What % of US Adults Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated every year on March 17 in the United States, has become a staple of American cultural festivities. What began as a feast day for the patron saint of Ireland has today evolved into a vibrant celebration marked by parades, green attire, and social gatherings.
In 2024, total expenditure on marking the event hit a record-high $7.2 billion, after an annual increase of 4.3%. This represents lucrative opportunities for businesses hoping to cash in on the festivities. To better understand consumers’ behavior surrounding this merry affair, we must first ask the question: What percentage of US adults celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
Table: What % of US adults celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
|
Year |
Percentage of US adults celebrating St. Patrick’s Day |
|
2014 |
56% |
|
2015 |
52% |
|
2016 |
51% |
|
2017 |
56% |
|
2018 |
60% |
|
2019 |
55% |
|
2020 |
56% |
|
2021 |
49% |
|
2022 |
54% |
|
2023 |
61% |
|
2024 |
62% |
What % of US adults celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in 2024?
In 2024, as many as 62% of American adults celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. Not only does this figure demonstrate a significant increase in participation compared to previous years, it’s also the highest in at least 18 years.
Experts attributed the surge in participation this year to the day’s alignment with a weekend, which offered people more flexibility to engage in festivities.
Consumers also spent more than ever, with average per-person spending rising from $43.84 in 2023 to $44.40 in 2024—representing an annual increase of 1.3%. The primary spending categories included food and beverages, indicating a strong preference for social and culinary celebrations.
What % of US adults celebrated St. Patrick’s Day (2014–2023)?
Examining the historical data from 2014 to 2023 provides a clear picture of the extent participation in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations has fluctuated over the years. In 2014, 56% of US adults partook in the festivities. This number slightly decreased over the next two years, falling to 52% in 2015 and 51% in 2016. However, by 2017, the participation rate rebounded to 56%.
The year 2018 saw an increase to 60%, indicating a growing interest in the holiday. In 2019, the percentage of US adults celebrating St. Patrick’s Day dipped to 55%, only to rise again to 56% in 2020. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 saw the lowest participation rate of the decade, at 49%, as public health measures limited social gatherings.
Despite this dip, the celebrations bounced back in subsequent years, rising to 54% in 2022 and a notable 61% in 2023.
The data on the percentage of US adults celebrating St. Patrick’s Day indicates an overall increase in interest in commemorating the holiday year after year. While there may be occasional fluctuations influenced by external factors such as the pandemic, there’s otherwise growing enthusiasm among Americans.
How does America celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
The same data reveals that the occasion is celebrated in diverse and colorful ways. In 2024, the top five ways America celebrated St. Patrick’s Day were:
- Wearing green: 82% of participants showed their festive spirit by donning green attire.
- Special dinner: 29% prepared a special meal to mark the day.
- Attending a bar or restaurant party: 27% joined public celebrations at bars or restaurants.
- Decorating homes or offices: 26% adorned their spaces with St. Patrick’s Day decorations.
- Attending private parties: 16% celebrated at private gatherings.