Facebook Statistics: A View From the Top of the Online Heap

Dusan Vasic

Updated: June 9, 2023

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Facebook’s position seems invincible. Worldwide, more than 25% of us have accounts, and time-spent-on-Facebook statistics show that hundreds of millions log on daily to check in with friends and read the news.

Facebook is not the first community to dominate the online world. Before Facebook, there was: Friendster, MySpace, America Online, CompuServe. If the history of the internet has taught us anything, it is that even the most popular online communities don’t last forever.

In this article, you will discover whether Facebook can stay on top or sink and be dominated by other social media platforms. Below are verified Facebook statistics that you can check out.

Key Facebook Statistics

• Facebook users spend an average of 33 minutes per day on the platform. (Statista)
• There are 2.9 billion monthly active Facebook users. (Data Reportal)
• The average cost-per-click on Facebook is $0.44. (Revealbot)
• Facebook’s user growth in Europe bounced back in 2019. (BBC,Statista)
• Facebook deleted 2.2 billion fake accounts during the first quarter of 2019; the app deleted 1.3 billion fake accounts Q4 of 2022. (Statista)
• 37.17% of the world’s population uses Facebook. (Statista)
• Facebook’s annual ad revenue was expected to reach $115 billion by 2021. (Statista)
• Visual content is 40 times more likely to be shared. (Gitnux)
• Nearly half of Americans rely on Facebook as a primary news source. (Pew Research Center)
• Four in ten users have taken a break from Facebook. (Pew Research Center)

Facebook Usage Statistics

Facebook statistics reveal that usage rates are dropping in the United States. Questions around its stance on political ads, ongoing privacy scandals, and the threat of government regulation fuel skepticism about the company’s services.

Worldwide, however, the Facebook facts are different. These Facebook usage statistics will help you achieve a better understanding of the worldwide usage of this popular platform.

1. In September 2019, 2.45 billion users posted a status message or clicked the Like button at least once a month compared to 2.9 billion in 2023.

(LinkedIn, Data Reportal)

How many users does Facebook have? The global advertising audience on Facebook is 66.9% of the platform’s total active user base. Facebook’s monthly active users account for 37.0% worldwide.

To put things into perspective: it was during the third quarter of 2012 that Facebook first hit 1 billion users. It was the first social media platform to do so.

2. 67% of users log in to Facebook daily in 2023.

(Data Reportal)

Many of us log in to Facebook first thing in the morning. It’s probably the last thing you do before bed too. According to Data Reportal’s statistics about Facebook users, its annual change rose to 3.7%.

3. In 2021, Facebook users spend an average of 33 minutes per day on the platform.

(Statista)

To keep users glued to their screens, Facebook has introduced many exciting features with recent Facebook updates, which include Watchlist and Group Feed. Time-spent-on-Facebook statistics continue to rise.

4. In 2022, Facebook accounted for 25.7% of the time that US adults spent on social platforms.

(eMarketer)

This is a drop from 35.3% in 2019. According to eMarketer, it is expected to fall even further to 22.4% in 2024. Almost all of the wasted time is spent on TikTok.

5. Nearly half of Americans say they get their news from Facebook.

(Pew Research Center)

There are many discussions on Facebook’s impact as a source of news, especially news about politics. Recently, Twitter and Google announced measures to fight the spread of fake news in political posts.

The company announced introducing a dedicated operations center to monitor activities all across its social media platforms. It has specifically said that it will not fact-check claims made by politicians and political campaigns.

Its site statistics show that newsmakers and media companies increasingly use the platform to share their points of view with the public.

Facebook’s status as a de facto news publisher means brands can use the platform to announce product launches and run all marketing campaigns.

6. Only 18% of Facebook users in the United States believe the platform protects their privacy and data.

(eMarketer)

That percentage is the lowest of any social platform and significantly decreased from 30% in 2020. This is significant because users are likelier to click on ads and, in particular, use social commerce features on platforms they trust.

7. Facebook deleted 2.2 billion fake accounts during the first quarter of 2019, a massive drop when the app deleted 1.3 billion fake accounts Q4 2022.

(Statista)

Facebook discloses such actions in its periodic Community Standards Reports. The company began publishing reports to improve its public image by boosting transparency.

Facebook app statistics show that the company is deleting more fake accounts all the time: 2.8 billion in the third quarter of 2022 and 1.3 billion in the last quarter of the same year.

Facebook says fake Facebook accounts are usually commercially motivated, but they are also behind fake news and even advertising fraud. The company is optimistic about reducing this activity, but not confident it can be completely removed.

8. It’s the most used platform for customer service.

(Sprout Social)

As the use of social media for customer service grows in popularity, Facebook has emerged as the preferred platform. According to the 2022 Sprout Social Index, 60% of consumers use Facebook to get customer service. Furthermore, 69% of marketers offer customer service through the platform.

9. 97% of Facebook users access their accounts exclusively via mobile devices.

(Statista)

It was in late 2015 that Facebook page traffic statistics showed that mobile users outnumbered desktop users for the very first time. Since then, we have been living in a mobile world. Facebook consistently ranks as one of the most downloaded apps worldwide.

Statistics on Facebook users show that 28.7% open the app using both phones and computers, while 2.6% of them use laptops or desktop computers.

10. Over 500 million people use Stories daily.

(Facebook)

According to internal Facebook data, half a billion people use Facebook Stories daily. This reflects the platform’s popularity, making it a useful tool for brands to engage their audience.

11. The world’s four most downloaded apps are all owned by Facebook.

(BBC)

Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram are all Facebook properties. One reason for their popularity? They’re free apps. Cost-free applications dominate the top spots at all the internet’s app stores.

Experts and elected officials worry that the company’s detailed records of user traits, interests, and behavior make Facebook a potential threat that should be broken up or subjected to strict government regulation. Facebook app statistics demonstrate, however, that users are happy to trade away some privacy in return for using the apps.

Facebook Advertising Statistics

Facebook ad statistics demonstrate that marketers find the platform a great place to advertise and sell products. Marketers from all parts of the world are increasing their spending on Facebook ads. The company sold $116.6 billion worth of ads in 2022. Users in the United States and Canada accounted for a sizable portion of Facebook’s ad revenue in the most recent quarter, Q4 2022.

Facebook statistics on users show that 1.25 billion people spend an average of 33 minutes on Facebook every single day. That’s a huge opportunity for advertisers.

However, the secret, ever-changing Facebook News Feed algorithm makes connecting with qualified potential buyers tricky. That’s why Facebook introduced targeting and micro-targeting features that let advertisers reach precisely their desired users.

Facebook advertising statistics show that the world’s largest social networking site has also become an essential part of practically every company’s advertising strategy.

12. The average cost-per-click on Facebook is $0.44.

(Revealbot)

Like Google, Facebook sells advertising at different pricing tiers. Prices vary according to multiple factors, including bidding competition, ad quality, and ranking.

In the last five years, the average Facebook Ads CPM has ranged from $11.2 in 2017 to $14.9 in 2021. Even the smallest businesses find it easy to justify spending $500, $1,500, or more on monthly Facebook advertising.

13. 94% of Facebook’s advertising revenue comes from mobile.

(Statista)

Meta’s main source of income is digital advertising. Facebook mobile statistics show that 94% of the company’s overall advertising-income is attributed to mobile advertising. The company brought in $15.6 billion in mobile ads in the second quarter of 2019 – a 12% rise over the previous quarter.

14. There are 7 million advertisers on Facebook in 2022.

(Facebook)

If privacy scandals and data leaks have slowed Facebook’s growth, it’s hard to see. Even during the worst public relations nightmares, the user base – and revenue – kept growing.

The company stated that mobile accounted for 92 percent of its total advertising revenue. Facebook’s advertising revenue in the United States and Canada was approximately 13.3 billion US dollars as of the second quarter of 2021. Other revenue totaled 372 million US dollars. Global Facebook ad revenues totaled 28.5 billion US dollars during the same time period.

15. Facebook ads with titles of precisely four words perform the best.

(AdEspresso)

Marketers are always wondering: What makes the best headline? Which words lead to the highest click rates and the most sales?

Statistics reveal at least part of the answer. It turns out that a four-word headline is a perfect recipe for attracting Facebook demographics.

In 2015, Facebook post statistics showed that the average title consisted of seven to 10 words, but titles have shrunk since then. Ad text has shrunk too. Trends suggest that sticking to messages of 15 to 19 words will help marketers succeed with the low-attention-span-only generation.

16. Facebook’s ad audience is 56.4% male.

(Data Reportal)

This means that 43.6% of the audience is female (since Facebook only offers male and female gender options). It’s easy to think of those as “around half,” but the difference of nearly 13 points is significant.

17. Facebook ad spending increases between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on weekends.

(HubSpot,Facebook)

Advertising on Facebook can be very confusing. Advertisers must think about targeting their audience, making sure potential customers will see and click on their posts.

Marketers argue about the best time for brands to post on Facebook. It seems like every other day, there is a new revelation about statistics on Facebook and a corresponding new marketing approach.

The most recent speculation is that the weekends are the best time to post. Analysts say marketers should post sometime between 1 pm and 3 pm However, other Facebook statistics show that posting on Thursday afternoons is a better strategy.

All of these studies can be helpful, but the fact is that the best time for posting depends on several factors, including the products and services that marketers are selling and the location of the Facebook users they target.

18. Visual content is 40x times more likely to be shared.

(Gitnux)

Facebook video statistics emphasize the importance of visual content on all social media platforms. Videos and other visual content help individual posts stand out from the crowd.

Social media will never be one size that fits all. Different visual content works better in different industries. But no matter the industry, visual content has proved effective in helping attract users of Facebook and make a memorable impression.

19. In 2022, Facebook Reels accounted for 3.3% of all ad impressions on the platform.

(eMarketer)

Only 3.3%. However, Reels ads have half the potential audience of Stories ads. Advertisers with a solid Reels advertising strategy can gain an advantage.

Figures like these suggest that paying Facebook for ad exposure is the best way to reach the most potential buyers.

20. Facebook’s annual ad revenue was expected to reach $115 billion in 2021.

(Statista)

This figure is expected to rise to 203 billion US dollars by 2026. The social media platform accounts for roughly 10% of global ad revenue.

Facebook User Statistics

Seven out of ten Americans rely on social media apps to connect with one another, find news content, share information, and entertain themselves. Although statistics on Facebook users show a slight decrease in the US user base over the past two years, the company’s overall growth has not slowed.

These Facebook user statistics highlight Facebook’s demographics and the reasons Facebook continues to have a bright future.

21. 37.17% of the world’s population uses Facebook.

(Statista)

Facebook would be an irresistible advertising and marketing platform based on that statistic alone; where else can you reach a quarter of the world’s population? But Facebook offers much more.

In fact, it collects endless amounts of information on each user, allowing marketers to target very specific subsets at an affordable price. It is no wonder Facebook accounts for a bigger share of the advertising pie every year. Advertising on Facebook is a smart thing to do if you want to sell more products and services.

22. Facebook is the favorite social platform of the 35-44 demographic.

(Hootsuite)

It also ranks first among male Internet users aged 25 to 34, though women in that age range prefer Instagram. (Currently, Facebook’s gender reporting is limited to males and females.)

If these demographics are part of your target market, Facebook is an even more important place to connect.

23. 17.6% of active Facebook users are men between 25 and 34 years old.

(Statista)

Slicing and dicing into gender and age categories reveals that the highest number of Facebook users (19%) consists of men between 25 and 34. Facebook diversity statistics show that 13% of women in that age bracket use the platform.

24. The highest number of Facebook users is in India, which has more than 314.6 million active users.

(Data Reportal)

A consistent statistic on users of social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is that more and more users are located in India. This country is going through fundamental sociological transitions based on gender roles, politics, and the rapid spread of technology – including social media networks.

25. Roughly half of US teens are frequent Facebook users.

(Pew Research Center)

The Facebook platform used to be dominant among US teens, and nearly three-quarters of US teens used to be frequent Facebook users. In recent years, young people have turned to alternatives like YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat to connect with peers. However, Facebook statistics on teens show that over 51% are still regular users.

26. 70% of American adults use Facebook.

(Pew Research Center)

Only YouTube has a higher percentage (83%). Instagram ranks third with 47%.

However, as the following Facebook statistics show, the platform’s reach is not universal across all adult age groups.

27. 73% of Facebook users live in urban areas.

(Pew Research Center)

Facebook user demographics show that 73% of urban residents visit the site frequently, while only 66% of those in rural areas are regular users.

Although Facebook demographic statistics show higher usage rates among urban residents, the percentage of users in rural areas has been climbing.

28. Facebook’s user growth in Europe bounced back in 2019.

(BBC, Statista)

Verifying a perceived Facebook decline, statistics about European use showed a significant drop in 2017. Experts suggested that Europe’s GDPR data-privacy law and associated regulations would retard Facebook’s growth. However, the platform bounced back in 2019, and analysts now forecast continued robust growth of the Facebook user base.

In the third quarter of 2019, Facebook statistics revealed 288 million daily active users in Europe, up from 274 million two years earlier. Moreover, Meta’s Facebook had 407 million monthly active users (MAUs) in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2022.

29. Seniors are the fastest-growing group on Facebook.

(Business News Daily)

According to Pew Research Center, 62% of internet users aged 65 and older use Facebook, while 72% of those aged 50 to 64 use it. In these age groups, Facebook has the most users.

30. Roughly half of Facebook users speak a language other than English.

(Promo Republic)

According to Facebook statistics, more than 100 languages are used on this platform. Giving everyone a pleasant online experience can become challenging with this number of preferred languages. Facebook employs machine learning and natural-language processing routines to support its multilingual efforts.

The AI systems also detect and remove policy-violating content regardless of language. They serve the Facebook community by helping to adjust recommendations and suggestions to match local norms and preferences.

31. Four in 10 people report taking a break of several weeks or months from Facebook.

(Pew Research Center)

Many people find that a little digital detox is a good thing. According to the Pew Research Center, users left Facebook temporarily or permanently when efforts to compile Facebook statistics on users went awry.

Many said they were not comfortable with the platform’s assumptions about their race, age, gender, or interests. In a survey focused on the Facebook user base, 51% of respondents said they don’t feel comfortable that Facebook compiles lists of their interests and hobbies.

Among those who checked, 27% said Facebook’s list had nothing to do with their real-life interests.

Privacy Abuses & Data Scandals: A Timeline

We’re sorry. That was the biggest Facebook Ad campaign ever, launched after the most recent of the company’s many privacy mishaps. Here is a history of Facebook’s failures in ensuring the privacy of user data.

The Early 2000s

Within two years, Facebook statistics showed that ensuring privacy will emerge as one of the company’s biggest challenges. In 2006, Facebook launched the News Feed feature. Users protested that the News Feed violated their privacy, mainly because it didn’t offer an off-switch.

In 2007, Facebook launched its Beacon program. Beacon collected details about users’ online purchases using the News Feed feature. Facebook users were not asked for their consent. The case resulted in a class-action lawsuit, and Facebook costs statistics showed a loss – Facebook ended up paying $9.5 million to the plaintiffs. However, they didn’t stop running Beacon for another two years.

(TIME)

The FTC (2009 – 2014)

A 2009 change in Facebook’s terms of service caused another outcry from Facebook users. The issue? Facebook published new privacy settings that said users couldn’t delete their data upon leaving the platform. The company revised these changes over several months and made an array of user information public by default. Statistics of Facebook showed slower growth as users lost trust in the platform.

In 2011, Facebook addressed user concerns by asserting that third-party apps could access only strictly necessary information. That turned out not to be true. The company was openly sharing active Facebook users’ details with advertisers. The Federal Trade Commission took up the case, and Facebook was forced to sign an agreement to allow independent privacy check-ups every year until 2031.

Facebook business statistics continued to show steady growth in advertising revenue until 2013, when the company discovered a bug that exposed private user data – including the phone numbers and email addresses of more than 6 million users. The company fixed the bug and notified regulators.

(TechCrunch, Federal Trade Commission, The Atlantic)

The Cambridge Analytica Scandal (2018)

In 2014, Cambridge University professor Aleksandar Kogan cooperated with Facebook business staff in the development of a personality assessment app.

His company, GSR, signed a data-licensing contract with the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. GSR was obliged to give the consulting firm psychological profiles of US voters. GSR provided more than 200,000 profiles based on information from Facebook profile statistics, including personal information about approximately 87 million people. Kogan’s company was able to harvest this information because of data-access rights granted to a personality test app launched on Facebook in 2014.

Facebook learned about Kogan’s misuse of user data and the deal with Cambridge Analytica in 2015. Kogan was banned from the Facebook site and must delete all collected data. However, Facebook did not notify users about what had happened.

Cambridge Analytica’s Christopher Wylie blew the whistle on the whole deal in 2018, granting interviews and details to the New York Times and Britain’s Guardian. Both newspapers published detailed exposes revealing the scandal.

The tale of the Facebook breach gets even more alarming. It was later discovered that staff members of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign used the stolen data to target US voters.

(The Guardian,Politico)

“The Future is Private” (2019)

In 2019, Mark Zuckerberg made a renewed pledge to protect user information. “The future is private,” he said. Another privacy scandal cast those words into doubt and further diminished user trust in Facebook’s good intentions.

In April 2019, it was discovered that millions of Instagram and Facebook passwords were being stored in unprotected, unencrypted text files. Facebook claimed the data was not accessed or abused, but earlier scandals taught the user community to accept such statements skeptically.

In July 2019, the FTC assessed a $5 billion fine on Facebook for the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This is the largest fine the agency has ever levied.

In the end, this recurring problem goes far beyond privacy issues. The company makes decisions that work to the detriment of Facebook users, even when it concerns their private information.

This sad history and dismal Facebook statistics show that the first and last thing to know when spending time on social media is that any online account can be breached.

Hundreds of millions of people ignore these Facebook facts and statistics and choose to stick with the platform. Zuckerberg’s promise to protect Facebook user data may be kept this time.

But just in case, think twice about what you share online.

(TechCrunch, CNN, Market Research Updates, UNCBC News)

A Digital Battle Against Competitors (2020)

While Facebook statistics show how its popularity remains steady, its owner, Mark Zuckerberg, wants to expand its market reach across the globe. In fact, the company desires to acquire Musical.ly.

In 2016, Facebook aggressively pursued China, the biggest country by population. He even learned Mandarin and delivered a speech at China’s Tsinghua University. However, behind the app’s CEO display of appeasement and respect to the Chinese government, he wanted to purchase Musical.ly, that he spent the second half of 2016 trying to close the deal.

In fact, Zuckerberg invited Musical.ly co-founder Alex Zhu to Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. They were accompanied by Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom and Javier Olivan, Facebook’s vice president of growth.

The negotiation became serious but never came into fruition. After 14 months, Chinese conglomerate ByteDance purchased Musical.ly for approximately $800 million. It later combined the app with the already-existing TikTok to create the popular video platform that Zuckerberg has recently demonized as a threat to Western tech supremacy.

(Buzzfeed News, Business Insider)

Final Thoughts

Even though some competitors are on the rise, Facebook statistics show that the app is still one of the most popular companies by market reach. Despite controversies, it’s nevertheless a go-to app to link people together and promote brands and businesses – all across the globe.