How Many People Use YouTube in 2026? (Users & Demographics)

Written By: Sophie Wetherby
Reviewed by: James Calloway
Published Date: March 31, 2026

2.58 billion people actively use YouTube, making it the second-largest social media platform after Facebook. Every day, over 122 million users log in to watch and engage with content.

YouTube’s premium services are also expanding rapidly. YouTube Premium has crossed 125 million subscribers, while YouTube TV now has 9.4 million subscribers, reflecting the increasing demand for ad-free viewing and live TV options.

This article includes the latest YouTube User Statistics, including the number of subscribers, their demographics, YouTube revenue, and more.

YouTube User Statistics: Key Insights

  • YouTube has 2.58 billion users worldwide.
  • Over 122 million people log into YouTube daily via the website or mobile apps.
  • India has the most YouTube users, with 491 million people on the platform.
  • The 25 to 34 years age group makes up the largest share of YouTube users at 21.7%.
  • YouTube Premium has reached 125 million subscribers (including trials)!
  • YouTube TV has surpassed 9.4 million subscribers.

How Many People Use YouTube?

2.58 billion people worldwide use YouTube.

That’s an increase of 0.05 million users since 2025, showing that more and more people are turning to the platform every year.

Despite fluctuations, YouTube has consistently grown over the years, with a significant jump from 1.5 billion in 2016 to 2.58 billion in 2025.

Number Of YouTube Users By Year

Here is a table displaying the number of YouTube users by year:

YearYouTube Monthly Active Users
20262.58 billion
20252.70 billion
20242.50 billion
20232.70 billion
20222.68 billion
20212.5 billion
20202.3 billion
20192 billion
20181.8 billion
20171.6 billion
20161.5 billion

YouTube Daily Active Users

Every day, more than 122 million people log into YouTube, whether through its website or mobile apps. 

This means that millions of users are connecting with content, discovering new creators, and enjoying videos around the clock. It’s a vibrant community where people from all walks of life come together to share their interests and passions!

YouTube Users By Country

India stands out as the country with the highest number of YouTube users, boasting an impressive 500 million users on the platform.

The United States comes in second place with 254 million users, reflecting a highly engaged audience and the platform’s strong role in American digital life.

Meanwhile, Indonesia and Brazil are nearly neck-and-neck, with 151 million and 150 million users, respectively. This close count highlights the rapid growth and strong demand for video content across these emerging markets.

The following table displays the number of YouTube users by country:

CountryNumber of YouTube users in millions
India500 millions
United States254 millions
Indonesia151 millions
Brazil150 millions
Mexico85 millions
Japan78.5 millions
Germany64.7 millions
Vietnam62.1 millions
Philippines59.6 millions
Turkey57.9 millions
United Kingdom55.5 millions
Pakistan54.3 millions
France51.5 millions
Bangladesh49.8 millions
Egypt49.3 millions
Thailand47.2 millions
South Korea42.9 millions
Italy41.2 millions
Spain39 millions
Canada33 millions

YouTube User Statistics By Age

The 25 to 34 years age group holds the largest share of YouTube users at 21.7%.

Overall, most YouTube users fall within the 18 to 44 years age range, showing that younger audiences are the primary users of the platform.

The 35 to 44 years age group accounts for 18.5% of users, reflecting YouTube’s popularity among middle-aged viewers who often turn to the platform for both entertainment and informative content.

Although the over-65-year-old age group represents the smallest segment at 9.5%, it still shows that some seniors are getting comfortable with digital platforms like YouTube and engaging with its content.

Distribution Of YouTube Users By Age

Here is a table displaying the distribution of YouTube users by age

Age GroupShare of YouTube Users
18-24 years15.8%
25-34 years21.7%
35-44 years18.5%
45-54 years14%
55-64 years9.9%
Over 65 years9.5%

YouTube User Statistics By Gender

Males make up 53% of YouTube users, while females account for 47%. This shows that there are more male users on the platform than female users.

GenderShare of YouTube users
Female47.00%
Male53.00%

In the 18-24 years age group, 8.90% of users are male, compared to 6.90% who are female. The gap widens further in the 25-34 years group, where 12.00% of users are male and 9.70% are female.

Among 35-44 year-olds, 10.10% of users are male, while 8.40% are female. In the 45-54 years age group, 7.60% are male compared to 6.40% female. 

For those aged 55-64 years, males represent 5.20% and females 4.70%. In the 65 and older group, males account for 4.60%, while females are slightly higher at 4.90%, indicating that the gender gap decreases in older demographics.

YouTube Premium Subscribers

YouTube Premium has hit an impressive milestone with 125 million subscribers (Including trials)!

The subscriber count jumped significantly from 80 million in 2022 to 100 million in 2024, showing a remarkable growth of 20 million in just two years.

Before that, the numbers rose from 50 million in 2021 to 80 million in 2022, highlighting a substantial increase of 30 million in a single year.

In its early days, growth was slower, with only 3 million subscribers in 2016 and 2.8 million in 2017. This suggests that YouTube Premium initially had a hard time attracting users but has gained significant traction since then.

Here is  a table displaying the number of YouTube Premium Subscribers by year:

YearNumber Of YouTube Premium Subscribers
2025125 million
2024100 million
202280 million
202150 million
202030 million
201918 million
201810 million
20172.8 million
20163 million
20151.5 million

YouTube TV Subscribers

YouTube TV has surpassed 10 million subscribers. 

This growth makes it the fourth-largest pay-TV service in the United States, following Charter, Comcast, and DirecTV.

What’s even more exciting is the projection that YouTube TV is on track to overtake Comcast, potentially becoming the leading pay-TV provider in the US by 2026. This growth reflects the increasing popularity of streaming services and the shift in how viewers prefer to consume content.

With its wide range of channels and flexible options, YouTube TV is quickly becoming a favorite for many households seeking alternatives to traditional cable.

How Much Time Do Users Spend On YouTube?

Users are spending an average of 58 minutes each day on YouTube.

This is a noticeable increase from 48 minutes and 42 seconds in 2024, which means viewers are spending over 10 additional minutes on the platform in just one year.

Since 2019, when the average daily viewing time was 39 minutes and 42 seconds, the amount of time people spend on YouTube has been steadily rising.

The following table displays the average time spent by users on YouTube by year:

YearAverage Time Spent Daily on YouTube
202558 minutes
202448 minutes and 42 seconds
202347 minutes and 30 seconds
202246 minutes and 12 seconds
202145 minutes
202043 minutes and 42 seconds
201939 minutes and 42 seconds

This growing trend shows that more and more users are engaging with YouTube content, highlighting the platform’s increasing popularity and its ability to capture viewers’ attention, leading them to spend more time exploring a wide range of videos.

YouTube Revenue Statistics

As of 2025, YouTube’s revenue stands at $40.4 billion, and in the year 2024, YouTube’s revenue reached $36.1 billion.

In 2023, the platform generated $31.5 billion, indicating a decline this year. This drop highlights some challenges in revenue generation compared to the previous year.

Looking back to 2010, YouTube’s revenue has seen a remarkable surge from just $800 million to $25.67 billion in 2024, which is an incredible growth of over 3,200% in just 14 years.

YouTube achieved its first billion-dollar milestone in 2012 with $1.7 billion, and it took only 8 years to surpass $25 billion in 2024, showcasing the platform’s rapid expansion and success in the market.

Here is a table displaying YouTube revenue by year:

YearRevenue
2025$40.4 billion
2024 $36.1 billion
2023 $31.5 billion
2022$29.24 billion
2021$28.8 billion
2020$19.7 billion
2019$15.1 billion
2018$11.1 billion
2017$8.1 billion
2016$6.7 billion
2015$5.5 billion
2014$4.2 billion
2013$3.1 billion
2012$1.7 billion
2011$1.3 billion
2010$800 million

YouTube’s Rank Among Social Media

With 2.58 billion users, YouTube is one of the most widely used social media platforms globally.

However, it ranks below Facebook (3.07 billion users) and is slightly behind both WhatsApp and Instagram, which each have 3 billion users.

Despite this, YouTube continues to dominate the video-sharing space, outperforming platforms like TikTok (1.9 billion users) and Douyin (728 million users), reinforcing its position as the go-to destination for video content worldwide.

Here is a table displaying YouTube’s rank among the top social media platforms as of 2026: 

PlatformNumber of active users in millions
Facebook3.07 billion
WhatsApp3 billion
Instagram3 billion
YouTube2.58 billion
TikTok1.9 billion
WeChat1.4 billion
Telegram1 billion
Messenger942 millions
Snapchat932 millions
Reddit765 millions
Douyin728 millions
Kuaishou715 millions
Weibo588 millions
Pinterest578 millions
X557 millions
QQ532 millions

YouTube Channel With Most Subscribers

T-Series comes in second with 310 million subscribers, making it the leading Hindi content channel. SET India is also highly popular, with 188 million subscribers, reflecting the strong demand for Hindi entertainment in India.

Most of the top channels, such as MrBeast, Cocomelon, Vlad and Niki, Kids Diana Show, Like Nastya, and Stokes Twins, primarily produce English content, showing their wide global appeal, especially among audiences in the U.S.

Children’s channels continue to dominate, with Cocomelon, Vlad and Niki, and Kids Diana Show each crossing 100 million subscribers, indicating strong and consistent demand for engaging and educational kids’ content.

The following table displays the YouTube Channels with the highest number of subscribers:

NameSubscribers (millions)
MrBeast471
T-Series310
Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes200
SET India188
Vlad and Niki149
Kids Diana Show138
Stokes Twins137
Like Nastya131
김프로KIMPRO131
Zee Music Company122

Also Read:

Conclusion: YouTube Has 2.58 Billion Users Worldwide

YouTube remains one of the biggest and most influential platforms, with 2.58 billion users and 122 million people logging in daily. It has become a go-to place for entertainment, learning, and content creation across different age groups and countries.

India leads in YouTube usage, with 491 million users, followed by the United States and Brazil. The platform is particularly popular among young adults, with the 25-34 age group making up the largest share at 21.7%.

Sources

  1. Data Reportal
  2. Business Of Apps
  3. Demandsage
  4. eMarketer
  5. Statista
  6. Oberlo
  7. Wikipedia
  8. Cord Cutters News

About the Author

Sophie Wetherby

Hi, I’m Sophie. Over the years, I’ve been passionate about crafting digital marketing strategies that drive real results. At Limelight Digital, I lead our marketing team to help businesses grow their online presence with SEO, PPC, and content marketing. I love finding the perfect balance between creativity and data-driven decisions.

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