You’ve probably seen the blue spark from miles away while driving down a highway or realized you're only ten minutes from a gallon of milk no matter where you are in suburban America. It feels like they are everywhere. Because, honestly, they kind of are. But when you ask the question how many walmarts are there, the answer isn't a static number you can just set and forget. It changes almost weekly as the company closes underperforming "zombie" stores and breaks ground on high-tech Supercenters.
As of early 2026, the global footprint of Walmart sits at approximately 10,615 to 10,800 retail units.
Why the range? Because "Walmart" isn't just one thing. If you’re counting the big boxes in the U.S., you're looking at one number. If you include Sam’s Club—which is owned by Walmart—the number jumps. If you add in the thousands of stores in Mexico, China, and Canada, it balloons.
The U.S. Footprint: Breaking Down the 4,600+ Locations
In the United States, the count is hovering right around 4,606 stores. This doesn't include the roughly 600 Sam's Club locations that dot the landscape.
It’s easy to think of every Walmart as a giant warehouse, but they’ve actually split their strategy into several different "formats." You've got the Supercenters, which are the massive 180,000-square-foot beasts that sell everything from tires to rotisserie chickens. There are about 3,560 of these across the country.
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Then you have the Neighborhood Markets. These are much smaller, usually around 42,000 square feet, and they basically act as your local grocery store. No TVs, no lawn mowers—just food and pharmacy. There are roughly 672 of these.
Finally, you have the "Discount Stores." These are the older, classic Walmarts that don’t usually have a full grocery section. There are about 350 of these left, though many are being converted into Supercenters or "Store of the Future" models.
Where are they all hiding?
Texas is the undisputed king. If you live in the Lone Star State, you’re never far from one of the 509 locations currently operating there. Florida comes in second with about 341, and California—despite its reputation for being tough on big-box retailers—still has 271.
On the flip side, if you hate seeing those blue vests, move to Vermont. They only have 6. Washington D.C. has 5. It’s a weirdly sparse distribution once you leave the South and the Midwest.
The Global Reality: It’s a Mexico Story
Most people don't realize that Walmart is actually the largest private employer in Mexico. Outside of the U.S., Mexico is the biggest piece of the pie by a long shot. They operate under the name Walmex, and there are over 3,000 locations there.
Wait. 3,000?
Yeah. In fact, there are more individual Walmart-owned storefronts in Mexico than in almost any other international market combined. Canada follows with about 403 stores, and China has roughly 332.
The company has pulled back in some places, though. They sold off most of their stake in Seiyu in Japan and Asda in the UK years ago. They are focusing more on where they can win, which currently means doubling down on India (through Flipkart) and Mexico.
Why the Number is Actually Shrinking (And Growing)
If you look at the historical data, Walmart actually had more stores in 2018 than they do now. Back then, the global count peaked at 11,718.
You might think, "Oh, they're dying because of Amazon." Not really.
They are getting leaner. They’ve spent the last few years closing stores that were too close to each other or simply didn't make sense in a world where everyone orders groceries on an app. Instead of 12,000 "okay" stores, they want 10,700 "powerhouse" stores.
The 2026 Shift
Right now, in 2026, the company is in the middle of a massive renovation project. They aren't just asking how many walmarts are there; they’re asking what those Walmarts can do. They are spending billions to remodel 650 stores this year alone.
The goal is to turn them into "Store of the Future" hubs. Think digital shelf labels that change prices in real-time and massive automated fulfillment centers attached to the back of the building. By the end of this year, they expect nearly 65% of their stores to have some level of automation.
A State-by-State Look at the Numbers
If you’re looking for a specific count to win a trivia night, here is a rough breakdown of where the density lies:
- Texas: 509
- Florida: 341
- California: 271
- North Carolina: 192
- Georgia: 189
- Illinois: 180
- Ohio: 169
- Pennsylvania: 158
These numbers shift slightly as new stores open—like the four new locations planned for Florida in early 2026 (Apollo Beach and Jacksonville are on that list).
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What This Means for You
So, does the exact number matter? For investors, sure. For the rest of us, it’s more about accessibility.
Walmart has positioned itself so that 90% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a store. That is a staggering statistic. It doesn't matter if the total count is 4,600 or 4,700; the physical dominance is already cemented.
The real thing to watch isn't the store count—it's the Sam's Club expansion. For years, Sam's Club stayed quiet while Costco grabbed the headlines. Now, Walmart is planning to open over 30 new Sam's Club locations over the next few years. That’s where the real growth is happening.
If you are trying to keep track of the store count for business research or just out of curiosity, keep an eye on the Walmart Corporate "Location Facts" page. They update it quarterly, and it’s the only place to get the "official" number before it hits the news.
Actionable Insights:
- If you're a vendor, focus on the Supercenter count, as they carry the widest variety of SKUs.
- If you're a shopper looking for the newest tech, check if your local store is part of the 650 remodels happening in 2026; these stores get the "Store of the Future" upgrades first.
- Don't rely on 2021 or 2022 data. The company has divested from several international markets, making older "11,000+" counts completely inaccurate today.