35+ YouTube Statistics [2026]: How Popular is YouTube in 2026?

Research Summary. From engaging child entertainment to in-depth niche video essays, YouTube continues to dominate the digital landscape. Over the years, this video-sharing platform has evolved into a cultural powerhouse, reshaping how we consume content and influencing countless creators’ lives. Based on our comprehensive research:

• YouTube boasts over 2.51 billion monthly active users in 2026.

• It also has 122 million daily active users.

• Over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute.

• Global YouTube watch time now surpasses 250 million hours each day.

• Approximately 5 billion videos are viewed on YouTube daily.

• There are over 51 million YouTube channels available.

For more detailed insights, we have categorized the data as follows:
User Behavior | Channels | Advertising | Mobile Traffic | Demographics | Trends | Business Adoption

General YouTube Statistics

Nearly all Americans are familiar with YouTube, but its influence extends globally. Here are some key facts about the current state of YouTube:

• YouTube ranks as the #2 website by traffic in the U.S.

  With over 4.11 billion visits in December 2021, YouTube remains the second most trafficked website in the U.S. Google leads with 15.63 billion visits, while Facebook (3.36 billion), Amazon (2.69 billion), and Yahoo (1.5 billion) follow.

• 81% of global internet users have engaged with YouTube.

  Out of all internet users, 79% also maintain their own YouTube accounts, indicating that the vast majority of viewers actively participate on the platform.

• 43% of global YouTube users visit the site monthly.

  This percentage rises significantly in the U.S., where a remarkable 98% of American YouTube users engage with the platform at least once a month.

YouTube Statistics by User Behavior

User behavior is central to YouTube’s success. Here are some compelling statistics on how users interact with the platform:

• YouTube attracts up to 122 million daily visitors.

• 62% of American internet users access YouTube daily, while 85% visit the site at least once a week.

• The average YouTube visitor spends about 40 minutes on the platform.

• 51% of viewers rely on YouTube videos to learn new skills.

• 90% of consumers discover new brands or products via YouTube.

• YouTube’s algorithm is remarkably effective, with 70% of watched content being recommended by the platform.

• 40% of U.S. adults dedicate 1-5 hours weekly to watching YouTube videos.

YouTube Statistics by Channels

YouTube’s extensive variety of content is largely due to its diverse channels. Here are some fascinating insights about these channels:

• There are over 51 million YouTube channels.

  This figure has grown by 36% since 2021. However, only 29,000 channels boast over 1 million subscribers, while 17 million channels have no subscribers at all, highlighting that many channels remain inactive.

• Approximately 15 million content creators are actively producing videos.

  With an impressive average of 500 hours of content uploaded every minute, these creators are consistently active, typically posting at least one video weekly.

• T-Series is the largest YouTube channel, with 238 million subscribers.

  As an Indian music record label and film production company, T-Series has maintained its lead since dethroning PewDiePie in 2019. As of 2026, Cocomelon follows with 155 million subscribers, then SET India (153 million), MrBeast (137 million), and PewDiePie (111 million).

  Channel	Number of Subscribers (2026)
  T-Series	238M
  Cocomelon	155M
  SET India	153M
  MrBeast	137M
  PewDiePie	111M
  Kids Diana Show	109M
  Like Nastya	105M
  Vlad and Niki	94.9M
  WWE	93.8M
  Zee Music Company	93.4M

• Just 10% of popular YouTube channels with over 250,000 subscribers account for 70% of all videos posted.

  This small group of successful channels also garners about 79% of all views, illustrating their dominance on the platform.

• People and Blogs represent the most popular video category, making up 32% of uploaded content.

  This category includes popular genres such as vlogging and commentary. Gaming follows closely at 31%, with Entertainment (10%), Film and Animation (6%), and Music (5%) trailing behind.

YouTube Statistics by YouTube Advertising

YouTube’s success is significantly bolstered by advertising, which enables creators to monetize their content. Here are key statistics regarding YouTube advertising:

• 70% of YouTube viewers have purchased a brand after seeing it on the platform.

  Videos serve as highly effective advertising tools, whether through pre-roll ads, sponsorships, or integrated promotions.

• 68% of YouTube users view videos to aid purchase decisions.

  Watch time for shopping-related videos grew more than 5X from 2016 to 2018, making these types of videos increasingly common.

• At least 51% of B2B marketers utilize YouTube for ads.

  The platform’s video-centric nature makes it a preferred choice for advertisers, with 89% of marketers citing a strong ROI from video content.

• 78.8% of video marketers find YouTube to be an effective platform for marketing.

  This surpasses other platforms, including Facebook (58.5%), Webinars (37.9%), Instagram (32.3%), and LinkedIn (28.1%).

  

• Video ads on YouTube achieve up to 80% higher ad recall.

  Companies that invest in video ad campaigns on YouTube experience significantly improved brand recall.

• In 2021, YouTube’s global ad revenue reached $28.84 billion.

  This marked a 46% increase from 2020, when revenue was approximately $19.7 billion.

YouTube Statistics by Mobile Traffic

Even though YouTube has a significant desktop presence, mobile users are on the rise. Insights into mobile traffic include:

• About 63% of YouTube watch time is generated from mobile devices.

• As of 2022, 40% of YouTube traffic comes from mobile devices, a substantial increase from just 6% in 2011.

• YouTube accounts for 37% of all global mobile internet traffic.

  

• Over 1 billion mobile views occur daily on YouTube.

• Approximately 75% of Americans prefer watching YouTube on their mobile devices while at home.

YouTube Statistics by User Demographics

YouTube appeals to various demographics. Understanding these groups can inform marketing strategies and future trends. Key demographic insights include:

• YouTube is particularly popular among individuals aged 15-25 and 26-35, with 77% of each group using the platform.

  Overall, more than 60% of individuals across all age groups use YouTube, with 73% of those aged 36-45, 70% of those aged 46-55, and 67% of those aged 56 and older engaging with the platform.

  

• Men account for 53.9% of YouTube users.

  The gender distribution shows that males are slightly more inclined to use YouTube compared to females, with 53.9% male users and 46.1% female users.

• India hosts the largest YouTube audience, totaling 467 million users.

  This population is significant, as the U.S. follows with a user base of 240 million, half of India’s audience.

  Country	Audience Size (in millions)
  India	467M
  United States	240M
  Indonesia	127M
  Brazil	107M
  Russia	99M
  Japan	93.8M
  Mexico	74.1M
  Germany	66M
  Pakistan	55.7M
  Vietnam	53.2M
  United Kingdom	53M
  Turkey	50.6M
  Philippines	49.6M
  France	43.1M
  South Korea	40.5M
  Egypt	39.3M
  Italy	37.4M
  Thailand	37.3M
  Spain	36.1M
  Bangladesh	32.2M

YouTube Trends and Projections

YouTube’s growth trajectory suggests a promising future. Here are some notable trends and projections:

• From 2019 to 2022, consumer online video consumption surged by 121%.

• Between 2011 and 2021, YouTube’s revenue experienced a staggering 21X increase (from $1.3 billion to $28.84 billion).

• From 2012 to 2021, the number of annual YouTube users rose by 225% (from 800 million to 2.6 billion).

• YouTube is projected to reach 2.85 billion users by 2025.

YouTube Statistics by Business Adoption

As YouTube’s popularity grows, more businesses are incorporating it into their marketing strategies. Here are some insights:

• 62% of businesses utilize YouTube for video content.

  Beyond ads, many companies create full-length videos on their channels, with up to 84% of viewers likely to purchase from a brand featured in a video.

• Only 9% of small businesses have embraced YouTube as a marketing tool.

  Many small companies could leverage YouTube to enhance their marketing strategies, as it significantly improves SEO and visibility.

YouTube Statistics FAQ

1. How many people use YouTube?

   Approximately 2.51 billion people use YouTube each month. The platform operates in over 100 countries, with the highest user counts in India (267 million), the United States (240 million), Indonesia (127 million), Brazil (107 million), and Russia (99 million).

2. How many hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute?

   Over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube each minute. This equates to an incredible 30,000 hours of fresh content every hour, and this figure continues to grow.

3. How many hours of video are watched on YouTube every day?

   Approximately 250 million hours of video are viewed on YouTube daily. This is spread across about 5 billion videos watched each day, demonstrating YouTube’s higher retention rates compared to other social media platforms.

   For context, the average user spends 40 minutes on YouTube, compared to 33 minutes on Facebook and 24 minutes on Instagram.

4. How many subscribers does YouTube Premium have?

   YouTube Premium has 50 million subscribers. This marks a 150% increase since 2020, indicating the platform’s increasing popularity.

5. Who watches YouTube the most?

   Users under the age of 35 are the most active on YouTube. The platform is especially popular among those aged 15-25 and 26-35, with 77% usage in each demographic. However, YouTube remains widely utilized across all age groups, with over 60% engagement.

   Specifically, 73% of users aged 36-45, 70% of those aged 46-55, and 67% of those aged 56 and older watch YouTube.

Conclusion

As the second most trafficked website in the U.S., YouTube has significantly evolved over the past decade. Today, more than 2.51 billion people utilize the platform to watch around 5 billion videos daily. YouTube’s dominance in video sharing and content creation solidifies its status, with 78.8% of video marketers deeming it the most effective platform for marketing.

The platform’s growth trajectory is poised to continue, bolstered by changing consumer habits. In just a few years, from 2019 to 2022, online video consumption surged by 121%. Projections suggest that by 2025, YouTube’s user base could expand to 2.85 billion.

Sources:

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10. Statista. “Distribution of total YouTube video content worldwide as of December 2018, by category.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

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14. Statista. “Distribution of worldwide YouTube viewing time as of 2nd quarter 2021, by device.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

15. PCWorld. “More than 40 percent of YouTube traffic now comes from mobile.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

16. Statista. “YouTube is Responsible for 37% of All Mobile Internet Traffic.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

17. Think with Google. “Consumer Insights.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

18. Statista. “Percentage of U.S. internet users who use YouTube as of 3rd quarter 2020, by age group.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

19. Statista. “Distribution of YouTube users in the United States as of February 2022, by gender.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

20. Adweek. “Video Consumption Increased 121% Since 2019, per Wistia’s State of Video Report.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

21. Statista. “Forecast of the number of YouTube users in the World from 2017 to 2025.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

22. MileIQ. “How to use YouTube for your small business.” Accessed on April 11th, 2022.

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.