19 essential YouTube statistics you need to know

Since its launch in 2005, YouTube has grown from an obscure video network to one of the most powerful social media platforms on the planet.

Every day, millions of people flock to the site in search of entertainment, education, and inspiration. Funny videos. Product reviews. Tutorials on everything from DIY to video editing. It’s all there and it’s all free. And for marketers, it’s an incredible place to win new business.

To give you a taste of YouTube’s massive potential, we’ve rounded up 19 essential statistics you need to know.

Audience

YouTube has over 2 billion unique monthly users

That’s over a quarter of the world’s population. And it’s growing every day. In the last 5 years alone, the platform’s user numbers have almost doubled. Right now, YouTube is the second largest social platform in the world behind Facebook.

Source: YouTube

YouTube is available in over 100 countries

It’s a worldwide phenomenon. The platform has localized versions in over 100 countries, from Kazakhstan and the US to Japan and France. Together, these sites share content in a staggering 80 languages. Time to get back on Duo Lingo, then.

Source: YouTube

YouTube is the second largest search engine on the planet

Second only to the almighty Google (which actually owns YouTube), it’s estimated that YouTube processes a staggering 3 billion search queries every month. Since its launch in 2005, it’s become the go-to platform for entertainment, knowledge, shopping, and gaming. Juggernaut.

Source: Search Engine Journal

1 billion hours of content are watched every day

It would take you 114,000 years to watch just one day of YouTube’s video uploads. Alone, that’s pretty mind blowing when you think about it. But it also tells us two things: the competition is crazy fierce, and there’s an audience for pretty much anything on YouTube – you just need to find yours.

Source: YouTube

80% of US parents with kids under 11 say their children watch YouTube

As this stat shows, more parents are turning to the platform as a source of entertainment for their children. What’s more, over half of US parents also say that their kids watch YouTube every day. YouTube is starting to span all the generations.

Source: Pew Research

Content

70% of viewers are looking for help

Need to know how to drain a radiator? YouTube’s got a video. Want to learn how to knit? Check out YouTube. Learning a language? Yup, YouTube can help. You get the point. There’s a reason how-to and tutorial videos do so well on YouTube.

Source: Google

Over 50,000 years of product reviews watched in 2 years

Between 2015 and 2017, US viewers watched a combined 50,000 years’ worth of product reviews on YouTube – and that’s just on mobile. They’re so popular, in fact, that some of the platform’s most successful channels, such as Ryan’s World and Unbox Theory, specialize only in product reviews.

Source: Google

85% Of users have watched a live stream event in the last year

Hangover from the pandemic or the future of video? The answer is somewhere in the middle. While events like Travis Scott’s Fortnite concert might have been boosted by the fact the whole planet was trapped at home, NASA’s Mars Rover landing (watched live by 2 million people on YouTube) gave us unique access to an unprecedented world event. Live streams are here to stay.

Source: YouTube

15 Seconds: shorter videos are growing in popularity

Last year, YouTube launched its “Shorts” format in India, allowing creators to put package together15-second video for the platform via a smartphone. Sound familiar? Yup, it’s YouTube’s version of TikTok – and so far, it looks like this short-form format is gaining traction: In March 2021 Shorts hit 3.5 billion views a day. Short and sweet.

Source: Search Engine Examiner

300% increase in “Morning Routine” video watch time

Look at us, ahead of the game. But seriously, what does this tell us about video content? Well, two things. YouTube users are looking for content that’s both relatable and useful. Wake up: give it to them.

Source: Finances Online

Marketing

19 billion dollars… YouTube’s ad revenue for 2020

YouTube’s ad revenue is higher than the GDP of some small countries. That’s it – that’s the point. Nothing more to say,

Source: Statista

29% of marketers found YouTube’s skippable video ads most effective

As you’ve seen, YouTube generates billions of dollars in ad revenue every year – so where is it all coming from?

Well, it seems most of that spend is going straight into skippable video ads, which the majority of marketers agree is the most successful ad type on YouTube.

Display ads came next, with only 10% finding them effective.

Source: Statista

89% of video marketers plan to include YouTube in their video marketing strategy this year

This stat just shows you how important YouTube has become for marketers.

Not using it? You’re missing out.

Source: Wyzowl

5th most used social media platform for marketers

As of 2021, YouTube sits just behind Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. But things could change in the next few years. Research from Statista points to a shift in ad spend from Facebook to YouTube and Instagram in the future.

Source: Statista

55% of marketers are using YouTube right now

Given the other stats on this list, that seems pretty low. However, that still makes YouTube the most used platform for video marketing. Not on there yet? Check out this guide on how to make engaging content for YouTube.

Source: Social Media Examiner

Consumers

70% of viewers bought something after seeing a YouTube ad

Taken from a sample of 2,000 people in 2020, this stat just goes to show how powerful YouTube advertising can be. Need help with your YouTube ads? Check out our paid series here.

Source: Google

10 billion views – LEGO’s total channel views

The most popular brand channel out there, toy company LEGO has become a content phenomenon in the last decade – and a guide for how brands can harness the power of YouTube.

With a combination of awesome animations, educational lessons, live streams and product plugs, it’s amassed almost 13 million subscribers. Ideal for some YouTube inspiration.

Source: Statista

50.9% of B2B decision-makers use YouTube to research their purchases

In fact, it’s the most popular place for B2Bs to do their research – beating Facebook and LinkedIn in this metric. Now you know.

Source: Hootsuite

Viewers are FOUR times more likely to use YouTube for research

When looking for info about a brand, product or service, YouTube is the go-to platform for most social media users. Key takeaway? Get your stuff on there – and make it easy to find!

Source: YouTube

The question we now have to ask is, “Are you using YouTube yet?” Because you should be – this blog on YouTube statistics makes a strong case for why it’s such an important platform to be on. And we can help you. Viddyoze is proven to help marketers cut through on social media with pro-quality video animations. Find out more here.