YOUTUBE STATISTICS 2026 (DEMOGRAPHICS, USERS BY COUNTRY & MORE )

If there’s one platform that has completely changed how people consume content, build influence, and market products, it’s YouTube.

In 2026, YouTube is no longer “just a video platform.”

It has become a daily habit for billions of people — from watching quick Shorts during breaks to learning skills through tutorials, following creators like a TV series, and even researching products before making a purchase.

Whether you’re a business trying to attract customers or a creator trying to grow an audience, YouTube remains one of the most rewarding digital spaces to invest your time in.

From a digital marketing perspective, YouTube stands out because it supports the full journey — awareness, consideration, and conversion.

A single video can introduce your brand to new people, answer common questions, and build trust before a viewer even visits your website.

That’s exactly why YouTube is now a core channel in modern SEO, content marketing, and performance marketing strategies.

What makes YouTube different is its ability to give videos a life beyond the first day of publishing.

A single well-made video can keep bringing views, subscribers, leads, and revenue for months — sometimes even years — especially when it ranks on search and gets recommended consistently.

This long-term visibility is what makes YouTube content valuable not just for engagement, but also for sustainable growth.

Another major reason YouTube continues to grow is how fast it adapts.

Features like Shorts, live streaming, community posts, chapters, and premieres have turned the platform into a complete content ecosystem where creators and brands can stay connected with viewers at every stage — discovery, engagement, and loyalty.

And as video marketing becomes more central to online growth, YouTube’s relevance keeps rising year after year.

In this guide, we’ll explore the latest YouTube user statistics updated for 2026, along with key trends that explain why the platform still dominates global attention — and what that means for creators, brands, and marketers moving forward.

YouTube Overview

Website URL	https://www.youtube.com/
Founded	February 14, 2005
Founders	Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen
Owner	Google LLC
Headquarters	San Bruno, California, United States
Users	2.70 Billion (As of January 2026)
Products	YouTube Kids, YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, YouTube Shots, YouTube TV
First Video Uploaded	23rd April 2005

Interesting YouTube Statistics 2026

• According to the research done by GMI Team, over 2.70 billion people worldwide use YouTube per month.

• As of October 2025, India has the highest number of YouTube users in the world, with an estimated 500 million users (Statista)

• Technically, YouTube is the second-largest search engine, after Google.

• More than 122 million people access YouTube on a daily basis through its website and mobile apps.

• The Digital 2026 Global Overview Report reveals that YouTube’s potential ad reach totals 3.35 billion users.

• YouTube’s global ad revenue for Q3 2025 stands at $10.26 billion.

• With 462 million subscribers, Mr Beast is the most subscribed YouTube channel globally as of January 2026.

• YouTube Premium and YouTube Music together have more than 100 million subscribers around the world.

• YouTube is the second most popular social media platform, after Facebook.

• Every day, people watch over a billion hours of video and generate billions of views.

• 53% of YouTube users are male.

• 47% of YouTube users are female.

• Most YouTube users fall in the age group of 25-34.

• Music, entertainment, and education are the most frequently watched genres on YouTube.

• With 85% of adult users, YouTube is the most popular online platform in the US.

• An average YouTube visitor checks nearly nine pages per day. 

• The average daily time spent on youtube is 49 minutes.

• YouTube has more than 113.9 million active channels. 

• There are more than a hundred local versions of YouTube in over 80 languages. 

• Of the top 100 searches on YouTube, 20% are related to music. 

• YouTube is the second most popular platform for influencer marketing.

• The most popular languages used on YouTube are English and Spanish.

• It has been observed that as of the third quarter of 2020, about 62 percent of YouTube users in the US access the platform daily. 

• “Me at the Zoo”, the first YouTube video was uploaded on April 23, 2005. 

• YouTube stands as the second most visited website in the world.

• YouTube uploaded 720,000 hours of new video every day.

• Jimmy Donaldson AKA Mr. Beast is the highest-earning YouTuber who earned $85 million in 2025

• Today, people around the world watch YouTube on their televisions for more than 1 billion hours on average.

• Social Blade’s latest data estimates that there are around 110 million YouTube creators.

YouTube Users Statistics 2026 [Infographics]

Here’s an infographic narrating the overall user statistics, mobile user statistics and user demographics of YouTube to help you make an intelligent decision.

Basic Facts About YouTube 

YouTube launched in 2005 and quickly became one of the most popular platforms for watching and sharing videos online.

Today, people use YouTube for almost everything, including entertainment, news, tutorials, product reviews, music, unboxing videos, and vlogs.

It is used by both individual creators and businesses across the world.

In 2006, Google acquired YouTube from its founders — Jawed Karim, Steve Chen, and Chad Hurley — for $1.65 billion.

This acquisition helped YouTube grow into a global video ecosystem and one of the most important platforms for online discovery.

As of 2026, YouTube has an estimated 2.7 billion users worldwide and continues to rank among the most visited websites globally.

For businesses and digital marketers, YouTube is valuable because it works as both a content platform and a search-driven discovery channel, where videos can bring visibility and engagement over the long term.

YouTube Remains a Top Social Media Platform Worldwide (2026)

YouTube is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms in 2026, with around 2.70 billion users.

It ranks alongside major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, which also have very large global audiences.

People of all age groups use YouTube to watch videos, listen to music, learn new skills, follow creators, and research products before buying.

This shows that video content has become a regular part of everyday online life.

For digital marketing, YouTube is important because many viewers use it with clear intent.

They search for information, compare options, and learn about brands. This makes YouTube a strong platform for long-term visibility, trust, and business growth through video.

Platform	Users
Facebook	3.07 Billion
Instagram	3.00 Billion
WhatsApp	3.00 Billion
YouTube	2.70 Billion
TikTok	1.99 Billion
WeChat	1.41 Billion
Telegram	1.00 Billion
FB Messenger	0.94 Billion
Snapchat	0.93 Billion
Reddit	0.76 Billion
Douyin	0.72 Billion
Kuaishou	0.71 Billion
Weibo	0.58 Billion
Pinterest	0.57 Billion
X	0.55 Billion
QQ	0.53 Billion

YouTube Users Statistics 2026

Over the years, YouTube has grown and gained a big number of users.

We have prepared a few important statistics about YouTube users to help you better understand its audience.

Daily Active Users on YouTube

Daily active users mean the number of YouTube users on any given day.

These figures help us know how many people access YouTube daily as part of their routine.

• YouTube has over 122 million active users daily.

• 1 billion hours of content is watched across the world every day.

• 62% of YouTube users in the USA access the platform on a daily basis.

Monthly Active Users on YouTube

Monthly active users mean the number of YouTube users in a given month. Since only the logged-in users are counted, the actual figures can be higher.

• YouTube has more than 2.70 billion monthly active users as of January 2026.

• YouTube Premium and Music together have more than 125 million subscribers in the world, including both paid subscriptions and trial users.

• YouTube’s potential ad reach is 3.35 billion users.

• More than ¼ of the world’s population uses YouTube every month.

• Around half of the internet users around the world have access to YouTube.

YouTube Users by Year

YouTube’s growth over the years is a clear sign that video has become a normal part of how people spend time online.

What started as a simple video-sharing site has now turned into a platform where viewers come for entertainment, learning, reviews, news, and even shopping decisions.

One reason YouTube keeps expanding is that it works for almost everyone.

A student can learn a skill, a professional can follow industry updates, and a buyer can watch product comparisons before purchasing.

This wide range of use cases is exactly what keeps YouTube’s user base moving upward year after year.

Here’s how YouTube’s global user numbers have grown over time:

Year	YouTube Users	Year % Changes
2026	2.70 Billion	0.74%
2023	2.68 Billion	3.80%
2022	2.60 Billion	4.00%
2021	2.50 Billion	8.70%
2020	2.30 Billion	15.00%
2019	2.00 Billion	11.10%
2018	1.80 Billion	20.00%
2017	1.50 Billion	7.10%
2016	1.40 Billion	16.70%
2015	1.20 Billion	9.10%
2014	1.10 Billion	10.00%
2013	1.00 Billion	25.00%
2012	0.80 Billion	0%

For digital marketing, this steady rise matters because it shows YouTube isn’t a short-term trend.

It’s a long-term discovery platform where brands can build visibility through helpful videos, rank on search, and stay in front of potential customers through consistent content.

YouTube Users Engagement

YouTube is not only massive in user count — it is also one of the most engaging platforms in the world.

People don’t just open the app and leave.

They stay to watch, learn, compare, and explore, which is why YouTube continues to perform strongly in watch time and repeat visits.

Every day, viewers spend over 1 billion hours watching YouTube content globally.

This level of attention is one of the main reasons YouTube remains valuable for creators and brands.

When people spend more time on a platform, businesses get more opportunities to build familiarity and trust through helpful video content instead of quick one-time impressions.

At the same time, YouTube keeps growing in content volume.

More than 500 hours of video are uploaded every minute, which makes the platform highly competitive, but also full of opportunities.

Videos can still reach the right people through YouTube search, recommendations, and suggested videos, especially when they answer common questions, solve problems, or explain products clearly.

This is also why YouTube engagement matters beyond entertainment.

Many viewers come with intent — they watch tutorials, product reviews, comparisons, and “best option” videos before making decisions.

For marketers, this behaviour is important because it connects video content directly with discovery and buying actions.

YouTube Users by Country 2026

YouTube’s audience is truly global, but a few countries contribute the largest share of users.

In 2026, India leads with the biggest YouTube user base, followed by the United States and several high-growth markets across Asia and Latin America.

This shows why YouTube remains a strong platform for both local and international content strategies.

For brands and creators, country-level user distribution is useful because it helps plan content language, publishing time, and ad targeting more accurately.

A campaign that performs well in one region may need different messaging, video style, or even subtitles to succeed in another.

Country	YouTube Users
India	500 Million
USA	254 Million
Indonesia	151 Million
Brazil	150 Million
Mexico	85 Million
Japan	78.5 Million
Germany	64.7 Million
Vietnam	62.1 Million
Philippines	59.6 Million
Turkey	57.9 Million

YouTube Views by Country

When it comes to views, the story is quite different.

The US leads the chart of the top 10 countries with the highest YouTube views, with 916 billion views per month.

This equates to an average of 2,726 views per person. India takes the second position with a share of 503 billion views per month.

However, when considering the size of its population, the per capita views are merely 354.

The UK secures the third spot with 391 billion views, which translates to an impressive 5,750 views per person.

The remaining countries on the list, in order of their views, are Brazil, Thailand, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Japan, and Canada.

Country	Views (in Billion)	Population (in Billion)	Approximate Views/Population
USA	916	0.336	2726
India	503	1.420	354
UK	391	0.068	5750
Brazil	274	0.217	1263
Thailand	207	0.070	2957
Russia	207	0.146	1418
South Korea	204	0.051	4000
Spain	169	0.046	3674
Japan	159	0.125	1272
Canada	158	0.038	4158

YouTube Users by Region

YouTube is one of the free entertainment platforms available today.

Millions of people across the world use it to watch videos, create content, and earn money.

Each country has its own popular YouTube channels that keep their people glued to the platform.

The region with the highest number of YouTube users is South Asia, with 580.1 million users, followed by Southeast Asia with 332.6 million users, and North America with 279.1 million users.

South America and Western Europe are also among the top five regions, with 262 million and 162.6 million YouTube users, respectively.

Find other regions and their corresponding YouTube users in the table below.

Region	YouTube Users
Southern Asia	580.1 Million
Southeastern Asia	332.6 Million
Northern America	279.1 Million
Southern America	262.0 Million
Western Europe	162.6 Million
Eastern Asia	151.3 Million
Western Asia	150.7 Million
Southern Europe	111.3 Million
Central America	106.6 Million
Northern Africa	97.1 Million
Eastern Europe	91.8 Million
Northern Europe	89.0 Million
Western Africa	42.2 Million
Southern Africa	25.8 Million
Oceania	25.5 Million
Carribean	9.6 Million
Eastern Africa	9.4 Million

Youtube Views by Region

Now, let’s look at the popularity and appeal of YouTube in different regions.

Here, population can interfere with the view count. Out of the six regions, Asia-Pacific stands out as the largest consumer of YouTube content, accounting for 30% of the total views.

Europe and North America follow closely, with both regions holding an equal share of 27% views.

South America, on the other hand, represents only 10% of all views.

Meanwhile, the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) contribute a mere 5% and 2% of the views, respectively.

Region	Views (Percentage)
Asia/Pacific	30%
Europe	27%
North America	27%
South America	10%
MENA	5%
Oceania	2%

YouTube Demographics 2026

One of YouTube’s biggest strengths is that it doesn’t belong to a single type of audience.

Some people visit for quick entertainment, some come to learn a new skill, and others use it to research products or follow their favourite creators.

Because YouTube fits into so many different routines, its audience in 2026 is spread across multiple age groups and gender segments.

Understanding these demographics gives a clearer picture of who is actively watching YouTube today and how viewing behaviour differs across groups.

Next, let’s break down YouTube users by age and gender.

YouTube Gender Demographics

YouTube’s audience is fairly balanced by gender, with a slightly higher share of male users.

• Male users: 53.0%

• Female users: 47.0%

This shows YouTube continues to attract a broad audience, making it suitable for content and campaigns targeting different customer groups.

YouTube Age Demographics

YouTube is popular across multiple age groups, but usage is strongest among adults in their mid-20s to mid-40s.

This age spread explains why YouTube works well for both entertainment content and decision-based content like reviews, tutorials, and product research.

Age Group	Percentage
18-24	14.7%
25-34	21.3%
35-44	18.7%
45-54	14.3%
55-64	10.4%
65+	10.0%

A useful way to understand viewing behaviour is by generation, especially in the United States.

The data shows YouTube is not limited to younger viewers — it has strong reach across Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers.

Generation	Share of US YouTube Users
Gen Z (1997-2012)	25.10%
Millennials (1981-1996)	25.50%
Gen X (1965-1980)	19.90%
Baby Boomers (1946-1964)	15.00%
Other	14.50%

YouTube Influencer Audiences

Content creators who are popular on YouTube are called YouTube influencers.

YouTube is the second most sought-after platform for influencer marketing, after Instagram.

YouTube influencers collaborate with businesses to showcase products or services to their dedicated followers, acting as trusted brand ambassadors.

They are found globally, each having a unique fan base.

Let’s explore some statistics about YouTube Influencer Audiences in the UAE.

Age Distribution of YouTube Influencer Audiences in the UAE

Age Group	Percentage
Under 18	8.81%
19-25	25.66%
26-32	31.92%
33-39	16.73%

As of June 2023, the largest age group among the YouTube influencer audience in the UAE is 26 to 32-year-olds, accounting for 31.92% of the total audience.

This is followed by the 19 to 25-year-olds, who make up 25.66% of the audience.

The 33 to 39-year-olds represent 16.73%, while those under 18 constitute 8.81% of the audience.

Now, let’s look at the gender distribution of YouTube influencer audiences in the UAE.

Gender Distribution of YouTube Influencer Audiences in the UAE

Gender	Percentage
Male	59.00%
Female	40.92%

In terms of gender distribution, as of June 2023, the audience of YouTube influencers in the UAE is predominantly male, comprising approximately 59% of the total audience.

On the other hand, female audiences account for around 40.92%.

YouTube Penetration 2026

YouTube penetration shows the percentage of people in a country who use YouTube.

A higher penetration rate means YouTube is part of daily online life for most of the population in that region.

In 2026, several countries show extremely high YouTube penetration, with usage reaching close to full population coverage.

These markets are important for brands because video content can reach a very large share of local internet users, making YouTube a strong channel for awareness and consistent visibility.

Country	Penetration
Singapore	95.3%
Israel	93.8%
Saudi Arabia	93.5%
Ireland	90.5%
New Zealand	90.2%
Canada	89.4%
Netherlands	89.3%
Switzerland	88.2%
Sweden	87.9%
South Korea	87.8%

YouTube Video Statistics 2026

• It is estimated that more than 500 hours worth of new content is uploaded to YouTube every minute.

• More than 720,000 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every day.

• On average, a user spends 49 minutes on YouTube every day.

• In total, almost 5 billion videos are watched by users on YouTube every single day.

• According to Statista, the average length of a YouTube video is around 11.7 minutes.

• Among all the categories on the video platform, music video content was found to have the shortest video length, with an average duration of 6.8 minutes per video.

• It is calculated that there are at least 800 million videos on YouTube, and if not, possibly many more than that.

YouTube Device Statistics

• Nearly 90% of all user visits as of November 2022 came from mobile and smartphone devices worldwide.

• Desktop computers accounted for 10.5 percent of global traffic to YouTube.com as of November 2022.

• Almost 70% of the users in the US access YouTube through their smartphones.

• The YouTube mobile app had over 10 billion downloads on the Google Play store as of January 2026.

YouTube Channel Statistics

It’s difficult to keep up with all the new YouTube channels that appear every other hour.

To offer you a clearer view, below are some major statistics about some popular YouTube channels in 2023.

Top 10 YouTube Channels Revenue

YouTube offers a share of its advertising revenue to its content creators (or YouTubers).

So, if you have interesting YouTube video ideas, know how to wield camera, and use YouTube video editing software, it is pretty easy to make money online with YouTube.

There are hundreds of thousands of professional YouTubers today, earning a decent income from their channels.

Here, we look at the top ten highest-grossing YouTube channels of 2020. (2023 data is not available, we will update it as soon as we get it).

No.	Channels	Revenue (2020)
#1	Ryan’s World	$29.5 Million
#2	Mr Beast	$24 Million
#3	Dude Perfect	$23 Million
#4	Rhett and Link	$20 Million
#5	Markiplier	$19.5 Million
#6	Preston	$19 Million
#7	Like Nastya	$18.5 Million
#8	Blippi	$17 Million
#9	David Dobrik	$15.5 Million
#10	Jeffree Star	$15 Million

Top 10 YouTube Channels (As of January 2026)

As of January 2026, the top YouTube channels by subscriber count showcase a diverse range of content, from high-budget stunts to children’s entertainment and music.

MrBeast leads the platform with over 462 million subscribers, solidifying his position as the most-followed individual creator. His engaging content, which includes elaborate challenges and philanthropic endeavors, continues to captivate a global audience.

Following MrBeast, T-Series, an Indian music and film production company, boasts approximately 309 million subscribers. Their extensive catalog of Bollywood music videos and film trailers appeals to a vast demographic.

Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes holds the third position with around 200 million subscribers. This channel’s animated videos featuring classic nursery rhymes and original songs are particularly popular among young children and their parents.

In fourth place, SET India, a channel offering a variety of Indian television shows and serials, has amassed about 188 million subscribers. Its diverse programming caters to a wide audience, contributing to its substantial following.

Rounding out the top five is Vlad and Niki, a children’s channel featuring imaginative play and adventures, with approximately 149 million subscribers. Their content resonates with young viewers worldwide, emphasizing fun and creativity.

These rankings highlight the global reach and varied interests of YouTube’s audience, reflecting the platform’s role in delivering diverse content to viewers around the world.

Channels	Subscribers	Views	Channel Created
Mr Beast	462 Million	10.00 Billion	Mar 13, 2006
T-Series	309 Million	327.00 Billion	Mar 13, 2006
Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes	200 Million	214.00 Billion	Sep 2, 2006
SET India	188 Million	185.00 Billion	Sep 21, 2006
Vlad and Niki	149 Million	117.00 Billion	Apr 23, 2018
Kids Diana Show	138 Million	122.00 Billion	May 12, 2015
LikeNastya	131 Million	118.00 Billion	Dec 6, 2016
Zee Music Company	122 Million	85.00 Billion	Mar 12, 2014
WWE	112 Million	101.00 Billion	May 11, 2007
PewDiePie	110 Million	29.00 Billion	Apr 29, 2010

Top 10 Youtube Channels Made for Kids (As of January 2026)

When it comes to children’s entertainment, YouTube has replaced many TV shows and cartoon channels.

With a plethora of YouTube channels dedicated to kids, ranging from rhymes to games and fun, it’s fascinating to see which ones have gained the most popularity.

Here, we present our research findings on the top 10 YouTube channels made for kids as of January 2026, based on subscriber count.

Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes tops the list with a whopping 200 million subscribers, followed by Vlad and Niki with 149 million subscribers.

Kids Diana Show comes in third with 138 million subscribers.

Like Nastya secures the fourth place with 131 million subscribers.

ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs has 98.1 million subscribers, securing the fifth place.

Check out the table for the full list of the top 10 channels.

Channels		Subscribers
Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes		200 Million
Vlad and Niki		149 Million
Kids Diana Show		138 Million
Like Nastya		131 Million
ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs		98.1 Million
Baby Shark – Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories		84.2 Million
Toys and Colors		81.9 Million
Infobells – Hindi		72 Million
El Reino Infantil		70.8 Million
LooLoo Kids – Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs		61.6 Million

Top 5 Most Subscribed YouTubers

As of January 2026, the most subscribed YouTubers are led by MrBeast with 462 million subscribers, largely due to his viral philanthropic challenges and large-scale stunts.

He is followed by Like Nastya at 131 million subscribers, a channel aimed at children’s content that has gained massive popularity.

PewDiePie holds 110 million subscribers, maintaining his influence with gaming commentary, reaction videos, and meme reviews.

Alan Chikin Chow has 99.2 million subscribers, growing quickly with his humorous skits and relatable content.

Justin Bieber, the global pop sensation, has 76.9 million subscribers, driven by his music videos and behind-the-scenes content.

These top five channels highlight the diverse types of content that can attract millions of subscribers, from entertainment and gaming to children’s content and music.

Youtuber	Subscribers
MrBeast	462 Million
Like Nastya	131 Million
PewDiePie	110 Million
Alan Chikin Chow	99.2 Million
Justin Bieber	76.9 Million

Top 5 Most Viewed YouTube Channels Based on Monthly Views

As usual, music videos and kids’ content dominate the charts in terms of views.

According to the most recent data available in January 2025, Wiz Khalifa’s Music channel ranks first in terms of monthly views, with 5.99 billion.

Wow Kidz comes in second place with 5.02 billion views. T-Series, which is the biggest channel on YouTube, takes the third spot with 2.72 billion views.

Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes and SET India takes the 4th and 5th positions with 2.42 billion and 2.33 billion views respectively.

Channels	Views
Wiz Khalifa’s Music	5.99 Billion
Wow Kidz	5.02 Billion
T-Series	2.72 Billion
Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes	2.42 Billion
SET India	2.33 Billion

Top 5 Most Viewed YouTube Videos

The most-viewed videos on YouTube highlight the type of content that consistently attracts global audiences.

In 2026, kids’ music and family-friendly videos continue to dominate the top spots, with a few all-time music hits also ranking among the most watched.

Video Title	Views
Baby Shark Dance	16.59 Billion
Despacito	8.91 Billion
Wheels on the Bus	8.46 Billion
Bath Song	7.35 Billion
Johny Johny Yes Papa	7.14 Billion

YouTube Monthly Traffic by Country

Although India has the highest YouTube User population, the most monthly traffic volume to the website YouTube.com is generated by Users in the United States with 11.7 billion visits.

South Korea gains the second highest position with 8.25 billion visits, while India is in the third position with 4.20 billion visits per month.

Brazil is in the fourth position with 3.60 Billion visits to the site monthly.

Country	Visits
United States	11.70 Billion
South Korea	8.25 Billion
India	4.20 Billion
Brazil	3.60 Billion

Distribution of YouTube Users Worldwide

This table shows the share of YouTube users worldwide by age group, split into male and female audiences.

It helps understand which age segments have the strongest presence on YouTube.

Age Group	Male (%)	Female (%)
18 – 24 years	8.2%	6.5%
25 – 34 years	11.5%	9.8%
35 – 44 years	9.9%	8.8%
45 – 54 years	7.6%	6.7%
55 – 64 years	5.3%	5.1%
65+ years	4.7%	5.3%

YouTube Premium Statistics

YouTube Premium, the premium version of YouTube, was introduced to cater to users’ desire for uninterrupted viewing.

Originally launched as Music Key in 2014 and later rebranded as YouTube Red in 2015, it finally settled as YouTube Premium in 2018.

As of June 2026, YouTube Premium and Music have over 125 million subscribers, including both paid memberships and trial users.

Apart from being ad-free, YouTube Premium offers users access to YouTube originals, music, the ability to download videos, and background play.

It is available as a one-month subscription that can be cancelled at the end of the subscription period.

To further promote the use of Premium among users, the channel has added new features in 2023, such as video queuing for mobile devices, live sharing to watch videos with friends and family, a resume-watching feature, smart downloads, and 1080p videos.

YouTube Premium Subscribers Over the Years

In 2026, YouTube Premium has 125 million subscribers, which is a 25% increase from 100 million in 2024.

This shows that more people are choosing to pay for YouTube without ads and with extra features like background play and offline downloads.

Back in 2015, YouTube Premium had only 1.5 million users.

It grew slowly in the early years—3 million in 2016 and 10 million in 2018.

By 2020, it had 30 million subscribers.

The number kept rising: 50 million in 2021, 80 million in 2022, and 100 million in 2024.

The steady growth, especially in recent years, shows that more viewers now prefer the paid version for a better viewing experience.

Year	Premium Subscribers
2026	125 Million
2024	100 Million
2022	80 Million
2021	50 Million
2020	30 Million
2019	18 Million
2018	10 Million
2017	2.8 Million
2016	3 Million
2015	1.5 Million

YouTube Shorts Statistics 

YouTube Shorts was introduced in 2020 as Google’s answer to TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Now available in 100 countries, these 60-second videos have managed to capture users’ attention, receiving 15 billion views every day.

To encourage more “Shorts”, the company has started providing monetary incentives to Shorts creators and has also introduced Shorts on TV.

Here are some interesting statistics related to YouTube Shorts in 2023:

• As of early 2025, Shorts generate between 70–90 billion views daily, up from 30 billion in 2021.

• Engagement rate stands at 5.91%, higher than TikTok and Facebook Reels.

• YouTube Shorts has more than 2.0 billion monthly active users.

• Average watch time per Short is 14.3 seconds.

• 72% of YouTube Shorts have a time span of more than 15 seconds.

• Shorts can now be up to 3 minutes long, following an update on October 15, 2024.

• Minimum length remains around 15 seconds, though even shorter videos can be uploaded.

YouTube Monetary Statistics 

• In the third  quarter of 2025, YouTube earned $10.26 billion from ads.

• Total revenue for 2024 is estimated at around $39 billion, combining all income sources like ads, subscriptions, and other services.

• Advertising made up the largest portion, bringing in $36.1 billion—this is YouTube’s main source of income.

• Subscription services, including YouTube Premium and YouTube Music, generated $14.5 billion in 2024. This shows strong user interest in ad-free and music streaming options.

YouTube IAP Revenue by Country

Country	YouTube IAP Revenue (in Million US Dollars)
United States	$35.30
Japan	$20.31
South Korea	$8.65
Ukraine	$5.16
Brazil	$2.93
Taiwan	$2.87
Australia	$2.76
United Kingdom	$2.45
Canada	$2.21
Hong Kong	$2.13

Interestingly, the United States leads with a huge $35.30 million in sales, highlighting the nation’s leading position in the digital entertainment industry.

This statistic demonstrates the magnitude of the American user base and the thriving digital economy of the country.

At $20.31 million, Japan takes second place, demonstrating the platform’s popularity there and the substantial purchasing power of Japanese consumers.

Lower down the list, South Korea exhibits its high level of platform engagement with $8.65 million in YouTube in-app-purchase revenue.

The numbers also show strong revenue streams in nations such as Ukraine, Brazil, Taiwan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Hong Kong, demonstrating YouTube’s appeal on a worldwide scale and its ability to make money in a variety of regions.

These numbers highlight how crucial the platform is for advertisers and content producers looking to reach a variety of audiences and profit from the expanding digital economy.

YouTube Search Statistics 

• Every day, more than 3.5 billion searches are made on YouTube.

• BTS, Pewdiepie, ASMR, etc. are the top globally searched terms on YouTube in 2023.

• Aaj Tak Live, Tv9 Live Telugu, Jabardasth Latest Episode, etc. are by far the top search terms on YouTube in India.

• Pewdiepie, ASMR, Music, etc, are the most searched-for worldwide terms on YouTube in the US.

YouTube Content Moderation

Reason	Percentage
Child Safety	59.40%
Harmful or Dangerous	12.20%
Violent or Graphic	7.60%
Harassment and Cyberbullying	5.90%
Nudity & Sexual	4.90%
Promotion of Violence and Violent Extremism	3.00%
Hateful or Abusive	1.90%
Spam, Misleading and Scams	1.30%
Misinformation	1.20%
Other	2.60%

YouTube has set certain guidelines that content creators must adhere to when creating videos.

These guidelines include restrictions on child safety violations, nudity, violence, etc. If these guidelines are not followed, the videos will be taken down.

Here are the percentages of content that were removed from YouTube in the 2nd quarter of 2024.

According to the latest report from Statista, released in August 2024, out of the total videos removed from YouTube in the 2nd quarter of 2024, 59.40% were due to child safety issues.

Another 12.20% were removed for harmful or dangerous content, and 7.60% were taken down due to violent or graphic content.

Another 5.90% were removed due to harrassment and cyberbullying content, and 4.90% were taken down for nudity and sexual.

Other reasons that led YouTube to remove videos include ‘promotion of violence and extremism’ content (3.0%), hateful or abusive (1.90%), Spam, Misleading and Scams content (1.30%) ‘misinformation’ content (1.20%), and other reasons (2.60%).

Conclusion

YouTube continues to be one of the most influential digital platforms in 2026.

With billions of monthly users, strong daily engagement, and a massive library of content across every category, it remains a go-to destination for entertainment, learning, and product discovery.

What makes YouTube stand out is not just its size, but how people use it.

Viewers actively search, compare, and spend time watching videos, which makes the platform valuable for long-term visibility and trust-building.

From country-level reach and high penetration markets to diverse age and gender demographics, YouTube offers opportunities for creators and businesses to connect with the right viewers at scale.

For brands and digital marketers, these statistics highlight a clear message: YouTube is no longer optional.

It is a key channel for building awareness, driving engagement, and supporting growth through content and advertising.

As video-first behaviour continues to rise, YouTube’s relevance will remain strong well beyond 2026.

As a digital marketing agency operating in Dubai for more than 25 years, we can assure you that YouTube can help your brand build a solid presence online.

If you need help with anything related to YouTube, let us know. Not only for YouTube, but you can also seek our assistance in areas such as web design services, SEO services, web development, ecommerce web development and analytics.

Disclaimer: GMI acknowledges that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented on this infographic. The information represented is based on information researched from various sources on the internet. We are not liable for any errors, financial loss, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of, or reliance on, the information herein.

 

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