Amazon grew total sales 17% to $181.5 billion in the first quarter of 2026, year-over-year (or 15% FX-neutral). North America segment sales increased 12% year-over-year, international segment sales increased 19% year-over-year (or 11% excluding changes in foreign exchange rates). AWS segment sales increased 28% year-over-year.
North America comprised 57% of Amazon’s net sales in Q1; International, 22%; and AWS, 21%. Amazon net income increased 77% to $30.3 billion in the first quarter.
Amazon worldwide paid units grew 15% in the first quarter, year-over-year, which CEO Andy Jassey called “the highest since the tail end of covid lockdowns” in Amazon’s press release on Wednesday. Third-party sellers accounted for 60% of worldwide paid units. (Those figures exclude Whole Foods Market.)
Amazon also confirmed on Wednesday what was the industry’s worst kept secret: this year’s Prime Day sales event will take place in June instead of July (it did not provide the exact dates) – however, Prime Day will take place “later this summer” in Australia, Brazil, India, and Japan.
Amazon grew headcount 1% in Q1, year-over-year (that includes full-time and part-time employees but excludes contractors and temporary personnel).
Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky posted about the first-quarter earnings on LinkedIn, noting that Amazon had delivered over 1 billion same-day or overnight items in the quarter, “all while reducing cost to serve.” He said Amazon Now, which delivers items in 30 minutes or less, is now available in nine countries.
