Are you looking to run paid ads, grow your brand, or connect with users all over the world? YouTube is a powerful platform that offers plenty of value to creators. But after 20+ years in the game, many people doubt its capabilities.
There are tons of YouTube statistics that highlight the popularity of the social site. Not only that, but some of this data provides insights to help you market your podcast successfully.
In this post, we’ll discuss the worth of YouTube in terms of financial power, cultural impact, and technology. Then, we’ll evaluate the top YouTube statistics to inform your own content and marketing efforts. Let’s get started!
Does YouTube Still Offer Value?
With the introduction of next-gen apps like TikTok, some people question the popularity and value of YouTube today.
However, YouTube boasts almost a billion global users, with this number expected to reach 1.2 billion by 2029. That means a 24.91 percent growth rate for the social platform in just five years.
YouTube has the advantage of being a cultural phenomenon. It also has a long history that’s somewhat stable, compared to TikTok which has undergone discussions of nation-wide bans.
Besides being the second most popular social media network behind Facebook, YouTube is also a search engine. That makes it easy for consumers to find content and it allows creators to use SEO techniques to gain exposure in the results pages.
On the topic of search engines, YouTube videos appear in the Google search results. In fact, Google even added two filters (“Videos” and “Short videos”) to deliver social content directly to its user base:
Not only that, but YouTube continues to be a financial powerhouse. In 2024, it generated approximately 31.51 billion dollars in ad revenue worldwide, whereas TikTok was projected to reach just 18.5 billion that same year.
Finally, YouTube’s adaptability means that it’s kept up with changing trends and technology. While 30 percent of people prefer audio podcasts, 25 percent express a clear preference for video podcasts, which are primarily consumed on YouTube. When looking into podcast statistics and trends in general – YouTube has become one of the largest players alongside Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
YouTube Statistics to Know in 2025
Now that you know why YouTube can still be a valuable tool for content creators, let’s take a look at the top YouTube statistics in 2025.
1. YouTube Usage Statistics
According to Statista, YouTube is the second most popular social network worldwide with over 2.5 billion monthly active users. Let those numbers sink in for a moment – that’s about a third of the global population using YouTube on a monthly basis.
If you’re considering creating content for YouTube, it’s a good idea to know how regularly (and for what duration) people like to watch YouTube videos. Here are some top usage statistics:
- Users worldwide spend more than 27 hours per month on the YouTube mobile app.
- Around 2 billion global users login to YouTube Shorts each month.
- Since 2020, the average YouTube visit has remained relatively stable, hovering around 30 minutes per user.
- 68 percent of users that are interested in a specific topic will watch videos in multiple formats (short-form, long-form, podcasts, live streams).
- YouTube has accrued 100 million paying subscribers across its Music and Premium services.
- Large channels (over 50,000 subscribers) reported an engagement rate of 6.2 percent on short-form content (compared to 1.72 percent on longer videos).
You can use the information here to determine the best length, frequency, and format for creating YouTube videos.
2. YouTube Demographic Statistics
Although it’s useful to know general usage stats, it can be more beneficial to assess demographic data like the following:
- India has the largest YouTube audience (491 million), followed by the U.S. (253 million), Brazil (144 million), and Indonesia (143 million).
- However, in terms of YouTube penetration among the adult population, Saudi Arabia is ranked highest (95.8 percent), surpassing Israel (93.3 percent) and Singapore (91.8 percent).
- Users in South Korea spend longer engaging with YouTube videos, with an average of 43 hours and 26 minutes per month (while the global average sits at 27 hours).
- In terms of gender, 54 percent of the global YouTube audience identify as male while 46 percent identify as female.
- The age group that represents the biggest share of YouTubers is 25-34 year olds, followed by 35-44 year olds.
Thanks to this information, you can appeal to a specific target audience or maximize your video advertising efforts.
3. YouTube Influencer Statistics
Here are some top influencer statistics to know about:
- American YouTuber MrBeast has the most popular YouTube channel (with 372 million subscribers). This is followed by T-Series, India’s largest music label (with 284 million), and Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes (with 188 million).
- Gen Z and millennials express the highest level of trust in brand/product recommendations from social media influencers (30 percent of each cohort).
- 41 percent of U.S. consumers agreed that “authenticity” was the top factor that increased trust in influencer recommendations, while nearly 30 percent named the “influencer’s expertise”.
- YouTube is listed as the third most popular channel for influencer marketing, behind Instagram and TikTok.
- Industry experts and thought leaders are most likely to influence purchasing decisions, ahead of nano influencers and mega influencers.
You can use this data to determine what type of content performs best on the platform.
Or, you might be looking to partner with established influencers to grow your brand and establish credibility. In that case, the information above is a great way to inform your podcast marketing strategy.
4. YouTube Advertising Statistics
YouTube is an excellent platform to market your podcast. Here are some valuable advertising statistics to know about:
- Last year, YouTube generated 31.51 billion dollars in global ad revenues, which was up by nearly 8 percent from the previous year. This accounted for over 13 percent of Google’s total advertising revenue.
- Vertical videos in YouTube Shorts can deliver 10-20 percent more conversions per dollar than campaigns that rely on landscape assets.
- 67 percent of marketers use YouTube for organic content marketing while 30 percent use it for paid advertising. (according to contentmarketinginstitute.com)
- YouTube ads focused on intent generate more purchases than ads based on demographics.
- Pre-roll skippable ads are considered the most effective ad format across YouTube (favored by 29 percent of marketing professionals).
As you can see, YouTube is certainly still a leading platform for podcast advertising. Better yet, you can use the data here to create highly effective campaigns that pack a punch.
5. YouTube Trend Statistics
Finally, let’s take a look at YouTube trend statistics to discover features and formats to leverage in your video podcasts:
- YouTube is now the most frequently-used service for finding and listening to podcasts in the U.S., with more than 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content.
- There’s been over 1.7 billion views of videos related to generative AI tools. Meanwhile, 60 percent of people say they’re open to watching AI-generated YouTube content.
- On average, viewers are watching over 1 billion hours of YouTube content daily on televisions. TV has also become the primary device for accessing YouTube in the U.S..
- Over 40 percent of total watch time comes from viewers who listen to videos in a dubbed language.
- The YouTube Culture & Trends report reveals that fandom is changing how people spend their time online. For example, 80 percent of 14-44 year olds use YouTube to consume content about a person/thing that they’re a fan of, at least on a weekly basis.
Hopefully, this offers valuable insight to craft engaging content and leverage trends to appeal to your target audience.
Top YouTube Channels and Videos
To conclude this article on YouTube statistics, let’s take a look at some of the top channels and videos so you can see what resonates with audiences.
With 372 million subscribers, MrBeast remains the top YouTube creator:
Cristiano Ronaldo’s channel received over 19 million subscribers in the first 24 hours of its launch. This made it the third most popular YouTube channel worldwide.
The most-viewed music videos last year were “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, and “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone:
Meanwhile, the top songs on YouTube Shorts were “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” by Tommy Richman, “Tell Ur Girlfriend” by Lay Bankz, and “Pop like this Pt. 2 (Slowed)” by prodbycpkshawn.
Recent trending topics on YouTube span the U.S. presidential election, Deadpool & Wolverine, Hazbin Hotel. Meanwhile, in the UK, there were over 645 million views of videos about UEFA Euros 2024.
Conclusion
Although there are lots of video-based apps being introduced, it doesn’t take away from the power and value that YouTube continues to offer. With a huge global user base, you wouldn’t want to neglect the platform.
Here are some key YouTube statistics that podcasters should know about:
- 68 percent of people consume content in various formats (e.g. podcasts, short-form, live streams, etc).
- Over 2 billion users also log in to view YouTube Shorts (which are perfect for episode teasers).
- YouTube has become the most frequently-used service for podcast listening in the U.S..
If you have a YouTube channel or podcast but don’t yet have a website, Beamly can streamline the process and let you launch your own online hub within minutes. You’ll get access to ready-made templates, automatic episode imports, and so much more. Stand out of the crowd with your own branded website with built-in engagement, growth and monetization features. Better yet, you can get started for free!
