How Many People Use Social Media in 2024?
With social media penetration anticipated to reach two-thirds of the global population in 2024, there’s no question that social networks have become an integral part of daily life for billions, revolutionizing the way we connect and share information.
In this article, we explore just how many people use social media and its growth, delving into the latest statistics and trends shaping this digital phenomenon.
Key data on how many people use social media
- As of 2024, there are 5.17 billion social media users worldwide, a 5.5% annual increase.
- By 2028, the number of social media users is expected to exceed 6 billion.
- Asia is home to nearly 3 billion social media users.
How many people use social media (2017–2024): Table
|
Year |
Number of social media users |
Annual change |
|
2017 |
2.73 billion |
|
|
2018 |
3.10 billion |
+13.6% |
|
2019 |
3.51 billion |
+13.2% |
|
2020 |
3.91 billion |
+11.4% |
|
2021 |
4.26 billion |
+9.0% |
|
2022 |
4.59 billion |
+7.7% |
|
2023 |
4.90 billion |
+6.8% |
|
2024 |
5.17 billion |
+5.5% |
|
2025 |
5.42 billion |
+4.8% |
|
2026 |
5.65 billion |
+4.2% |
|
2027 |
5.85 billion |
+3.5% |
|
2028 |
6.05 billion |
+3.4% |
Social media growth statistics: 2017–2024
Social media’s infiltration into the lives of internet users has been on the rise. The latest figures show that there are expected to be 5.17 billion social media users worldwide in 2024—a 5.5% increase from a year ago.
It is also 2.44 billion more than the number of social media users in 2017, which represents a whopping 89.4% jump in just seven years. The average annual growth rate over this period is 9.6%.
How many people use social media: 2025–2028 forecast
Going forward, while the number of social media users will continue to increase, the growth rate is expected to plateau. The average annual growth rate from 2025 to 2028 is forecast at 4%.
Despite the slowdown, it’s clear that social media will continue to be a part of consumers’ daily lives, with smartphones and mobile devices as the main driving force. As it stands, social media statistics show that more than nine in 10 (91%) social media users use mobile devices to access social networks.
Such statistics clearly show the growing trend and reliance of consumers on social media, indicating a clear opportunity for social media marketing opportunities for ecommerce businesses worldwide.
How many people use social media: by region
The accessibility of affordable smartphones, Wi-Fi coverage, and improving networks play a massive role in increasing social media usage across the globe. Currently, more than half (62.6%) of the global population uses social media.
Looking at how many people use social media by region, the three areas with the highest number of social media users are located in the world’s largest continent: Asia.
Number of social media users in Asia
|
Region in Asia |
Number of social media users |
|
Asia (total) |
2,941.01 million |
|
East Asia |
1,246.98 million |
|
South Asia |
961.81 million |
|
Southeast Asia |
527.23 million |
|
West Asia |
173.90 million |
|
Central Asia |
31.11 million |
Topping the list is East Asia, where nearly 1.25 billion people use social media. Currently, the number of social media users there makes up 15.4% of the global population. This should come as no surprise, considering the region consists of China, the world’s most populous country.
South Asia is home to the second-highest number of social media users with 961.81 million users. This is followed by Southeast Asia with 527.23 million.
Number of social media users in the Americas
|
Region in Americas |
Number of social media users |
|
Americas (total) |
819.29 million |
|
North America |
447.82 million |
|
South America |
316.78 million |
|
Central America |
28.99 million |
Over in the Americas, there are 819.29 million social media users, of which 447.82 million (or 54.7%) are in North America. South America and Central America are home to 316.78 million and 28.99 million social media users, respectively.
Number of social media users in Europe
|
Region in Europe |
Number of social media users |
|
Europe (total) |
681.56 million |
|
Central & West Europe |
271.29 million |
|
East Europe |
191.31 million |
|
South Europe |
189.28 million |
|
North Europe |
29.68 million |
Meanwhile, despite its small size, Europe boasts a total of 681.56 million social media users. Central and West Europe lead with 271.29 million users, followed by East Europe with 191.31 million. South Europe closely trails with 189.28 million users, while North Europe accounts for 29.68 million social media users.
Number of social media users in Africa
|
Region in Africa |
Number of social media users |
|
Africa (total) |
427.05 million |
|
North Africa |
166.18 million |
|
West Africa |
105.91 million |
|
East Africa |
80.82 million |
|
Southern Africa |
49.43 million |
|
South Africa |
44.71 million |
|
Central Africa |
24.71 million |
Africa has a total of 427.05 million social media users, with the northern region leading with 166.18 million users. West Africa follows with 105.91 million users, and East Africa has 80.82 million users.