By the numbers

Subway, the world's biggest restaurant chain: By the numbers

Who knew? The self-appointed "healthy" fast-food outlet now has more outlets worldwide than McDonald's (even if its annual revenue is still considerably smaller)

The hamburger has long been America's most iconic player on the international culinary stage, but that's changing. The Subway sandwich chain now has more outlets worldwide than any other chain restaurant, even McDonald's. Here, a brief guide, by the numbers, to Subway's global domination:

33,749
Number of Subway outlets worldwide at the end of last year. The company has boosted its rapid growth by opening outlets in "non-traditional locations," says Julie Jargon in The Wall Street Journal, such as an ice arena in Nova Scotia and an appliance store in Brazil.

32,737
Number of McDonald's outlets worldwide at the end of last year. "We remain focused on listening to and serving our customers, and are committed to being better, not just bigger," says a company representative.

38,000
Total number of outlets worldwide for the Yum! Brands group of smaller fast-food chains, including KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut

$15.2 billion
Revenue generated by Subway last year

$24 billion
Revenue generated by McDonald's last year. It's "still the leader when it comes to sales," says Jargon.

95
Number of countries in which Subway operates restaurants

117
Number of countries in which McDonald's has restaurants. "Most fast-food companies are pursuing aggressive international development campaigns, and the burger chain wins on that front," says Nick Carbone in TIME.

60
Former pants size of Jared Fogle, Subway's spokesman who famously lost weight on a diet of the chain's sandwiches

245
Number of pounds Fogle lost on the Subway diet. While "McDonald's has made a serious effort to provide healthy options for its customers," says Emily Abbate at The Stir, "when it comes down to it, it's much easier to choose between one of the several healthier sub options at Subway than try to decipher which item is 'the healthiest' at McDonald's."

24.5
Number of pounds filmmaker Morgan Spurlock gained in one month while eating only McDonald's food for his 2004 film, Super Size Me

Sources: Wall Street Journal (2), Daily Mail, TIME, Marketwire, The Stir, Epicurious

Recommended

Going into debt for a bachelorette
Bachelorette decor on a pink background.
Briefing

Going into debt for a bachelorette

Orlando's Gay Days draws LGBTQ crowds to Disney World amid DeSantis feud
Gay Days at Walt Disney World in 2023
Come as You Are

Orlando's Gay Days draws LGBTQ crowds to Disney World amid DeSantis feud

6 enviable homes in Brooklyn
House
Feature

6 enviable homes in Brooklyn

The Check-In: Mindful travel in Hawaii
A coconut on a beach in Hawaii
Feature

The Check-In: Mindful travel in Hawaii

Most Popular

Orlando's Gay Days draws LGBTQ crowds to Disney World amid DeSantis feud
Gay Days at Walt Disney World in 2023
Come as You Are

Orlando's Gay Days draws LGBTQ crowds to Disney World amid DeSantis feud

Jamie Dimon 2024?
Jamie Dimon on Capitol Hill
Profile

Jamie Dimon 2024?

Experimental drug shown to 'significantly' slow progression of brain cancer
Human brain scan.
Cancer breakthrough

Experimental drug shown to 'significantly' slow progression of brain cancer