Dairy Queen Statistics and Facts

Dairy Queen Statistics (2026): Global Stores, U.S. Stores, Sales, and Key Facts

Dairy Queen (DQ) is a Berkshire Hathaway-owned ice cream and QSR brand. Explore updated DQ stats on global store count, U.S. footprint, China growth, and 2024 sales.

Dairy Queen Statistics restaurant count and Facts

Dairy Queen (DQ) is a global quick-service brand built around soft-serve, the Blizzard, and a hybrid menu that includes both treats and hot food (in many markets through the Grill & Chill format). The company is owned by Berkshire Hathaway and operates largely through franchising, which is why footprint and system sales are the most informative public metrics.

DQ’s growth story has increasingly been international, with China called out as a major expansion market in reporting. The most reliable “hard” numbers come from top-tier reporting and company statements: store counts by region, countries served, and systemwide sales.

Dairy Queen by the Numbers

  • Worldwide stores: 7,700+ (Reuters and company statements)
  • Countries: 20 countries (Reuters)
  • U.S. stores: 4,100+ (Reuters)
  • China stores: 1,600+ (Reuters)
  • Systemwide sales: $6.4B (2024), up from $6.1B (2023) (Reuters)

Key Dairy Queen Metrics

Metric Value Year (as reported) Source
Worldwide restaurants 7,700+ worldwide May 2025 (reported) Reuters
Countries served 20 countries May 2025 (reported) Reuters
U.S. stores 4,100+ stores May 2025 (reported) Reuters
China stores 1,600+ stores May 2025 (reported) Reuters
Systemwide sales $6.4B (up from $6.1B) 2024 vs. 2023 Reuters
Worldwide footprint (company statement) 7,700+ locations worldwide Company statement (accessed 2026) DQ Franchising
International franchises outside U.S./Canada 2,853 international franchises End of 2024 (reported) QSR Magazine

Where Dairy Queen Is Growing

DQ has long been a U.S. staple, but recent reporting highlights a significant portion of new store growth coming from international markets—especially China—alongside continued development opportunities in other regions.

What Dairy Queen Sells

  • Frozen treats: Blizzards, cones, sundaes, cakes, and shakes.
  • Hot food (many locations): burgers, chicken strips, and fries in Grill & Chill formats.
  • Seasonal promotions: rotating flavors and limited-time offers that drive repeat visits.

FAQ

How many Dairy Queen locations are there worldwide?

Reuters reported DQ has more than 7,700 restaurants worldwide in 20 countries, and DQ’s franchising site also promotes a footprint of more than 7,700 locations worldwide.

How many Dairy Queen locations are in the U.S.?

Reuters reported DQ has more than 4,100 stores in the United States.

How much did Dairy Queen sell in 2024?

Reuters reported total sales rose to $6.4 billion in 2024, up from $6.1 billion in 2023.

Craig Smith
Craig Smith

DMR Publisher. Director of Marketing by day and I run this little site at night. Other interests include Disney, Sports, 80's Nostalgia, LEGO, Star Wars and Tech Gadgets. Other site is DisneyNews.us.

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