How Many People Use Social Media 2025 [Usage Statistics]

As of 2025, 63.9% of the global population use social media, making it an integral part of our lives.

Users spend an average of 2 hours and 21 minutes per day on social media, primarily to stay connected with friends and family (50.8%).

This report covers the latest social media statistics, including the number of users, their demographics, adoption, and more. 

Top Social Media Usage Statistics 2025

• About 5.24 billion people use social media, making up 63.9% of the global population.
• In the United States, 73% of people (around 253 million) are active on social media.
• Facebook is still the largest social media platform, with over 3.07 billion users.
• People spend an average of 2 hours and 21 minutes on social media daily.
• Users typically engage with about 6.8 different social media platforms each month.

How Many People Use Social Media In 2025?

As of 2025, around 5.24 billion people worldwide are active on social media. 

That means about 63.9% of the global population uses social platforms. Even more striking, they represent 94.2% of all internet users. 

That’s a noticeable jump of 0.5% or an increase of 24 million compared to the 5.22 billion users recorded in 2024.

On average, people use about 6.8 different social media platforms each month around the world.

Here is a table displaying the number of social media users recorded over time:

Source: Date Reportal

How Many People Use Social Media In The US

253 million people in the United States use social media.

That’s about 78.5% of the country’s internet users and 73% of the total population. The number of users has remained fairly steady compared to last year. 

On average, a person engages with 6.5% of all social media platforms available in the country.

Source: Data Reportal

How Much Time Do People Spend On Social Media Per Day?

On average, people spend around 2 hours and 21 minutes daily on social media. In the U.S., this figure is slightly lower, with Americans averaging 2 hours and 9 minutes per day—12 minutes less than the global average.

While social media helps people stay connected, excessive screen time can have downsides. According to the American Psychological Association, prolonged social media use may contribute to anxiety and depression, emphasizing the need for a balanced and mindful approach.

Source: Data Reporal, American Psychological Association.

Which Country Has The Most Social Media Users?

China has the highest number of social media users worldwide. 1.07 billion people in the country use social media, and this number is anticipated to reach 1.27 billion by 2029. 

India, the United States, and Indonesia are the other countries with the highest number of social media users.

The following table provides insights into the number of social media users by country.

*-estimated numbers

Source: Statista.

Social Media User Demographics

Globally, social media has a slightly higher percentage of male users, with 54.6% of total users being men, while 45.4% are women.

However, in the United States, the gender split is more balanced. Women make up 50.2% of social media users, while men account for 49.8%. This near-equal distribution highlights how social media engagement varies across different regions and is influenced by cultural, social, and technological factors.

Source: Data reportal

Most Popular Social Media Platforms

Facebook is still the top social media platform, with an impressive 3.07 billion users, making it the most popular choice worldwide.

Coming in second is YouTube, with 2.53 billion users, showing just how essential it is for watching videos.

Instagram and WhatsApp have also reached 2.0 billion users each, highlighting their popularity for social networking and messaging.

This table shows the biggest social media platforms globally:

Source: Data Reportal.

Interested In Platform Specific Stats? Explore our detailed reports on these social media platforms:

• Instagram Monthly Active Users 
• TikTok Statistics
• Most followed Accounts On Threads
• YouTube Creator Statistics

Social Media Penetration By Country

The global social media penetration rate stands at 63.9%. 

Leading the way is the UAE, with an outstanding 100.3% penetration rate, which shows that many people are active on multiple platforms. 

Close behind is Saudi Arabia at 99.6%, indicating that almost everyone in the country engages with social media. South Korea also has a strong presence, with a penetration rate of 94.7%, reflecting its tech-savvy population and vibrant digital culture.

Here is a table displaying the social media penetration by country:

Source: Statista

Main Reasons For Using Social Media

The main reason people use social media is to stay connected with friends and family, with 50.8% of respondents citing this as their motivation. 

Many users, 39.0%, also turn to social media to pass the time, highlighting its role as a popular entertainment option. Additionally, 34.5% of users rely on social media for news, showing how important these platforms have become for staying informed in our digital world. 

Lastly, 19.5% of users engage with social media to avoid missing out on events and trends, reflecting the common fear of missing out (FOMO) that drives much of our online activity.

Here are further reasons users state to use social media:

• Keeping in touch with friends and family: 50.8%
• Filling spare time: 39.0%
• Reading news stories: 34.5%
• Finding content (e.g. articles, videos): 30.5%
• Seeing what’s being talked about: 29.2%
• Finding products to purchase: 27.3%
• Finding inspiration for things to do and buy: 27.2%
• Watching or following sports: 23.6%
• Watching live streams: 23.4%
• Seeing content from your favourite brands: 22.5%
• Making new contacts: 22.1%
• Work-related networking or research: 22.1%
• Sharing and discussing opinions with others: 21.9%
• Following celebrities or influencers: 19.7%
• Avoiding missing out on things (fomo): 19.5%

Source: Data Reportal

Social Media Advertisement Statistics

• Social media ad spending is projected to surpass $300 billion
• Social media advertisement expenditures are estimated to grow at 5.63%, reaching $76.4 billion.
• In terms of worldwide social media advertisement spending, the United States will generate $88.1 billion in 2028.
• It is estimated that mobile will produce $384.90 billion in total ad spending by 2027 In the Social Media Advertising market.
• The number of users in the Social Media Advertising segment is estimated to reach 5,851.53 million by 2027.
• 77% of marketers retarget Facebook and Instagram advertising as a marketing strategy to grow their brand and increase its reach.

Bonus: Look at our social media statistics for further insights into social media advertising and marketing facts and figures. 

Conclusion: 5.24 Billion People Worldwide Use Social Media

In conclusion, social media has become an essential part of our lives, with around 5.24 billion users globally, making up 63.9% of the world’s population. In the U.S., 73% of people (about 253 million) are active on these platforms. 

Facebook remains the largest, with over 3.07 billion users. On average, people spend 2 hours and 21 minutes on social media daily and use about 6.8 different platforms each month. 

These statistics highlight the significant role social media plays in connecting us and shaping our society.