Since its debut in 1997, One Piece has evolved from a beloved manga series into a global cultural phenomenon. In 2025, its legacy continues to expand, transcending the boundaries of fiction to influence millions around the world. This article explores how the manga’s unparalleled sales, worldwide cultural impact, and ongoing narrative innovation contribute to its remarkable presence on the global stage.

As of August 2022, One Piece is the best-selling manga series in history, with over 516 million copies in circulation worldwide. This record positions it not only as the top manga but also as the best-selling comic series globally. The series has achieved massive success across numerous countries—Italy alone holds 18 million copies, representing about 22.5% of its market outside Japan, while Germany’s sales exceed 6.7 million copies, making it the second best-selling manga there after Dragon Ball. One Piece’s merchandise has also generated over $1 billion in retail sales within Japan, underscoring its commercial influence – source.

One Piece’s impact reaches far beyond sales figures. It has become a cornerstone of the worldwide manga and anime culture, inspiring trends in entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle. The series is frequently cited alongside titles like Naruto, Dragon Ball, and Attack on Titan as a major driver behind the globalization of manga and anime. The worldwide market for manga itself is booming, valued at around $11.68 billion in 2022, with 72% of people in the United States watching anime as of 2024. This massive global audience continues to fuel One Piece’s prominence and cultural relevance.

In 2025, One Piece embarks on a dynamic narrative shift. Creator Eiichiro Oda has introduced multiple major world conflicts that expand the story’s scope across its vast fictional ocean, exploring simultaneous struggles between powerful pirate factions and revolutionary forces. This approach echoes the storytelling style seen in the Egghead Arc, now becoming the new norm, positioning the manga for a fresh wave of intensity and global drama. According to Oda, the arrival at Elbaf marks a pivotal moment, with calmer settings soon disrupted by critical events that carry thematic weight and character development – source.

While One Piece remains a dominant force, the manga industry is evolving. In the first half of 2025, One Piece’s yearly sales were surpassed by the ‘next-generation‘ manga Jujutsu Kaisen, reflecting changing readership trends as Shonen Jump targets a younger audience that is more familiar with newer titles. Despite this, One Piece’s loyal fanbase, deep world-building, and rich storytelling ensure it remains a keystone of manga culture. It continues to release new volumes and engage audiences globally, affirming its lasting legacy and influence on both current and future generations of manga fans.

More than two decades after its inception, One Piece in 2025 exemplifies how a fictional work can transcend entertainment to become a worldwide cultural and economic powerhouse. Through groundbreaking sales, engagement with a diverse international audience, and innovative storytelling set against a backdrop of expansive world conflict, One Piece sustains its place as a seminal work in manga and anime history, inspiring and connecting fans across the globe.