75% of traders without proper experience suffer significant financial losses.

Within two years, 80% of day traders quit due to limitations, challenges, and losses. As per a report, 40% of the traders have been found to stop day trading after their first month. 80% of day traders lose money within their first year.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandates day traders to maintain a minimum account balance of $25,000. Day trading is high-risk, so having risk mitigation plans is crucial.

Research shows that 88% of day traders use stop-loss orders as a risk management strategy.

Day Trading History’s Example

As George Soros demonstrated, day trading has the potential to generate significant wealth.

From 1969 to 2011, Soros managed clients’ funds and helped them achieve substantial returns through trading. His expertise and strategies were instrumental in causing a shortage of British pounds in 1992.

Soros earned $1 billion in a single day by short-selling the British pound that year.

Day Trading Statistics USA: How many day traders are there in the US?

Here’s a typical structure for a Day Trading Statistics table for American citizens:

StatisticDescriptionValue/Details
Average Daily Profit of Day TradersThe average profit earned by active day traders per day.$200 – $500/day (varies based on experience)
Percentage of Successful Day TradersThe estimated percentage of day traders who are consistently profitable over time.~10%
Average Number of Trades per DayThe typical number of trades a day trader executes in a single day.10 – 20 trades/day
Average Holding TimeThe average time a day trader holds onto a position before closing it.A few minutes to several hours
Day Trader DemographicsThe distribution of day traders is based on age, gender, and location.Mostly 25-45 years old, male, USA-based
Popular Day Trading MarketsMarkets where day traders are most active (stocks, forex, crypto, etc.).Stocks (35%), Forex (30%), Crypto (25%), Others
Percentage of Day Traders Losing MoneyThe estimated percentage of day traders who lose money over time.~80%-90%
Common Day Trading StrategiesThe most frequently used strategies in day trading (e.g., scalping, momentum trading, etc.).Scalping, Momentum Trading, Technical Analysis
Capital Required for Day TradingThe average amount of capital needed to start day trading in different markets.$25,000 (stocks), $500-$1,000 (crypto/forex)
Day Trading PlatformsMost commonly used platforms for executing day trades.MetaTrader, TD Ameritrade, Robinhood, Binance
Day Trading Tax Rates (US)The tax rate applied to short-term gains from day trading in the US.10% – 37% depending on income level
Day Trading Regulations (US)Regulatory requirements for day traders (e.g., pattern day trader rule).Pattern Day Trader Rule ($25,000 minimum balance)

FAQs On Statistics on Day Trading

How much money do day traders with $10,000 accounts make per day on average?

On average, day traders with a $10,000 account make 0.5% to 1% per day, or $50 to $100. More aggressive traders may aim for 2% to 5% daily ($200 to $500), but this comes with higher risk.

Profits depend on experience, strategy, and market conditions, with consistency and risk management critical to long-term success.

How Many Day Traders Are There in the World?

The number of day traders globally is difficult to pinpoint, but estimates suggest millions of active day traders across various markets, including stocks, forex, and cryptocurrencies. The rise of online trading platforms has made day trading more accessible, leading to an increasing number of participants worldwide.

What Percentage of Day Traders Are Profitable?

Studies and industry estimates suggest that only about 10% to 20% of day traders are consistently profitable. The vast majority, around 80% to 90%, either break even or incur losses due to the high-risk nature of day trading.

How Many Day Trading Strategies Are There?

There are numerous day trading strategies, but they can be grouped into a few main types:

  • Scalping
  • Momentum Trading
  • Range Trading
  • Breakout Trading
  • Reversal Trading

In total, there are dozens of specific strategies. Still, most day traders use various core approaches, often customizing them based on personal risk tolerance, market conditions, and asset classes.

More Day Trading Statistics

  1. A survey in the U.K. in 2024 revealed that 75% of traders aged 18 to 34 choose to trade cryptocurrencies. (Source – Moneyzine.com)
  2. In 2020, 72% of day traders suffered financial losses. (Source – unbaised.com)
  3. A successful day trader typically earns an average annual return of about 20-30%. (Source – jobera.com)
  4. Day traders earn 7-8% less than the market each year. (Source – jobera.com)
  5. Studies show that only 1% of day traders consistently make money. (Source – gitnux.org)
  6. More than 90% of day traders fail to outperform the market. (Source – gitnux.org)
  7. Using the leverage results in an average return of -4.53%, highlighting the risk of more significant losses. (Source – unbaised.com)
  8. According to a survey done by T.D. Ameritrade brokerage, 62% of day traders use position sizing as part of their risk management strategy. (Source – unbaised.com)
  9. As per the 2024 report, automated trading systems handle over 75% of all U.S. stock market trades. (Source – jobera.com)
  10. The day trading niche has been growing at a rate of 5% per year since 2016. (Source – jobera.com)
  11. Day traders lost an astounding $1.14 billion during the pandemic. (Source – Moneyzine.com)
  12. Per the 2024 data, there are 9.6 million traders worldwide. (Source – Moneyzine.com)
  13. Day traders in the U.S. earn approximately $56.20 per hour. (Source – Moneyzine.com)
  14. A study of over 450,000 day traders on the Taiwan Stock Exchange revealed that only 4,000 consistently earned profit despite trading more than $20,000 daily. (Source – Moneyzine.com)
  15. An often-repeated saying in online trading is that 90% of day traders lose 90% of their money within their first 90 days. (Source – quantifiedstrategies.com)
  16. A Charles Schwab survey revealed that 83% of day traders felt that day trading had significantly improved their discipline and organization. (Source – quantifiedstrategies.com)
  17. A 2010 report revealed that active day traders accounted for about 12% of daily trading activity. (Source – quantifiedstrategies.com)
  18. Charles Schwab’s survey shows that the percentage of American stock traders rose from 15% in 2019 to 25% in 2021. (Source – quantifiedstrategies.com)
  19. In 2020, FINRA reported that day traders made a median profit of about $13,000. (Source – quantifiedstrategies.com)
  20. In 2020, reports surfaced about a day trader making over $100 million in profits from Tesla stock. (Source – quantifiedstrategies.com)
  21. In 2021, Robinhood, a well-known day trading platform, reported that one of its users made over $30 million in just one day of trading. (Source – quantifiedstrategies.com)
  22. About 60% of day traders work from their home office. (Source – wifitalents.com)
  23. Per the reports of 2024, 70% of day traders hold a college degree or have completed higher education.(Source – wifitalents.com)
  24. Research states that 70% of day traders lose money because of poor risk management. (Source – gitnux.org)
  25. On average, a day trader keeps a position for under an hour. (Source – gitnux.org)
  26. Day trading is more prevalent in areas with easy access to high-speed internet and advanced technology. (Source – wifitalents.com)
  27. About 80% of day traders focus on the same stock every day. (Source – zipdo.co)
  28. According to the report, 25% of day traders turn to social media and online forums for trading tips and advice. (Source – zipdo.co)
  29. Approximately 70% of day traders are believed to have a gambling addiction. (Source – zipdo.co)
  30. A 2024 survey revealed that 55% of day traders consider lacking capital their biggest challenge. (Source – zipdo.co)
  31. Day traders aim to sell their winning stocks at a 50% higher rate. (Source – whatsthebigdata.com)
  32. Most day traders increase their trading frequency and take more risks, while unprofitable traders often do the opposite. (Source – whatsthebigdata.com)
  33. 12% of day trading activity involves successful traders. (Source – whatsthebigdata.com)
  34. Individual investors are more likely to boost their investments when they experience higher earnings from day trading. (Source – whatsthebigdata.com)
  35. Only 40% of new traders follow their trading plan for the first month. (Source – whatsthebigdata.com)
  36. Even experienced day traders often leave the market within five years. 7% of day traders exit the market within this period. (Source – whatsthebigdata.com)
  37. 10% to 15% of proprietary firm trainees engage in day trading as a side hustle to earn extra income. (Source – tradethatswing.com)
  38. Reports indicate that women often outperform men in trading. They tend to achieve higher success rates in day trading than their male counterparts. (Source – tradethatswing.com)
  39. The success rate for day trading, including those mildly profitable but who couldn’t make a living, is estimated to be about 10% to 15% of all traders. (Source – tradethatswing.com)
  40. The AI trading market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated $50.4 billion by 2033. (Source – whatsthebigdata.com)