How Many People Listen to Podcasts In 2023? 

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With the rise in popularity of podcasts over the past few years, it’s become increasingly important to know how many people are actually listening. Since 2019, there has been a dramatic surge in podcast consumption across the globe and this number is only growing with each passing year.

According to statistics released by Statista, by 2024, more than 500 million people worldwide will be listening to podcasts on a regular basis. This whopping figure shows just how far podcast listenership has come and how much potential there is for businesses to reach out to their target audiences.

How many People Listen to Podcasts?

Podcasts have grown steadily in popularity over the past decade, and this trend is set to continue with no signs of slowing down. According to a study from July 2021 on global podcast consumption, the number of podcast listeners worldwide has increased from 332.2 million internet users in 2020 to 383.7 million in 2021. It is estimated that by 2024, there will be an even greater surge as podcast listening continues its ascent.

This growth presents exciting opportunities for content creators who are looking to connect with larger audiences and increase their reach. With more listeners onboarded onto podcasts each month, podcasters have the potential to draw in larger sponsors and grow their revenue streams disproportionately to the rocketing listener numbers.

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This not only provides incentives for podcasters but also ensures that a wide range of interesting content can reach eager ears around the world - allowing them to stay current on all kinds of topics or simply indulge in entertaining stories and productions.

According to industry analysts, podcast listeners worldwide are forecast to reach 504.9 million people by 2024, which would represent an increase of 83.7% from 2019 levels. This growth rate has averaged at 15.2% annually since 2019, with the fastest growth happening that year when it rose by 22.6%.

The driving forces behind this impressive growth in listener numbers include more podcasts being started, an increased presence of celebrities on the platform, bigger investments from companies like Spotify into podcasts and improved accessibility for listeners across different devices. As these trends should continue going forward, podcasting is likely to become even more popular and attain greater cultural prominence over time.

Podcast Listeners Forecast ( 2019 - 2024)

Podcasts are quickly becoming a popular form of media among millions of people worldwide. According to recent estimates, the number of podcast listeners around the world has grown significantly over the past few years, reaching an estimated 287 million in 2019. This number is expected to continue growing at a steady rate over the next five years, with experts predicting that this number will increase to 504.9 million by 2024.

The increase in podcast listeners is largely attributed to an abundance of new content being provided for free, as well as an increase in platform availability and technology. Streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify have made podcasting more accessible than ever before, with many podcasts now being available on multiple platforms. Additionally, advances in technology have allowed for improved sound quality and higher production values which increases listener engagement.

With new advancements such as voice-activated playback and real-time translations, podcasts are becoming increasingly engaging experiences no matter where you are or what language you speak. The future looks bright for podcasting enthusiasts everywhere, as it sees no signs of slowing down anytime soon–which will translate into continued growth in both listenership and revenue over the next five years.

Podcast Listeners by Region

Podcasts have seen an increasing rise in popularity across the globe over the past few years, and this has been reflected in new statistics about the listenership across various countries. According to Statista data, Sweden leads the chart globally with 47% of their surveyed population listening to podcasts. Brazil and Ireland follow just behind at 40%, while the U.S., UK, Canada and Australia all have between 30-39% of their population actively listening to podcasts.

Moving further down the list, Germany, Russia, South Africa and India each report between 20-29% of their citizens being podcast listeners. Belgium, Morocco, Pakistan and China are below that mark at 19%, and Japan currently finds itself with only 5% of its population tuning into podcasts on a regular basis. It will be interesting to see if these figures change in years to come as the accessibility associated with the medium continues to increase with new technologies like streaming tools.

US Podcast Listeners

Podcast listenership has grown in the US over the past few years. According to recent statistics, nearly two thirds of US citizens aged 12 or older have listened to a podcast at least once.

That amounts to 177 million people, with more than half of those monthly podcast listeners. This growth is especially evident within the 35-54 age bracket, where 43% are now monthly listeners - an increase of 4% since 2021.

However, younger generations still make up a significant portion of podcast enthusiasts. Currently, 50% of 12-34 year olds in the US listen to podcasts each month - much higher than other age ranges.

This indicates that young adults are engaging with podcasts significantly more than their elder counterparts in terms of both frequency and overall interest. With the rising popularity of streaming services and digital media among modern audiences, it’s likely that this trend will continue for some time.

US Podcast Listeners

Podcast listenership has grown in the US over the past few years. According to recent statistics, nearly two thirds of US citizens aged 12 or older have listened to a podcast at least once.

That amounts to 177 million people, with more than half of those monthly podcast listeners. This growth is especially evident within the 35-54 age bracket, where 43% are now monthly listeners - an increase of 4% since 2021.

However, younger generations still make up a significant portion of podcast enthusiasts. Currently, 50% of 12-34 year olds in the US listen to podcasts each month - much higher than other age ranges.

This indicates that young adults are engaging with podcasts significantly more than their elder counterparts in terms of both frequency and overall interest. With the rising popularity of streaming services and digital media among modern audiences, it’s likely that this trend will continue for some time.

Podcast Listeners Demographics

The popularity of podcasting in the United States has been steadily increasing over the last several years. According to recent statistics, a total of 38% of adults in the US have listened to a podcast within the last month, and 26% have done so within the last week. Moreover, it is estimated that there are now around 140 million monthly US listeners, which is expected to grow further to 163 million by 2023.

The growth in podcast listening can be seen from 2013 until now with an increase of 32 million listeners in 2013 to a staggering 88 million in 2019 and 103 million for 2020. On top of this impressive growth trend for podcasts, there is also an immense projected growth for 2021-2023 where total listeners may reach up to 164 million come 2023 - a pattern which shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Overall, with its growing population of users and continual developments over time, podcasts as a source for entertainment and information has undeniably become an important part of American culture today.

With more people engaging in content through this medium such as music, comedy, interviews etc., it comes as no surprise why this form of audio media continues to capture our attention and draw us back time and again. Its gratifying success story makes it increasingly clear that podcasts are here to stay for the long run.

How is Popular are Podcasts?

It’s no secret that podcasts have become increasingly popular over the past two decades. According to recent statistics, 464.7 million people worldwide which is approximately 22% of all internet users, listen to a podcast at least once a month.

This is an impressive growth rate, given that only 14.4% of global internet users were tuned into podcasts in 2019 whereas this year that percentage has almost doubled to 22%.

The continuously increasing number of podcast listeners indicates how quickly and well the medium has been adopted by large numbers of people across multiple countries and demographics.

Apart from its wide reach, the primary reasons behind this surge in popularity could be attributed to the convenience and portability of podcasts. Plus, they are relatively easier to produce than videos or other audio shows owing to lower overhead costs. With an ever-growing variety of topics ranging from daily pop culture conversations to educational debates, there's something for everyone.

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Nonofo Joel
Passionate blogger with expertise in Branding, Website Design, Content Marketing and SEO. Engaging content, unique perspective, and over a decade of experience. Join me on Global Tech Stack for captivating insights, reviews and inspiration.