Since its beginning in the year 1996, social media has attained half of the world's population of 7.7 billion people. In the last decade, social networking platforms' overall user population has nearly tripled, from 970 million in 2010 to 4.48 billion in July 2021.
However, the phenomenal year-over-year growth of fresh subscribers on the networks is diminishing. It now relies on a steady increase in the number of individuals with internet connection and cell phones, especially in developing countries.
So, how huge is social media & how has it changed in the last several years?
You'll explore the current social network statistics by the figures and crucial demographics in this fantastic statistical overview. Here's a quick rundown of what you'll learn:
Statistics on Social Media Use (Top Picks)
- What percentage of the population uses social media?
- Rates of worldwide social media growth
- Penetration of social media by country
- The statistics on social media in the United States
- In the United States, the use of social media is increasing.
- The most widely used social media sites
- Time devoted to social media on average
- Devices Used for Social Media
So, without any further delay, let's check out the top 12 statistics about one of the fastest adopted technologies in the twentieth century that you should know about
Statistics on Social Media Use (Top Picks)
- Social media is now used by 4.48 billion individuals worldwide, increasing from 2.07 billion in 2015.
- The typical social media user interacts with 6.6 different social media networks.
- Since 2015, the average annual growth rate for social media has been 12.5% each year. However, the growth is slowing, with figures for 2019-2020 showing a 9.2 percent growth rate.
- Asia (+16.98 percent), Africa (+13.92 percent), South America (+8.00 percent), North America (+6.96 percent), Europe (+4.32 percent), and Australasia (+4.9 percent) are the top five regions for social media development in 2019-2020.
- 60.99 percent of the world's 7.87 billion individuals utilize social media, with 63 percent of qualified audiences aged 13 & up as active users.
- Although 93.33 percent of internet users utilize social media, a massive 85 percent of cell phone internet users use social media networks.
- Out of 4.48 billion social media users, only 1.32 percent of users access platforms exclusively via desktop while 99 percent access websites and apps through their smartphone devices.
- Individuals spend an estimated 2 hrs 24 mins per day on media platforms worldwide; if someone started a social media account at the age of 16 and survived till 70, they would've spent 5.7 years of their lifetime on it.
- Facebook is the leading social network, with 2.9 billion active monthly users members, followed by YouTube (2.3 bn), WhatsApp (2 bn), Facebook Messenger (1.3 bn), and WeChat (1.2 bn).
- 72.3 percent of the entire population of the United States, or 240 million people, utilize social media.
- In the United States, 54 percent of social media members are women, while 46 percent are men, compared to a worldwide average of 45.6 percent for women and 54.4 percent for men.
What Percentage of The Population Uses Social Media?
By 2021, there will be approximately 4.48 billion people utilizing social media around the world, with an average individual using 6.6 social media networks on a monthly basis. Over 65.86 percent of monthly users on popular social media platforms like Facebook login to use on a daily basis.
Several social media networks measure growth in terms of monthly active users, or MAUs, rather than accounts, since this information is more accurate in terms of determining real usage and territorial penetration.
Crucial Stats :
- According to platform data regarding the existing number of active users, 4.48 billion individuals utilize social media worldwide.
- While focusing on qualified audiences aged 13 and up, 56.8% of the world's population is on social media, rising to 82 percent in North America.
- Irrespective of internet connection or age, 56.8% of the world's population, or 7.87 billion individuals, use social media.
- Engaged monthly users account for 93.33% of the 4.8 billion.
- Engaged smartphone users account for 85% of the 5.27 billion unique cell phone owners.
- Smartphones are used by 99% of the 4.48 billion people who use social networking sites or apps.
What Is The Average Number of Social Media Accounts?
The aggregate number of social media accounts held by a millennial or Gen Z person is 8.4, up 75% from 4.8 in 2014, as per The Global Web Index. According to research comprising 46 nations with online users aged 16 to 64, Japan had the fewest social media network accounts at 3.8 per person, while India had the most at 11.5 per person.
Crucial Stats:
In 2020, the median count of social media network accounts per person will be 8.4.
The number of accounts per person has increased by 75% from 4.8 accounts per individual in the year 2014 to 8.4 accounts per individual in the year 2020.
To begin with, the expansion of multi-networking is linked to the expansion of platform options. Second, specific platform specialties, such as Instagram (pictures), Linkedin (professional networking and YouTube (video) also play a role.
BloggersIdeas viewers will be interested in the following five highlights:
- In India, there are 11.4 accounts per individual on average.
- In the United States, there are 7.1 accounts per individual on an average.
- In the United Kingdom, there are 6.9 accounts per individual on average.
- In Canada, there are 6.8 accounts per individual on an average.
- In Japan, there are 3.8 accounts per individual on an average.
How many individuals use social media for work?
Social media is used for work by 40% of overall internet users worldwide. Only 27% of people in the United States actively make use of social media within their professions, compared to 65 percent in Indonesia and 13 percent in Israel.
BloggersIdeas viewers will be interested in the following five highlights:
- India: It is used for work by 47% of the population.
- In Canada, 31% of individuals use it for work.
- Australia is used by 30% of the population for work.
- In the United States, 27% of individuals use it for work.
- In the United Kingdom, 27% of individuals use it for work.
Social media consumption by gender
The global gender breakdown of social media consumers is currently 54 percent men and 46 percent women. In the United States, however, women are the most active users: 76 percent of overall female netizens have social network accounts, compared to 72 percent of all male internet users.
By area, which gender is active on social media the most?
- In North America, 54 percent of users are female, while 46 percent are male.
- In South America, 52 percent of users are female, while 48 percent are male.
- In Western Europe, 50 percent of users are female, whereas 50 percent are male.
- In Southern Africa, 52 percent of users are female, while 48 percent are male.
- Female users account for 27% of users in Southern Asia, while male users account for 73%.
- Oceania has 53 percent, female users, compared to 47 percent male users.
Which gender is active on social media by platform?
When looking at the data above, you can see that when looking at location, men and women use social media in different ways. When it comes to platform usage, the gender divide is perhaps the most noticeable.
When it comes to the top eight social media platforms in terms of active users by month; YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn rank higher among men.
Female-oriented sites such as Facebook and Instagram, particularly Pinterest, which has a large female viewership, are more popular.
Rates of worldwide social media growth
How much do social networking sites expand year on year?
In 2021, the world's active social media users will number 4.48 billion, up by 13.13 percent versus 3.69 billion in the year 2020. There were just 2.07 billion users in 2015, indicating a 115.59 percent increase in users in just six years.
Statistics on social media growth over the last six years:
- 4.480 billion active consumers in 2021 (+13.13%)
- 3.960 billion active consumers (+13.7%) in 2020
- 3.484 billion active consumers (+9.2%) in 2019
- 3.196 billion active consumers (+9.0%) in 2018
- In 2017, there were 2.796 billion active users, up 21% from the previous year.
- In 2016, there were 2.307 billion active users, up 11% from the previous year.
- In 2015, there were 2.078 billion active users.
Rise of Social Media Consumers by Countries who are Topping the Charts
According to Keipo's analysis, India saw the most substantial social media rise in 2019-2020, with 130 million new members - or 9.6 percent of the country's total population - joining platforms.
China came in second with 15 million new users, followed by Indonesia (12 million), Brazil (11 million), Iran (9.4 million), and the United States in the sixth position having 6.9 million new subscribers.
Rise of Social Media Consumers by Location
From April 2019 and January 2020, the overall number of persons utilizing social media increased by 9.2 percent. When looking at the rate of new active users' activation by area, Europe had the poorest activation rate at 4.9 percent.
Whereas Asia saw the most significant increase in social media member base growth (16.98%), followed by Africa (13.92%).
Growth of social media by region in 2019-2020:
+6.96 percent in North America
+8.00 percent in South America
+4.32 percent in Europe
+13.92 percent in Africa
+16.98 percent in Asia
+4.9 percent in Australasia
When did social media begin?
With the launch of the social networking website Bolt (now closed) in 1996, the emergence of social media began. Six Degrees was introduced soon after, in 1997, allowing users to add friends and create profiles.
Following that, programs like AOL Instant Messenger, Friendster, and Live Journal were developed, all of which helped lay the foundation for the champion, Facebook started in 2004.
Initial years of social media- Bolt, which was operational from 1996 to 2007, was the pioneer of social networking and video website.
- 1997: Six Degrees, a website where users may publish personal details and connect with other users by establishing 'friends,' was launched.
- AOL purchased the Instant Messenger service from an Israeli business in 1997, and it was initially known as ICQ and launched in 1996.
- LiveJournal, the first prominent blogging site, was launched in 1999.
- Habbo, a game-based networking site, was created in 2000. In 2002, Friendster was founded, allowing users to create profiles, connect, and exchange material. In 2003, LinkedIn, the first business-oriented social networking site, was launched.
- Facebook, arguably the most successful platform of all time, debuted in 2004.
Wikipedia, GlobalWebIndex social media networks, Pew Research, and Kepio's analysis were used as sources.
Penetration of social media by country
Which country has the world's highest active social media users?
Active users versus total population = social media penetration.
The United Arab Emirates is the most active country, according to Statista data from 2020, with 99 percent of its population utilizing social media.
The global average penetration rate is 49 percent. When only qualified users aged 13 and up are included, the median penetration rate of social media is 63 percent.
By total population, key stats- Regardless of age, 49 percent of the world's population is engaged on social media.
- Social media is used by 63 percent of the world's population aged 13 and up.
- The United States has 70% irrespective of age, with 83 percent for those aged 13 and up.
- The UK has a rate of 66 percent irrespective of age, with a rate of 79 percent for those aged 13 and up.
- Canada has a 67 percent rate for all ages, with 77 percent for those aged 13 and up.
- Australia has a 71 percent rate for all ages, with 85 percent for those aged 13 and up.
- India has 29 percent of the population, irrespective of age, and 38 percent for those aged 13 and up.
Which Nations should networks consider expanding into?
With billions of new subscribers expected to sign up, social media has the greatest potential for expansion in developing countries. Pew Research Center, a think tank and data organization, has noticed a consistent rise in online and cellphone use, which is linked to the expansion of social media in specific emerging countries or areas.
In 2014, a median of 42 percent of people accessed the internet on a regular basis; presently, this statistic must be well above 65 percent, according to the most recent Pew report from 2017. The adoption of cellphone use followed a similar pattern, nearly tripling to nearly 42 percent in the same time span.
Revenue from advertising will not increase at the same rate.
Unfortunately, social networks that want to expand into these markets would generate a lot less money from advertising profits per user, hence user volume is crucial to their profits.
For example, according to Facebook, the typical revenue per user in the United States is $41.41; meanwhile, in the Asia region, that number is $3.57.
Social Media Platforms, Data Report, Kepio's Analysis, and Statista were used as sources.
The statistics on social media in the United States
How many people in the United States use social media?
The amount of social media consumers in the United States is expected to reach 240 million by 2020, implying that 72.3 percent of Americans use the sites on a monthly basis according to platform statements. YouTube and Facebook are the most preferred platforms among online users aged 16 to 64 in the United States, with 81.9 percent and 73.4 percent, respectively.
Social Media used by the Number of Americans
The overall number of engaged social network users vs the overall population of individuals aged 13+ is used to assess social media penetration in the United States.
72.3 percent of the overall US population, irrespective of age, has a social media account, totaling 231.47 million people.
Gender differences in social media use in the United States:
In the United States, women are more likely to use social media, particularly Pinterest and Snapchat, while males are more likely to use YouTube and Twitter.
- Females make up 78 percent of the population.
- Sixty-six percent of the population are men.
For the total US population, the percentage of people who use social media versus the overall population is:
- 80 percent of the population is Hispanic.
- 77 percent of the population is black.
- 69 percent of the population is white.
The proportion of Americans who use social media by age is mostly made up of Gen Z and Millennials, which is not surprising at all.
- 84 percent of individuals between the ages of 18 and 29
- Those between the ages of 30 and 49 make up 81 percent of the population.
- Those aged 50 to 64 make up 73 percent of the population.
- People over the age of 65 accounts for 45 percent of the population.
Pew Research, Brandwatch, Data Report, Kepio's Analysis, and Social Media Platforms were used as sources.
In the United States, the use of social media is increasing.
What is the existing pace of social media growth in the United States?
With a year-on-year expansion rate of 3.1 percent from 2019 to 2020, 70 percent of the population in the US has active social media accounts. The original US market size record was 5% in 2005, and it required only six years for expansion in the US to reach 50% of the population in 2011.
Figures of Interest:
- Between 2020 and 2021, America's social media expansion was 4.3 percent.
- Between 2020 and 2021, the overall count of users in the United States increased by 10 million.
- By platform, the number of people using social media in the United States is increasing.
- The percentage of US individuals who say they use the aforementioned applications on their phone or PC is shown in a selection of Pew Research Center surveys from 2012 to 2019.
OurWorldInData, Statista, Data Report, Pew Research, eMarketer, Kepio's Analysis, and Social media platforms are some of the sources used.
Social networking sites with the most users
Which social networking sites are most popular?
Facebook will continue to be the most popular social media platform in 2020, with 2.85 billion users out of a total of 4.48 billion. With over 2 billion users, YouTube and WhatsApp come in second and third, respectively, followed by Messenger, Instagram,& WeChat all of which have over 1 billion subscribers.
Time used on social media on average
How long do individuals spend each day on social media?
Consumers aged 16 to 64 using any gadget will spend an average of 2 hrs 25 mins per day on social media in 2020.
In contrast, the typical person in the United States spends 2 hrs and 7 mins on social media, 18 mins less than the worldwide average.
According to the World Health Organization, the average global life expectancy is 73 years. If the average individual continued to use social media at the current rate, they could devote 5.7 years or 2,080 days on networks during their lifetime.
Crucial Stats:
- The average amount of time spent on social media per day is 2 hrs 25 mins / 145 minus globally.
- Between the age of 16+ to the estimated life span of 70, a typical individual will have spent 5.7 years using social media.
- From the age of 16 and up, a typical individual will spend 36.5 days per year on platforms.
- Individuals in the Philippines devote the most time networking on a daily basis, at 4h 15m, out of the forty-six countries studied.
- Japan has the shortest daily networking time, at 51 minutes.
- Country-wise breakdown of time devoted to social media
- The data source for this graph is the study done by Global Web Index 2020, which indicates the average time spent daily on social media in minutes and hours for 46 countries.
- 3 hrs 42 mins - Brazil
- 2 hrs and 7 mins - United States of America
- 1 hr 49 mins - United Kingdom
- 1 hr 45 mins - Australia
- 1 hr and 8 mins - South Korea
Statistics on how much time people spend on social media on a daily basis are increasing.
The graph below shows the increase in minutes spent on social media; the data comes from across all web users in 47 countries, ranging in age from 16 to 64, and using any device.
How often do people in the United States use social networking sites?
The regularity of visits to these prominent social media sites by Americans is seen below; all platforms, with the exception of Twitter, see 50 percent of their users every day.
Devices Used for Social Media
How much time do you spend on social media on your phone versus your computer?
In terms of social media consumption by device, mobile devices are used by 99 percent of the global population (tablet or phone). Around 78 percent only use their cell phone to access platforms, while only 1.32 percent use their PC to access social media.
What is the market share of mobile vs tablet on the internet?
The global market share of mobile vs desktop is currently skewed towards cell phones, with 55.89 percent of users accessing the internet via a feature or smartphone according to StatCounter.
Only 41.36 percent of individuals today use a desktop computer to browse the internet (leaving 2.74 percent on tablets).
This illustrates how "mobile" social media is in comparison.
Crucial Stats:
- Mobile devices are used by 99 percent of social media users, or 4.43 billion people.
- Mobile phones are used exclusively by 78 percent of users or 2.97 billion people.
- 1.32 percent of the population, or 50 million people, only use their computers to connect to the internet.
- Smartphones and Desktop both are used by 20% of users, or 760 million people.
- There are currently 3.50 billion smartphones available worldwide, which means that 84.85% of smartphone owners use their phones to access social media.
- In the world, there are approximately 5.27 billion unique cellphone users.
Data Report, Statcounter and BankMyCell were used as sources.
Quick Links:Conclusion: Social Network Usage Stats 2022
That concludes my overview of social media data on the rise.
It's amazing to watch how rapidly a social media platform can grow in regard to technology adoption. In 24 months, TikTok was on 1 out of every 5 smartphones connected to the internet.
Now it's your turn to respond: What else should be included in this roundup, in your opinion? Or perhaps you'd want to ask a question?
In any case, please join the conversation by leaving a comment below.
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