23 Essential YouTube Statistics You Need to Know in 2024

YouTube is without a doubt, one of the longest-standing video social media platforms in the world.

So we decided to compile some YouTube statistics that cover its usage, demographics, and more. As a marketer, this information will help you to utilize it in the most efficient way possible in an effort to reach your audience.

As the go-to platform for sharing video content, it should come as no surprise that YouTube has been pretty successful since its launch. To show just how well it’s doing worldwide, here are some fun YouTube statistics you should know:

YouTube is the Second Most Popular Social Media Network Worldwide

While you may not consider YouTube to be a typical social media platform, it’s still a place for people to connect with one another through videos and in the comments section. When looking at it in terms of active users, YouTube ranks as the second most popular platform in the world. It ranks just behind Facebook, which currently has control of the number one spot.

As of June 2022, More Than 500 Hours of Video Were Uploaded Every Minute

When it comes to long-form video content, YouTube tends to be the place creators turn to. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that 500 hours of video were uploaded every minute. Between 2014 and 2022, the number of hours of video uploaded every minute has grown by about 40%.

YouTube Premium Had Roughly 27.9 Million Users as of 2024

As a way to provide ad-free content, YouTube unveiled Music Key in November 2014. Its purpose was to give users a way to consume music videos without being interrupted by ads. Eventually, they launched YouTube Red in October 2015 with the same premise of eliminating ads for paying customers. Ultimately, this service was rebranded to YouTube Premium in May 2018.

As of 2024, there are 27.9 million paying subscribers who are enjoying ad-free videos.

YouTube Generated $29.2 Billion in Revenue Last Year

Between advertising and its Premium subscription service, YouTube raked in $28.8 billion in revenue in 2021. And that number increased to $29.2 billion in 2022. It’s safe to say that YouTube is doing pretty well!

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Stepped Down After 25 Years in the Company

On February 16, 2023, Susan stepped down from her role as CEO of YouTube and was replaced by YouTube SVP Neal Mohan.

Next, let’s dive into some YouTube statistics that cover the usage of the platform. How many people are on YouTube exactly? And how much time do people spend watching videos? Here’s some interesting data that you should know for your video marketing strategy:

There Are 2.5 Billion Monthly Active YouTube Users Worldwide

How successful a social media platform truly lies in the amount of active users they have. YouTube has 2.5 billion monthly active users based all around the world. That number shows no signs of slowing down, with the projected amount of users increasing each year. In terms of daily active users, YouTube sees approximately 122 million users per day. Those are some impressive YouTube statistics!

62% of Internet Users in the U.S. Access YouTube Daily

For many, watching YouTube videos has become part of their daily routine. 62% of internet users based in the United States report using YouTube every day. 92% access YouTube on a weekly basis, while 98% are only using YouTube monthly.

Children in the UK Spend Approximately 66 Minutes Per Day on YouTube

Data from 2022 shows that children in the UK spend quite a bit of time on TikTok and YouTube daily. It’s reported they spend an average of 70 minutes per day watching TikTok videos and 66 minutes watching YouTube. They also used Instagram and TikTok for 40 and 127 minutes daily, respectively.

Children in the U.S. Spend 77 Minutes Per Day on YouTube

In the U.S., in 2022, youngsters devoted an average of 77 minutes daily to the YouTube mobile app, making it their top choice for video content. Netflix came next, capturing young audiences' attention with an average of 52 minutes per day spent on its mobile streaming platform.

In general, the U.S. has 238 million YouTube users. While only 9.29% of users fall in the 0-18 age group, an impressive 23.48% of users are between the ages of 19-25.

40.9% of Watch Time Happens on Mobile

There are numerous ways you can watch YouTube videos: desktop, mobile, and even on your smart TV. All are great options, but 40.9% of watch time is done on mobile devices. That’s likely because it’s easy for people to watch on their phones when they’re on the go.

YouTube Shorts Has 1.5 Billion Monthly Active Users

These short-form YouTube videos have increased in popularity and accumulated over 5 trillion views so far.

As a marketer, it’s wise to be on the platforms your target audience is using the most. That’s why it’s important to understand these YouTube demographics statistics. They make it clear where most of the platform’s users are located, what gender they are, and how old they are.

India is the Country With the Most YouTube Users

With an estimated 476 million YouTube users, India has more YouTube users than any other country. The U.S. comes in second place with 238 million users. And in the UK? 55.7 million users!

YouTube’s User Base is 54.3% Male

When reviewing the most popular gender of YouTube’s user base, it skews slightly male, making up 54.3% of the platform. Females are 45.6% of its users. These YouTube statistics clearly remind anyone can create video content should they feel so inclined.

The Most Active Users by Age Are All Across the Board

Looking at just the internet users in the U.S., the percentage of people on YouTube is pretty evenly spread across the various age groups. Here’s a look at the data:

In the UK, around 24% of YouTube users were between 16-24 years old. 44% of users were between 25-44 years old. There’s something for everyone to enjoy on YouTube, no matter your age!

YouTube has some pretty big stars who have been able to make a career out of filming videos. So, who are the platform’s top creators in terms of views and earnings? We’ve got the answers for you, and you may find yourself wanting to check out these creators for inspiration.

The Most-Viewed YouTube Channel is T-Series

With over 3 billion views in the last 30 days, T-Series continues to be the most-viewed YouTube channel worldwide. They now also have 255 million subscribers.

YouTube’s Top Earner is Mr. Beast, Making Around $82 Million

Making a living from YouTube videos has become a reality for many creators on the platform. In the last year, Mr. Beast (whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson) pulled in an estimated $82 million.

With its 2.1 billion monthly active users, YouTube is a pretty effective business marketing channel. By running video ads, brands can generate awareness, engagement, and conversions. To show just how powerful its ads can be, here are some YouTube statistics you should be aware of:

70% of Viewers Have Made a Purchase After Seeing a Brand on YouTube

Straight from their Ads & Commerce Blog, Google states that 70% of viewers have bought from a brand after seeing it on YouTube. That shows just how efficient it can be for driving conversions on products and services. It’s all about getting in front of the right audience and creating a captivating ad. This is why it might be worth considering working with an experienced advertising agency that could help you reach your goals.

Ads Targeted by Intent Have 100% Higher Lift in Purchase Intent

When compared to YouTube ads that are targeted based on demographics, those focused on intent performed the best in terms of generating purchases. Those ads are also less likely to be skipped and therefore receive more views overall.

Pre-Roll Skippable Ads Are Said to be the Most Effective

If you’ve watched a YouTube video, you’ll know there are a variety of ways an ad can be run. Ads can be placed at the beginning and end, as well as throughout a video. There are also ads that can be skipped and ones that have to air in their entirety before getting to the main video content. A survey revealed that 29% of respondents feel pre-roll skippable ads are the best way to go. On the other hand, only 7% felt that non-skippable ads were effective.

In 2023, Tenlira is YouTube’s Biggest Advertiser

In September and October 2023, Tenlira, a brand from Inuvo, Inc., an AI advertising company, put around 29.4 million dollars into YouTube ads. This made them the top spender on the video platform in the United States during that time. Just to compare, it was more than double what the second-place brand, Walmart, spent. Walmart invested nearly 12.8 million dollars on ads on YouTube.com in those two months.

For many businesses, YouTube is a big part of their content strategy. That’s because it’s an incredible way to connect with your audience and to provide value. That can lead to sales, which ultimately leads to profits. And who could say no to that? Here are some YouTube statistics that show how beneficial video marketing can be:

YouTube is the Second Largest Search Engine

Right behind Google, YouTube is an effective search engine in its own right. If someone is specifically searching for a video on a topic they’re interested in, they’ll be more likely to head straight to YouTube and conduct their search from there. As a result, optimizing your videos for search is crucial to your success because it’ll help you rank higher in search results.

It’s Used by 54% of Marketers

In the Social Media Examiner’s industry report from 2023, 54% of marketers use YouTube, and 59% of marketers plan to increase their use of YouTube videos. By getting your business on the video platform, it gives you a competitive edge that allows you to stand out from other competitors in your field.

10% of marketers indicate that display advertising is the most influential YouTube ad marketing tactic. Tempted to work with a social media agency yet?

The Ideal Length for a YouTube Video is 7-15 Minutes

Although YouTube is a great platform for long-form video content, YouTube statistics show the ideal video length is 7 to 15 minutes. This way, you don’t risk losing viewers if a video is too long. However, experimenting to see what works for you and your audience is always smart.

Content for “Beginners” Increased in Popularity by 50%

The quarantine of 2020 clearly had the world wanting to learn how to do new things and there are YouTube statistics to prove it. There was a 50% increase in views on videos that were directed towards “beginners.” It would be wise for businesses to jump on board and create entry-level content pertaining to their area of expertise.

There’s no time like the present to get started with YouTube, especially if you’ve been wanting to create video content for your brand. These YouTube statistics prove just how fantastic the platform can be for marketers and can help you build a powerful strategy that gets subscribers, views, and engagement.

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