Global Social Media Users in 2025
As of 2025, the number of social media user identities worldwide has reached 5.24 billion, accounting for 63.9% of the global population. This widespread adoption underscores the continued integration of social media into everyday life across nearly every region of the world. The rise in user identities is driven not only by population growth and expanding internet access but also by the proliferation of mobile devices and user behavior trends that favor digital communication, content sharing, and online communities. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest continue to dominate the landscape, serving as essential tools for personal interaction, entertainment, and even commerce.
Over the past 12 months, global social media user identities grew by 206 million, marking an annual increase of 4.1%. This uptick signals a healthy pace of expansion, especially considering that more than half of the world’s population is already connected. While the data refers to “user identities” and may include duplicates or non-unique accounts, it still reflects the vast digital ecosystem that thrives on social platforms. The continuous growth of social media usage suggests its role will become even more central in the coming years—for individuals, creators, brands, and governments alike—cementing its position as a key pillar in global digital engagement.
Global Social Media Users Statistics 2025
The Global State of Digital in 2025
| Metric | Value | Change (YoY) |
|---|---|---|
| Total World Population | 8.20 billion | +70 million (+0.9%) |
| Internet Users | 5.56 billion (67.9%) | +136 million (+2.5%) |
| Social Media User Identities | 5.24 billion (63.9%) | +206 million (+4.1%) |
The global digital landscape continued its steady upward trajectory in 2025. The world’s population reached 8.20 billion, with urban dwellers now comprising 58.1% of the total at 4.8 billion people, while 3.4 billion still reside in rural areas. Mobile technology has further deepened its reach, with 5.78 billion people using mobile phones—70.5% of the global population. Over the past year, mobile users grew by 112 million (+2.0%), and smartphones now make up approximately 87% of all mobile handsets in use, underlining the centrality of smart devices in today’s digital experience.
Internet connectivity has also seen significant gains, with 5.56 billion people online as of 2025. This represents a global internet penetration rate of 67.9%, following a year-on-year increase of 136 million users (+2.5%). However, 2.63 billion people remain offline, highlighting a persistent digital divide. On the social media front, user identities rose to 5.24 billion, or 63.9% of the global population. While not necessarily representing unique individuals, the net addition of 206 million identities (+4.1%) reflects sustained engagement and expansion of social media networks worldwide.
Global Social Media Usage Trends in 2025
| Metric | Value (2025) |
|---|---|
| Average daily time spent online | 6 hours 38 minutes |
| Social media adoption rate (among internet users) | 94.2% |
| Average daily time spent on social media | 2 hours 21 minutes |
| Average number of social platforms used monthly | 6.8 platforms |
| Global average of social platforms used | 6.83 platforms per month |
| Users following influencers or experts on social media | 22% of active social users |
In 2025, global internet users are spending an average of 6 hours and 38 minutes online daily, reinforcing the deep-rooted presence of digital habits in modern life. Notably, 94.2% of internet users are active on social media platforms, highlighting the overwhelming integration of social networks into everyday routines. While the overall time people spend online remains significant, the average time spent on social media has slightly declined to 2 hours and 21 minutes per day, marking a year-on-year decrease of 1.3% (equivalent to a 2-minute reduction). This slight dip may indicate evolving user behaviors, possibly driven by content fatigue or the diversification of digital media usage beyond traditional social platforms.
Despite the modest decrease in time spent, engagement with social media remains robust in other ways. The average number of platforms used monthly rose to 6.8, showing a 2.3% increase year-on-year, or 0.2 more platforms than the previous year. This aligns with the global average of 6.83 active platforms per user, suggesting that users are broadening their digital interactions across multiple apps. Additionally, 22% of active social media users follow influencers or subject matter experts, underscoring the growing role of creator-driven content and niche communities in shaping user engagement. These insights illustrate a dynamic digital landscape where breadth of engagement is rising, even as time spent per platform slightly consolidates.
Gender Distribution of Global Social Media Users in 2025
| Gender | % of Global Social Media Users | Number of Users |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 54.6% | 2.86 billion |
| Female | 45.4% | 2.38 billion |
As of 2025, global social media platforms host an estimated 5.24 billion user identities, and males account for the majority share at 54.6%, representing approximately 2.86 billion users. In contrast, females make up 45.4% of the social media population, equating to roughly 2.38 billion users. This gender gap of 480 million users is influenced by ongoing disparities in access to technology, particularly in lower-income or traditionally patriarchal societies, where female digital participation continues to lag behind.
However, the difference in usage numbers does not necessarily reflect engagement levels. Women continue to drive interaction in several niches—particularly on platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok—where visual, community-driven, and lifestyle content dominate. Meanwhile, platforms like YouTube and Reddit tend to skew more male in usage. As global internet access improves and digital literacy efforts expand, especially among women and girls in underserved areas, we can expect to see shifts in this distribution over time.
Average Daily Time Spent on Social Media by Age Group & Gender in 2025
| Age Group | Female (hrs:mins) | Male (hrs:mins) |
|---|---|---|
| 16–24 | 2h 35m | 2h 20m |
| 25–34 | 2h 30m | 2h 21m |
| 35–44 | 2h 15m | 2h 10m |
| 45–54 | 2h 04m | 1h 34m |
| 55–64 | 1h 28m | 1h 20m |
| 65+ | 0h 31m | 0h 24m |
In 2025, younger users continue to dominate social media engagement, with females aged 16 to 24 spending an average of 2 hours and 35 minutes per day on social platforms—the highest among all demographics. Their male counterparts in the same age group are close behind, averaging 2 hours and 20 minutes daily. Users in the 25 to 34 age range maintain similarly high engagement, particularly among women who average 2 hours and 30 minutes, compared to 2 hours and 21 minutes for men.
As age increases, time spent on social media declines significantly. Among users aged 45 to 54, women spend 2 hours and 4 minutes daily, while men drop to just 1 hour and 34 minutes. In the 65+ category, female usage falls to just 31 minutes a day, and males average only 24 minutes. These patterns highlight a clear generational shift, with younger cohorts deeply embedded in digital social ecosystems, while older users maintain a lighter presence online.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
