YouTube Usage in 2023: Demographic and Statistical Analysis

Introduction

YouTube, the widely popular video-sharing platform, has experienced immense growth since its establishment on February 14th, 2005. With its first video release titled “Me at the zoo” by co-founder Jawed Karim on April 23rd, YouTube has captivated audiences worldwide. Today, it boasts over 2 billion monthly active users, accounting for approximately 43% of global internet users. In this article, we will explore various YouTube demographic and usage statistics, shedding light on its user base and growth over time.

YouTube Statistics (Top Picks)

Let’s start with some top-level statistics about YouTube:

• YouTube currently has a staggering 2 billion users, marking a significant increase from the 800 million users recorded in 2012.
• Approximately 42.9% of all global internet users access YouTube on a monthly basis.
• Daily, users consume more than a billion hours of content on YouTube, highlighting its massive impact and prominence.
• Among social media platforms, YouTube holds the second rank in terms of user count, with only Facebook surpassing it.
• India boasts the highest number of YouTube users, estimated at around 225 million, closely followed by the United States with 197 million users.
• YouTube garners the most views per person from the United Kingdom within the top ten viewer countries.
• YouTube’s user base primarily comprises individuals aged between 15 and 35.
• Interestingly, YouTube is more popular among women than men on a global scale.
• The majority of YouTube channels, about 96.6%, have fewer than 10,000 subscribers.
• Quarterly ad revenue generated by YouTube exceeds $7 billion.

Now, let’s delve deeper into specific categories of YouTube usage statistics.

Monthly Active Users (MAUs)

Monthly active users indicate the number of unique visitors YouTube attracts within a given month, considering only logged-in users. Here are some key findings:

• YouTube currently boasts over 2 billion monthly active users, including more than 30 million paid subscribers utilizing YouTube Premium and Music services.
• In terms of global online population, slightly over a quarter accesses YouTube every month.
• Specifically, about 42.9% of the global online population constitutes YouTube’s monthly active users.
• From the active mobile internet user base, 46.7% utilize YouTube monthly.

Daily Active Users (DAUs)

Daily active users provide insights into the frequency of YouTube usage during any given day. This information offers a glimpse into YouTube’s impact on users’ everyday routines:

• A substantial 62% of YouTube users in the United States access the site daily, accounting for over 122 million people.

• Globally, users watch more than 1 billion hours of content on YouTube every day.
• On average, visitors spend approximately 16 minutes and 44 seconds per day on YouTube.
• The sheer scale of YouTube is evident from the fact that more than 500 hours of new content are uploaded every minute, totaling 720,000 hours per day.

YouTube’s User Growth

With over 2 billion users, YouTube stands as one of the most popular online platforms worldwide. Its immense growth over time is remarkable, although official consolidated data on user growth rate is unavailable. Here are some prominent milestones in YouTube’s journey:

• Currently, YouTube ranks second overall in terms of website traffic, with Google as its only contender.
• YouTube’s user base growth has been impressive. It took approximately seven years for YouTube to reach 730 million users, a milestone TikTok achieved in just four years. YouTube’s continued growth suggests a potential rise in the rankings of global social media platforms.

YouTube Users by Country

As a truly global phenomenon, YouTube operates in over 100 countries and supports 80 different languages. Let’s explore user statistics based on country:

• India boasts the highest number of active YouTube users, with around 225 million people, constituting approximately 16% of the population. The United States follows closely, with a significant user count.
• In the United States, approximately 73% of the population aged 15 and above utilizes YouTube, with the percentage rising to 77% among individuals aged 15-35.

Ranked 2nd: Most Used Social Media Platforms Worldwide

As of 2020, YouTube secures the second position among global social media platforms, based on active users. It is outranked solely by Facebook, while TikTok’s rapid growth suggests potential movement towards the top position.

YouTube User Demographics

Considering YouTube’s vast user base of 2 billion people, it serves as a platform appealing to various demographics. Let’s explore user breakdowns within different categories:

YouTube Gender Demographics

• In the United States, approximately 82% of adult men and 80% of women use YouTube. Globally, over 50% of YouTube users are female.
• Content creators who do not target a specific gender audience should aim to develop videos with relatively even male-to-female viewer ratios.

YouTube Age Demographics

• YouTube’s largest user base consists of Millennials and Gen Z, with 95% of US adults aged 18-29 utilizing the platform. The breakdown by age group is as follows:

  • 95% for 18-29
  • 90% for 30-49
  • 80% for 50-64
  • 56% for 65+

• Impressively, the growth rate of users aged 55 and above outpaces the overall user growth rate. Additionally, YouTube reaches up to 95% of individuals aged 55 and above within a month.

YouTube Location Demographics

• Urban areas in the United States exhibit a higher likelihood of YouTube usage, with 84% of city-dwellers recorded as users, compared to 81% in suburban areas and 74% in rural regions. In terms of country distribution, Brazil, Japan, and Russia rank beneath India and the United States.

YouTube Income Demographics

• In the United States, YouTube is particularly popular among high earners, as 90% of individuals earning $75,000 or more occasionally visit the platform. Additionally:

  • 83% of Americans with an income of $30,000-$49,999
  • 79% of US adults with an income between $50,000 and $74,999
  • 75% of individuals earning less than $30,000

YouTube Education Level Demographics

• A correlation exists between YouTube usage in the United States and higher education levels. Specifically:

  • 70% of adults with a high school education or less use YouTube.
  • 86% of those with some college education utilize the platform.
  • 89% of individuals with a college education or higher engage with YouTube.

YouTube Usage by Device

As technology has advanced, YouTube consumption has shifted across various devices. Smartphones and smart TVs now significantly shape users’ interaction with YouTube:

• The YouTube mobile app has garnered over 5 billion downloads on the Google Play store. Consequently, more than 70% of all views on YouTube stem from mobile devices.
• Surprisingly, accessing YouTube via a TV has also gained popularity, with 450 million hours of content watched daily on television screens. This is primarily due to TVs and game consoles integrating YouTube functionality.

Average Number of Channel Subscribers

YouTube accommodates numerous channels, fostering a wide range of subscriber counts. While the vast majority of accounts have fewer than 10,000 subscribers, some channels have amassed significant followings:

• YouTube hosts approximately 38 million channels, with subscriber counts varying immensely. The majority of channels (96.6%) have fewer than 10,000 subscribers, while 84.2% have fewer than 1,000.
• Around 230,000 channels have surpassed the 100,000 subscriber milestone, while only about 22,000 channels boast more than 1 million subscribers.

Most-Subscribed YouTube Channels

T-Series, India’s largest music label, reigns as the most-subscribed YouTube channel. Here is a list of the top ten channels:

Most-Viewed Videos

The pinnacle of YouTube’s success is exemplified by its most-viewed videos. The viral sensation “Baby Shark Dance” secures the top spot with over 9.2 billion views, while music dominates the top ten:

YouTube by the Money

Google’s acquisition of YouTube in November 2006 for $1.65 billion has reaped substantial returns. Presently, YouTube generates more than 3 times this amount in quarterly ad revenue, indicating its financial success:

• In the first half of 2021, YouTube advertising revenue reached $13.007 billion, reflecting a significant 65.69% year-on-year increase.
• Throughout 2020, YouTube accumulated $19.77 billion in advertising revenue, accounting for a 10.83% share of Alphabet’s overall revenue. Compared to an estimated $3.7 billion in 2012, this represents a growth rate of 434.32% in just eight years.
• These figures exclude revenue derived from subscriptions, with YouTube Premium and Music amassing an estimated 30 million combined subscribers. Subscription prices vary by region, ranging from $1.79 to $19.01 per month.
• Individual YouTube creators earn revenue through a share of advertising money, with an average payment of $3 to $5 per 1000 video views. YouTube employs approximately 10,000 people, with employees earning an average salary of over $91,000.

Closing Remarks

Congratulations, you’ve reached the end of our compilation of YouTube user statistics! We hope you found these facts and figures informative. Although some statistics required thorough research, we’ve strived to provide a comprehensive overview in one place. We would love to hear from you. Did you have any questions or want to suggest additional data for this YouTube roundup? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.