Almost everyone in social media can agree on one thing: Facebook is the king of social platforms. There are a lot of reasons for this, of course, and these Facebook statistics will tell a compelling story of its value for businesses.
For example, when you think of the term “social network,” this platform is the first one to come to mind. At the same time, unless you consider YouTube to be a social network, the brainchild of Mark Zuckerberg is by far the largest site of this type. From its humble beginnings in a college dormitory to its current status as one of society’s most influential tech companies and core products with many thousands of employees, Facebook has come a long way. These Facebook statistics will serve to prove that point and remind us of the importance of Facebook marketing even when shiny new objects come and some proclaim that TikTok is the next big thing in social media marketing. Social media users may like novelty, but they continually hold fast to and continue coming back to Facebook–even if only for a few minutes per day.
As marketers, we have to think of Facebook features differently than most people, viewed through the lens of social media marketing strategy and what an advertising audience might want. For the average user , Facebook is a place to keep track of people we’ve met and people we’d like to meet. At the same time, these social connections give us marketers the opportunity to spread the word about our company’s or client’s products and services and reach our target audience. Whether we are promoting a simple business page with the occasional announcement post in a Facebook group, or an elaborate multimedia advertising campaign, Facebook and its huge base of social media users is something we simply can’t ignore any longer. Let’s look at the most recent Facebook statistics, and think about the current potential of this versatile platform in our annual revenue potential and advertising audience reach.
Facebook Usage Statistics
It’s safe to say that Facebook is everywhere; the average user is no longer a college student, but instead encompasses countless company’s target audience of young adults, families, and old married couples. Just about any website you see will have a button for sharing its contents on the popular network. Even small nonprofits are looking for their little bit of free promotion in this manner and making it possible to share their information on various Facebook pages.
So, how ubiquitous is this social network, anyway?
1. Over 60% of Internet users worldwide are on Facebook. (source)
That figure was as of the end of 2018, and the latest data suggests this number continues to grow within the Facebook family of apps. Facebook tracks its users from the age of 12, which is the minimum age they will accept as a member. Just think about it: over half of the Internet-connected market pays some level of attention to this powerful platform. That’s a lot of potential customers on the social media platform, and even a low rate of revenue per user could yield a significant result.
2. Almost 3 Billion users visit Facebook each month. (source)
According to Statista, Facebook alone accounts for nearly 3 billion hits of monthly use. Such a large rate of monthly active users greatly increases the likelihood of reaching your advertising audience, whether through Facebook stories, direct contact through Facebook messenger, or even a Facebook group. The truly enormous reach of Facebook’s user base makes it absolutely vital to conducting a successful digital marketing campaign with one of the world’s largest audiences.
3. 2 Billion of these users visit daily. (source)
By far, that’s the majority of active Facebook product users. Why is this significant? Because the By far, that’s the majority of active Facebook product users. Why is this significant? Because the network has become a significant part of 2.1 billion lives on planet Earth. It would be interesting to know what percentage of the overall global population is. In other words, what’s the total number of internet-connected people? Logically, it should be around 4.5 billion or so based on these statistics. But no matter the exact numbers, it has become increasingly clear that Facebook is a very important part of everyday modern life for much of the population and cannot be understated in its importance in generating consistent average revenue and developing an understanding of audience demographics.
Lastly, for our American friends it’s worth noting that:
4. 69% of American adults use Facebook. (source)
Considering that Americans are so busy, that’s a staggering number of active users. It’s also interesting, given that the statistic only includes adults, instead of everyone who’s old enough to have their own account. And, this includes senior citizens, rather than just younger people that tend to be the bulk of members for most networks. In my experience, parents and older adults use Facebook to keep track of their relatives of all ages. It makes connectivity between social groups easier, both due to “friends” lists and Facebook pages dedicated to clubs, religious groups, and even the promotion of political causes.
5. Facebook.com is the 3rd most visited website in the world. (source)
At first glance, third may not seem significant, but look at it this way: a silver medal indicates that an athlete is ranked third, against all other players worldwide. Given that computers, mobile phones, and the internet as a whole is deeply and inextricably ingrained in modern life, being the 3rd-most visited website is no small feat. Having a presence on that platform is essential, as active users span around the world, and encompass a truly wide range of backgrounds and ages. Being the 3rd most visited site means enormous levels of daily traffic and consistent active users.
Facebook Statistics for User Demographics
Although a huge proportion of the population is on Facebook, there are some variations in population saturation. In other words, there are sections of society where larger or smaller proportions of the population are members. As marketers, we can use this more in-depth knowledge to inform our advertising choices and tailor the type of content we are sharing on Facebook and creating for Facebook ads.
6. The highest percentage of people who use Facebook is between ages 30-49 , at 77%. (source)
This age group is usually more established than the younger crowd, and they often have children of a wide variety of ages in the home. With the responsibilities of life often more readily taken care of at this age, they may be more likely to demonstrate ideal conversion rates and enjoy the full scope of social media marketing plans. This group is also great for growth, as they may pass on spending habits and brand appreciation to a growing population of children and young adults.
By contrast,
7. Only 50% of those 65 and older are on Facebook, the lowest of any age group. (source)
Although this is much lower than the twenty-something group, it’s pretty high for a social network, as the age demographics of other platforms often indicate a sharp decline in use as people grow older. Many of those old enough to retire won’t even get on LinkedIn, because there is no longer a need for professional networking. By contrast, Facebook is awesome for grandparents looking to keep track of those grandkids. Of course, they’re also a great “all purpose” marketing customer, because they buy stuff for their grandkids and often have plenty of money to do it. Facebook demographic statistics have to be thoroughly investigated to truly reveal the scope of possibilities on this dual social and advertising platform.
And perhaps the most interesting demographic figure of all:
8. In America, only 27% of teenagers use Facebook. (source)
From the same source, we know that this number is actually declining. This percentage was over 70% five years ago. It’s easy to wonder about the reasons for this trend. I, for one, think that cyberbullying has a lot to do with it. After all, even within the last couple years, we’ve seen stories in the news about classmates bullying each other on Facebook and other social media channels. For sure, some of the losses have been from kids turning twenty and “aging out” of the demographic, but the younger ones aren’t signing up at all, no matter the type of content being offered. It’s easy to see parents, in the wave of bullying horror stories, saying “no” to their child’s involvement in Facebook.
With that said, Facebook seems to be losing its “cool” factor among younger people. Other platforms, like Instagram and Snapchat, are more popular with teenagers. Kids love to enjoy the latest thing, and Facebook is no longer the latest thing for sharing content and aiming digital marketing efforts toward teens.
9. Among those earning at least $75,000 in the United States, 70% use Facebook. (source)
Further Reading: Real Estate Facebook Marketing: The Definitive Guide with Advice on Everything from Content to Ads
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10. 77% of Facebook users are under 45. (source)
This isn’t unusual for social networks. After all, the older set is used to growing their personal networks with in-person interactions, rather than connecting on mobile devices. They write letters, make phone calls, and attend networking events. For sure, young professionals do these things as well, but they also enjoy the online interaction while checking in with social contacts. Besides which, they can play games with their friends, too. What’s not to love about a dedicated Facebook group or well-kept-up page?
11. 98.5% of Facebook users access it through their mobile devices. (source)
Recognizing how people access Facebook is also valuable, as it can help identify trends and areas in need of focus. If, for instance, you recognize that mobile phones are used to access Facebook and Facebook Messenger, you should also recognize the value of having a landing page for your website or brand that has been property optimized and designed for mobile perusal. Far more than the average user, a rate of over 98% suggests that very nearly all Facebook users access Facebook on their phone–a phone that is often taken along everywhere, as though it is as integral as a wallet.
12. Facebook has a higher percentage of male users (56.3%) than female users (43.7%). (source)
Understanding the identifiers that describe your audience is important to help develop your marketing strategies. Recognizing that most of Facebook’s users are male can help inform your strategies to increase your average revenue, and can help you further develop your own understanding of your specific audience–which may or may not be similarly represented. With such a large population overall, recognizing the split in identifiers can further inform the way that you use the platform in your own business and marketing practices.
Customer Engagement on Facebook Statistics
Originally, Facebook was a decidedly un-commercial place to hang out in cyberspace. Friends and social contacts posted on the “wall” of the active users they wanted to connect with, sent friend requests, and issued the once-ubiquitous “pokes.” It wasn’t long after Facebook became open to all, however, that Facebook advertising statistics started to appear. Here are some statistics to show how marketers have taken advantage of this platform lately.
13. 66% of Facebook users either like or follow a brand page. (source)
That’s a lot of positive engagement with brands, and it covers all sorts of businesses and content types. In fact, most of the time Facebook users can learn a lot about someone else by seeing what they have liked or followed on their profile, as a piece of content can generate an informal picture of a person’s personality and interests. Granted, there are some people who don’t like to show their interests on Facebook, but these are few and far between. For the rest of the population, seeing someone else like something you’re interested in can help influence purchases and drive advertising revenue.
14. In America, 78% of consumers have discovered a product on Facebook. (source)
That’s a lot of chances at making a positive impression via U.S. Facebook posts, and not all of them are going to be through actual advertising. I, for one, have discovered new products by seeing my friends post about them or share video content featuring them. I’ve also talked about product recommendations, and even found out which yard services are the best in an area after a post detailing the best services nearby. For all those organic impressions from happy (or even dissatisfied) customers, imagine what formal advertising efforts are capable of.
15. 81% of businesses share video on Facebook. (source)
To me, this seems like common sense. The best place to share things with your potential audience is where they check in everyday. Once upon a time this was the TV, newspaper, or radio. These older forms of media, although still in use, have lost their luster with many of the younger generations and active users are found on social media platforms like Facebook, rather than news sites and other forums. Also, if a potential customer is following your business, they’ll see that video in their feed.
16. About 15% of Facebook users specifically intend to shop there. (source)
This definitely isn’t Instagram or Pinterest, but still not insignificant. After all, Pinterest was pretty much designed for shopping, while Facebook is where people go to socialize. But with socializing comes “I like your shoes, where’d you get them?” or maybe, “what am I going to wear at the party I just RSVP’d to?” These moments are golden opportunities for us as marketers. And we’d be foolish not to cash in.
Bearing that in mind, it is important to recognize that…
17. ⅔ of adults reported visiting at least one local business page within the past week. (source)
Although Facebook branding is essential for e-commerce, be sure to keep your business page on Facebook up to date and in keeping with local groups and pages. Although e-commerce platforms are invaluable, being able to take advantage of local searches through Facebook can have an immense positive impact on your brand’s reach.
18. Each month, the typical user averages 12 likes, 5 comments, and 1 share. (source)
What does this mean? In total, we’re talking about 19 interactions with posts that others can see. This doesn’t count the click-throughs on ads or to other websites, but it still is almost one for two days out of three. Perhaps the biggest takeaway, however, is that in order to earn these interactions, your content has to be unique or something that speaks directly to the interests of your audience. In other words, bland content won’t cut it to pique the interest of Facebook’s active users.
19. More than 500 million Facebook users use Stories every day. (source)
Stories are quick and easy ways to engage with audiences and provide bite-sized pieces to chew on and digest. Consequently, more than 500 million Facebook users use Stories every day, whether that use means creating their own or consuming the Stories of others. In either case, this can work out perfectly for anyone who is looking to gain followers, increase engagement, or simply get their name out there: 500 million is certainly not a small number, and with that many people using Stories day in and day out, you can rest assured that you’ll get some traction when you are regularly engaging on this particular portion of the platform.
Further Reading: Here’s What Your Facebook Posts for Increased Engagement Should Look Like Today
Facebook Marketing is Everywhere
Being the dominant player in any market has its privileges. For Facebook, these privileges include the ability to charge top dollar for advertising. With this large of a potential audience and the chance for promotional content to go viral, it isn’t surprising that Facebook possesses some special traits to heighten the engagement rate of followers and potential customers. Let’s look at the figures.
20. Facebook Ads reach an audience of 2.08 billion. (source)
As if 500 million weren’t enough, Facebook Ads’ reach is estimated at 2.08 billion. This means that utilizing Facebook to deliver ads is worth the time and average price of the practice. As one of the most frequently visited sites currently recorded, and a slew of active users, Facebook Ads cannot be ignored as potentially important tools to deliver to your advertising audience successfully. While this certainly does not mean that each and every ad will be guaranteed to reach an audience of that size or scope, it does mean that Facebook is being used regularly, and active users come across those ads and potentially engage with them on a regular basis.
21. 93% of marketers use Facebook advertising. (source)
When that many marketers are using something, you know it works. And this isn’t a surprise, given the huge number of Facebook users worldwide. Make a heartfelt post about something you believe in strongly, and you’re likely to find kindred spirits who will share the post. And if that post shares a product or service that changed someone’s life, you can only imagine how many likes and shares it can get from active people on the platform.
Further Reading: Facebook Ads Strategy: 15 Powerful & Effective Strategies for 2023
22. There are more than 200 million small businesses around the world using Facebook for marketing. (source)
Facebook as a marketing platform is not new, but it is not only significantly-sized businesses that utilize and leverage having a Facebook page. It is estimated that over 200 million small businesses around the world actually use Facebook in order to effectively market their products or brand. From delivering regular status posts to update new and existing customers on product lines, deals, and offerings, to discussing uses and sharing reviews or content created by actual customers, Facebook offers the ideal platform for many different types and levels of business, making it an important option to consider if you are creating a business or have an established business.
23. On average, Facebook charges $0.97 per click. (source)
Obviously, this isn’t cheap. But then, it isn’t outrageous, either. Especially when you consider that if someone clicks through an advert, they’re usually interested in buying your products. Of course, it doesn’t always work out as well as we’d like, but the competitive rate of Facebook ads often results in improved advertising returns.
24. Facebook ads see an average click-through rate (CTR) of 0.90% (source)
This number is not quite a hard and fast rule, as the rate differs from industry to industry, but it is a good baseline from which to work, to make sure that your own CTR is approaching the level that is considered typical or normal on the platform. Facebook ads may not see the greatest click-through rate when compared to other platforms and advertising mediums, but the rate of clicking through combined with the degree of use makes even a number like .90% a potentially formidable one, with plenty of active users to help increase those numbers. Understanding the click-through rate can also inform marketing habits, to make sure that your marketing efforts are truly garnering attention and interest.
25. 63% of marketers say Facebook is the most important social media platform and the most effective way to advertise. (source)
Given that people spend so much of their time and energy on this social network, it’s not surprising that advertising here is so effective. Sometimes, the effect of an advert goes beyond just what you say, and results in discussions with friends about what they think. Maybe a shoe brand is throwing a huge sale–but so is everyone else. Messaging friends can help someone decide which sales to take advantage of, and which ones to avoid. Or, they might share an advert that doesn’t benefit them, but a friend might need to see. Either way, you win when you utilize Facebook’s expansive platform.
Facebook Statistics Conclusion
Facebook is a large-scale platform that has continued to experience growth and significant use over the years. From basic posts to more engaging Stories, Facebook users and businesses on the platform can connect and develop trust and familiarity in order to promote audience growth and loyalty. While Facebook may have started as a means of connecting for college students and their friends and family, it has grown to be an invaluable business tool that businesses large and small can use to leverage their marketing campaigns and increase engagement, click-throughs, and more.
Are you currently using Facebook for your business and marketing? Let us know how in the comments!
Further Reading: 9 Ways to Enhance Your Facebook Ads ROI
Hero Photo by Obi Onyeador on Unsplash
