Podcast Statistics 2024: How Many People Listen to Podcasts?

Podcast Statistics at a Glance

To get us started, let’s take a look at some key podcast statistics:

• There are over 164 million monthly podcast listeners in the US in 2024, and over 504.9 million monthly podcast listeners worldwide. 
• There are roughly 3.2 million podcasts available worldwide.
• Between 2019-2020, the number of newly published podcasts worldwide rose from 336.9 to a staggering 1019.7 thousand.
• Millennials are the most likely age group to listen to podcasts.
• The preferred podcast format is the video podcast format, rather than just audio.

Number of Podcast Listeners

The number of monthly podcast listeners worldwide has steadily grown in the last couple of years. Growing from 274.8 million monthly listeners in 2019, to 464.7 million monthly users in 2023, and passing over 504 million monthly users in 2024.

Number of Podcast Listeners in the US

There are 164 million monthly podcast listeners in the United States as of 2023. Looking at the statistics provided by Statista, the number of monthly listeners is only expected to grow in the coming years. 

Since 2020, the number of monthly listeners has grown by 61 million. From true-crime documentaries to interviews with celebrities from all across the globe, podcasts have taken the world by storm, and it doesn’t look like they will stop any time soon. 

MORE: How to start your own podcast

Who Listens to Podcasts?

According to Statista, the share of adults in the United States who claimed they listened to a podcast at least once in the past month in 2022, by generation, is as follows:

The reasons for these generational differences in podcast listening habits are varied. 

Younger generations, such as Millennials (59%) and Gen Z (51%), may be more tech-savvy and more likely to consume media on-the-go using their smartphones. Additionally, the rise of social media and the influence of influencers in these generations may have contributed to the growth of niche podcasts tailored to specific interests and personalities.

Older generations such as Gen X (41%) and Baby Boomers (24%) may be likelier to listen to news and programs on TV, which is why the statistics for their podcast listenership are lower.

Podcast Listeners By Country or Region

According to the information provided by Statista, in 2024, the share of podcast listeners among internet users in selected countries or regions is as follows:

This data highlights the growing popularity of podcasts as a form of entertainment and information sharing, with a significant percentage of internet users tuning in to listen. 

The higher percentages in North America and Western Europe, i.e., 43.8% and 30.9%, respectively, could be attributed to the fact that podcasting has been popular in these regions for longer than in other areas. 

However, the lower percentages in countries like China (12.9%), South Korea (15.2%), and Japan (14.8%) suggest that podcasting is still in its early stages of adoption in these regions, presenting opportunities for growth and expansion in the future.

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Number of Podcasts and Podcast Episodes Worldwide 

A 2023 study revealed that the total count of podcasts reached approximately 3.2 million in that year. Additionally, the quantity of episodes experienced a surge, with over 178 million episodes published as of October 2023.

Podcast Listener Preferences

According to the statistics, the share of people who have listened to podcasts weekly has grown steadily from 7% in 2013, to 28% in 2021, and fell by 2% in 2022. The graph below illustrates the weekly US audio podcast listeners from 2013 to 2022:

Here are the rest of the weekly podcast statistics:

• The biggest rise in listenership happened from 2018 to 2019, with a 5% raise.
• The second largest happened in 2020 to 2021, probably due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The audience rose by 4%. 
• The podcast growth has been slow and steady from 2013 to 2018, most likely due to the rise in popularity of podcasts. 

MORE: What are the most popular podcasts?

Podcast Listeners Demographics

The statistics below provide information on how many people listen to podcasts on a monthly basis in the US by age group.

According to Statista, in 2022, the share of people who listen to podcasts on a monthly basis was 50% for listeners aged 12 to 34. For ages 35 to 54, the share was 43%, and for people over 55 years old, the share was only 22%. Statistics show that younger generations listen to podcasts more frequently than the older ones, probably due to more technological awareness. 

Preferred Podcast Format by Listeners

Some podcast listeners prefer to watch and listen to their favorite podcasters. In the statistics below, we can see the preferred format (with video or without video) of podcast listeners in the US.

These findings suggest that different age groups have varying preferences when it comes to consuming podcasts, with younger generations more inclined towards consuming video content alongside audio, while older generations are more comfortable with just audio. 

This information can be useful for podcast creators and marketers who are looking to target specific age groups with their content.

MORE: What business category are podcasts?

Where do People Listen to Podcasts?

According to Statista, YouTube is the most popular podcast provider in the US, with a 33% share of podcast listeners. YouTube takes the first place, as it’s a well-established platform with a massive user base that is already familiar with consuming video content. 

In second place is Spotify, with a 24% share of podcast listeners. Spotify has aggressively invested in podcasts over the past few years, acquiring popular shows and exclusive content deals to build out its library. 

Apple Podcasts comes in third place with a 12% share of podcast listeners, despite being the platform that essentially kickstarted the podcasting industry back in the early 2000s. 

Other popular podcast providers in the US include Pandora, iHeart Radio, SiriusXM, and Stitcher, each with a smaller share of listeners. Additionally, 4% of respondents reported that they don’t listen to podcasts on any of these platforms, while another 4% said they use “other” providers.

Top Podcast Publishers

According to statistics provided by Statista, the leading podcast publishers worldwide as of June 2023 were iHeartPodcasts, Wondery, NPR, New York Times, and Daily Wire. Following closely behind were PRX, The Walt Disney Company, CNN, and Vox Media.

Podcast Ad Spend in the US

The podcast ad spend in the US has seen a steady rise from 2020 to 2024, starting from 0.84 billion USD, and reaching 3.25 billion USD in 2024. The estimated ad spend in 2025 is roughly 3.98 billion USD.

MORE: Learn about the history of podcasts

Key Takeaways

Podcasts are a popular form of entertainment and information sharing, with an estimated 164 million people tuning in to podcasts every month in the United States alone in 2024. 

Younger generations, such as millennials and Gen Z, are more likely to consume media on the go using their smartphones, leading to their higher percentages of podcast listeners. 

YouTube is the most popular podcast provider in the US. Different age groups have varying preferences when it comes to consuming podcasts, with younger generations more inclined towards consuming video content alongside audio, while older generations are more comfortable with just audio.