The Ultimate List of Podcast Statistics for 2023

This ultimate list of podcast statistics for 2022 can help you gain a competitive edge that will enable you to grow your podcast fast.

If you’re planning to start a podcast but wondering if it will succeed or not, then keep reading.

You’ll find the vitals of what, where, who, and when of podcasts in these stats.

Understanding the various podcasting insights and figures is commendable. But using them is even more important.

Make sure you read until the end – so you don't miss out on our secret tips for launching your new adventure.

General Podcasting Statistics

1. There are around 2 million active podcasts worldwide.

(Insider Intelligence)

Back in 2018, there were around 500,000 active podcasts. In 2020, there were roughly 850,000 podcasts and 30 million-plus podcast episodes published across the web.

Two years later, the numbers have increased to over two million active podcasts and 48 million published episodes.

These numbers might scare you into thinking that the podcast industry is over-saturated. But not yet.

There are fewer podcasts than other content media types, so it's easier to compete in this space.

In contrast, there are 37 million YouTube channels, 1,74 billion blogs and websites, but just 2 million podcasts in 2022.

That shows you that it's not too late to start your own podcast.

To do that, you'll need one of the best podcast hosting like Spreaker or BuzzSprout to ensure your media files are stored safely and securely.

2. Podcast listeners will account for 20.3% of all internet users in 2022.

(Insider Intelligence)

That’s 424.2 million people who listen to podcasts worldwide.

The forecast comes from data involving internet users from different age groups in the US, Mexico, Australia, Spain, UK, Canada, Argentina, China, South Korea, France, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Japan, and Italy respectively.

The report also projects podcasting to be a $94.88 billion industry by 2028.

3. Podcasting started back in the early 2000s and has grown drastically thanks to technological advancement.

(Insider Intelligence)

Podcasting has grown steadily alongside the advent of smartphones, in-dash entertainment systems, and smart speakers (Google Home, Amazon Alexa, etc.)

The COVID pandemic accelerated the growth of the industry while diversifying podcast audiences.

During that time, smart speaker ownership grew, as did the people who listened to a podcast for the first time as most of them were forced to stay at home.

In 2021, 78% of the world population was familiar with online, and at least 51% had listened to a podcast.

4. Most podcasts get around 141 downloads in the first month.

(Income School)

In contrast, the most successful shows earn close to 3,400 downloads in their first month.

The number of listeners per episode is an indicator of podcasting success.

Higher-income podcasters are eight times more likely to have at least 1,000 listeners per episode.

If any episode gets over 9,000 downloads in 30 days, it falls into the top 5% of the most successful showss.

Podcast creators can use these figures to gauge the success of their new podcasts. If you hit 141 downloads, you're going in the right direction.

5. One of the most popular podcasts made $30 million in 2021.

(Statista)

Joe Rogan’s The Joe Rogan Experience was the biggest earner in the podcast space in 2021.

Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff’s My Favorite Murder came in at second place with $15 million, while The Dave Ramsey Show raked in $10 million.

This shows you the earning power and potential of podcasting.

6. The number of podcast listeners in the US is expected to reach 138.6 Million by 2024.

(eMarketer)

Podcasting industry experts project that podcast listenership will rise significantly in 2022 as on-demand audio increases in popularity and becomes more mainstream.

The Nielsen podcast statistics further show that the overall number of people who listen to online audio content grows by a rate of 20%+ every year.

7. 74% of podcast listeners tune in to learn something new.

(Edison Research)

Podcast stats from Edison Research found that most people listen to podcasts for educational purposes, 71% do so for entertainment, 60% want to keep abreast with news, and 51% said they find them relaxing.

On the flip side, it’s equally vital to know why people don’t tune in to podcasts. 75% of non-listeners said podcasts are just not for them, 51% say they provide content they can find elsewhere, while 49% said they consume a lot of phone data.

33% of non-listeners say they aren’t sure how to get started as they may not understand technology enough to search for showss and start listening to them.

To counter that, you can post a “how-to guide” on YouTube educating people on the technical aspects of podcasting.

22% of people on this report said they didn't even know what a podcast is, and 18% said they couldn't tell the difference between a podcast and a radio show.

8. About 13% of weekly podcast listeners are new to podcasting.

(Westwood One)

Podcast statistics from Westwood One show that 29% of people who spend six or more hours listening to shows tune into audio versions rather than video and TV streaming.

Furthermore, new podcast fans listen to 3.6 shows weekly, as opposed to regulars, who averaged 4.7 hours weekly for the total numbers.

9. 74% of podcast hosts wear headphones while recording.

(Riverside)

Your microphone technique and audio quality will improve if you wear headphones while recording.

10. 97.7% of podcasters believe that high-quality podcast content is vital.

(Riverside)

Quality of content has always been a critical component in the marketing space.

Make sure you publish at least one high-quality episode per week because success in podcasting comes with experience and time.

Take note of how many podcasts your audience engages with so you can increase or decrease the number of episodes you produce.

Another podcast statistic shows that successful podcasts are 7.7 times more likely to have over 100 episodes already published and 15.8 times more likely to have published over 200 episodes.

That proves the long game nature of podcasting, which requires dedication and patience.

11. Major tech companies are joining the podcast craze.

(Forbes)

Spotify has completed a number of podcast related acquisitions by paying $340 million to acquire some of the biggest podcasting companies: Parcast, Anchor, and Gimlet Media.

That has ensured that people can find and consume podcast content without purchasing an Apple device.

Spotify now has 1,500,000+ podcast titles compared with only 10,000 back in 2018 and is now the largest podcast directory, with the highest number of monthly podcast consumers, surpassing Apple Podcasts in 2021.

Spotify currently boasts a 31.7% market share in the podcast space.

If you're a podcast producer, you should consider Spotify's space as it has a large audience and potential.

Apple has a 26.9% overall podcast market share and a 38.2% share in mobile apps, the biggest within the mobile space.

Google Podcast has a small podcast market share of 2.9% and growing steadily due to Google's influence.

So what is your take from all this? Perhaps you should list your podcast on various platforms to get exposure to new listeners.

Podcast Listener Behavior Statistics

12. 59% of adults listen to podcast more often than they use social media.

(Discover Pods)

Recent podcast stats also show that most podcast listeners consume more shows than television programs.

13. 1 in 5 podcast listeners listen to 15-20 podcasts monthly.

(Westwood One) (Statista)

That suggests a growing interest in this type of online media.

14. The average person spends around 7 hours a week listening to podcasts.

(Discover Pods)

Understanding your podcast analytics can help you determine where to focus your efforts to turn one-time listeners into avid podcast fans.

The average podcast listener listens to six different shows per week.

15. 7% of podcast users tune in daily.

(eMarketer)

Some people might say that producing online audio content every day is too much work, but market data shows that people are interested in listening to them regularly.

To make your show successful, you need to ensure that it provides value for listeners.

That means providing engaging content and offering something of value for those who tune in.

Engagement is key to success in podcasting.

16. 52% of people listen to the entire podcast episode.

(The MIDAS) (The Infinite Dial)

Podcast statistics from The MIDAS show that almost all listeners who have downloaded episodes listen to at least 68% of them.

Most people listen to the episode right after it is uploaded.

Half of the people who downloaded the episode said they listened to it within 24 hours.

Monthly podcast listeners often only listen to a fraction of downloaded episodes.

17. 80% of users listen through most or all podcast episodes.

(Hubspot)

That is great news for advertisers because more people will see their ads.

35% of podcast listeners say they would sit through most of it.

Only 5% of listeners would listen to the beginning before dropping off. 12% said that they'd listen to half a show.

18. 54% of all podcast listeners are more likely to buy from a brand after hearing about it on a podcast.

(Hubspot)

Starting a podcast doesn't always guarantee increased brand awareness and sales. You need to make sure that your content is good and resonates with your audience.

A successful podcast still relies heavily on a well-executed promotional plan.

Another fact remains that around 43% of all podcast listeners discover new shows by asking around on various social media platforms, forums, and online communities.

Podcast Marketing & Advertising Statistics

19. Podcast ads typically cost between $10 and $50 per slot.

(Hubspot)

Advertising is a necessary part of any podcast.

Podcasting is a great way to reach your audience with targeted content. It can be expensive, but it's worth it in the long run.

The price per ad slot can vary based on how many people listen to a show and the advertiser's ad revenue value.

20. Host-read ads are the preferred ad type by marketers.

(Nielson)

Some marketers prefer having their ads read by the host. Podcast advertising stats show that 63% of marketers like this option.

The least popular ad type is supplied ads accounting for 1.7% of all ads clicked on.

That is likely because having the host read the ads comes off as natural compared to other ad types.

Even if the host explicitly states that the ad is not a recommendation, ads can still come off as podcast recommendations to listeners.

21. Advertising on podcasts delivers the desired results for 32% of all marketers.

(Marketing Charts)

There is a podcast for any industry (including finance and entertainment) that can get you a great ROI.

Podcasct statistics show that marketers see the value in advertising on podcasts which is why 32% do so.

To ensure your podcast is successful, you should target the right audience and promote it repeatedly.

Podcast marketing is essential for podcast success.

Adding podcast advertising to your marketing strategy can help you reach your target audience more effectively.

Make sure to create a well-planned ad campaign and place multiple ads to increase the likelihood of success.

The trend of people choosing to stay in their homes won't wane any time soon.

22. 64% of how podcasts are marketed is through social media.

(Hubspot)

Social media is one of the most important platforms for marketing your podcast.

Social media can be a great way to reach your audience, get feedback, and build relationships with fans. People listen to your show more because of this.

Building a following on social media platforms is one of the best ways to get started.

23. 69% of podcast listeners tout that podcast adverts introduced them to new services and products.

(Discover Pods)

Many marketing experts believe that increasing brand or product awareness is the best way to increase sales.

Remember that consumers are often encouraged to use the same products again, even if they don't necessarily work well.

24. Podcast ad revenues could reach $2 billion in America by 2023.

(eMarketer)

Recently, eMarketer predicted that the US would spend around $1.33 billion on podcast ads in 2021.

Podcast popularity is growing every day, and by 2023, the podcast ad revenue could reach around $2 billion.

In 2025, US podcast advertisers could generate $2.74 billion in ad revenue.

25. Health and wellness businesses in the United States spend the most on podcast ads.

(IAB)

Podcasts are a great way to promote your business. They're easy to create, and people love listening to them.

Many companies are investing in podcast advertising to reach their target audience.

In 2021, 22% of ad revenue went to health and wellness brands. Home and appliance brands received 19% of the total ad revenue, while food & beverage brands took 13%.

26. Podcasts can engage people who may be reluctant to watch or listen to traditional advertising.

(BBC’s Audio: Activated)

According to a BBC Audio: Activated study, people who avoid watching tv shows and commercials tend to engage more with podcasts.

A podcast ad is a terrific way for any marketer to reach a traditionally hard-to-reach demographic. Brand advertisements can be an effective way to engage with people who listen to online audio shows.

International Podcast Statistics

27. South Korea has a high rate of podcast listeners, with 53% of the population tuning in.

(Edison Research)

That is one of the highest rates in the world.

Podcasts are growing in popularity as Spaniards (39%) are also avid podcast listeners, higher than the global average (41%).

This podcast statistics also found that despite the growth of online audio in emerging markets like China and South America, the best audience for marketers to focus on is still in wealthy tier one countries.

28. Podcasting awareness In Australia increased by 4% in 2021.

(Edison Research)

Australian adults are more familiar with podcasting than Americans, indicating that the popularity of podcasts is on the rise.

According to podcast statistics from Edison Research, Australians aged 12 and over are less likely to listen to podcasts monthly like Americans.

However, this may be changing as more Australians become aware of the benefits of podcasts.

29. Podcasts are growing in popularity in Canada, with over 11 million Canadian adults listening to them in 2021.

(The Podcast Exchange)

This trend is likely due to the increasing accessibility of podcasts and their wide range of content options.

Nearly 38% of Canadians have listened to a podcast last year and currently, 9 million listen to them every month.

Most of the Canadian consumers have an annual income of $100,000 or more. That's people aged 18-34.

30. Over 15 million people listened to podcasts regularly in the UK in 2021.

(Statista)

Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and this growth is evident in the audience size.

According to recent podcast statistics, there were over 15 million podcast consumers in 2021. Forecasts predict that by 2024, nearly 20 million listeners will be tuning in to podcasts.

31. Podcasting is growing fastest in The Czech Republic and Chile, with a growth rate of +85.1 and +83.9% respectively.

(Voxnest)

Argentina followed them at +55.3%, then Peru +49.1%, Mexico +47.8%, and China +43.6%.

32. Podcasts are available in over 100 languages, making them a great way to learn new information for anyone.

(Podcast Insights)

Most social networks only offer a limited number of languages.

To start a podcast, all you need is to record and edit audio and a way to distribute it.

That means anyone, anywhere with reliable internet access and electricity, can produce content.

Podcast Listener Demographics

33. In 2021, there were more men (54%) who listened to podcast shows than women (46%).

(Edison Research)

Podcast statistics show that more men than women listen to podcasts.

Understanding your target podcast audience is essential to adapt your topics and presentation methods accordingly.

There is no evidence to suggest that the trend of men listening to podcasts more than women will change soon.

34. 25% of podcast listeners over the age of 55 tune into podcasts every month.

(Statista)

According to podcasts statistics from Statista, most senior consumers listen to the same podcasts weekly, while those who listen on a monthly basis tend to be more sporadic in their content consumption.

Many older workers are in positions of management, which may lead to them being concerned about retirement. Some tune in to fill their leisure time.

You’ll need to start assuming serious topics for this older demographic.

35. Podcasts are more popular among wealthier and more educated people with a net household income of over $250,000 annually.

(RadioInk)

This figure is much higher than the percentage of people who make this sum of money.

The study found that podcast listeners have a higher income on average.

Almost 75% of all the people surveyed had at least some college education, with 27% having a degree. 28% had an advanced degree.

And only 20% of the podcast consumers had a high school or less level of education.

36. The podcast listener base is diversifying, with more people listening to podcasts for entertainment and education.

(Edison Research)

In 2021, podcast statistics showed that most listeners were white men, but that has changed as more females and South Americans are tuning in.

US Podcast Statistics

37. US-based audiences often listen to shows from a variety of niches.

(Edison Research)

Podcasts can offer a wealth of information. Understandably, someone would want to listen to a variety of them.

The average weekly podcast listener in the US listens to six shows and subscribes to seven shows each week.

More than half of the American people listen to podcasts at least four times a week, with 16 percent tuning in just once a week.

38. 55% of US podcast listeners tune in to audio podcasts.

(Statista)

Recent podcasts statistics show that audio podcasts continue to grow in popularity, with over half of US consumers now tuning in.

Podcasts are a good investment because the trend indicates demand for their content.

39. 75% of American podcast listeners use podcasts for learning new things.

(Statista)

Podcasts are popular because they provide a diverse range of information to consumers.

3 out of 4 Americans listen to podcasts to learn new things, which is why the education market has massive potential.

40. Over 197 million people in the USA are familiar with at least one podcast.

(Edison Research)

Podcast statistics show that 70% of Americans are either – weekly or monthly listeners of online audio, while the remaining 30% are not.

41. The Joe Rogan Experience is the most popular podcast show in America.

(Podcast Consumer Tracking Report)

The show is also the highest earning podcast in the world.

The second most popular show is The Daily, followed by Crime Junkie, This American Life, Stuff You Should Know, My Favorite Murder, Pod Save America, Serial, Office Ladies, and Call Her Daddy.

42. 66% of Americans who listen to podcasts are white.

(MacobServer)

According to the most recent podcast statistics, 11% of black Americans listen to podcast shows, Hispanics make up 9% of listeners, and Asians make up 4% of listeners.

43. 19% of podcast listeners in America are 55 years and older.

(Reuters)

More people in the age groups 18-24 and 25-34 listen to podcast shows than those aged 35-44, 45-54.

Most people who listen to podcasts for entertainment are younger than 35, while those who use them to learn something tend to be older.

44. The United States is the country with the highest number of podcast consumers.

(Statista)

The US accounts for 47.9% of all listeners. The UK ranks below with 6.3%, while Canada has around 5%.

Podcast Genre and Topic Statistics

45. 36% of users can't find podcasts that cover topics that suit their interests.

(Edison Research)

Despite how many podcasts there are, many poeple can’t find what there are looking for.

That may be because of the lack of marketing or discoverability. Perhaps you can explore new podcast topics that have not been covered by keeping an eye on this area of opportunity.

46. The most popular podcast genres are Comedy and News.

(Statista)

22% of consumers say they were interested in comedy podcasts or shows with a bit of humor.

True Crime and Sport also interest a lot of people. .

When choosing a genre for your podcast, keep in mind that some require new content regularly to maintain an audience.

Your audience will determine how often you upload podcasts.

If you want to be successful with your content, make sure it's humorous. That is especially important if you want to reach a large audience.

47. Podcasts that focus on business are better for sales.

(Music Oomph)

Most business podcasts offer listeners practical advice and tools to help them improve their work lives.

They might not be as entertaining, but they're sure to attract people who need that kind of information.

As a result, advertisers who advertise on podcasts that focus on business-centric topics or genres tend to find a higher success rate than those who promote elsewhere.

Podcast Listener Preferences

48. Around 4 in 10 people interviewed about podcasts said episodes are too long.

(Statista)

Producers are worried that their listeners will not continue to listen to a show if it is too long.

Podcasts that provide value quickly tend to be the most popular.

49. The largest podcast category is 20-40 minutes.

(Buzzsprout)

About a third (31%) of podcasts last between 20 and 40 minutes, while 21% are 40-60 minutes long and 17% last 60+ minutes.

There is no set length for a podcast episode as some podcasts tend to be able to produce any length format with success.

56% of top-earners have the best performing episodes last 40-120 minutes so that should be the base for your own podcast.

50. 40% of podcast listeners prefer to hear new episodes every 8-14 days.

(ImprovePodcast)

How many podcast episodes you release on a monthly basis depends on the niche you’re in.

6% prefer a new episode every 0 – 2 days, while 36% prefer it every 3 – 7 days.

17% prefer a new episode every 15 – 29 days, and 1% every 30+ days.

51. 51.1% of podcast listeners prefer podcasts with studio-quality audio.

(The Podcast Host)

49% of consumers are happy to listen to podcasts with low-quality sound, provided the content is good.

52. People tend to listen to podcasts more in the morning than at any other time.

(The MIDAS)

According to the MIDAS Survey, the peak listening time for podcasts is between 08:15 and 08:30 a.m.

Other popular times are between 11:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., and again at 5:30 p.m.

53. Most consumers prefer listening to podcasts on a mobile device.

(The MIDAS)

Mobile phones account for 77% of listening hours, with laptops (40%) second and tablets (24%) ranking third.

The rise of voice-activated smart speakers has increased podcast listening, with 9% of listeners using these devices.

That might change future listener behavior as more people become accustomed to using these devices for their podcast listening needs.

Smart speaker ownership has been on the rise, thanks to the pandemic.

This new service allows listeners to discover new podcasts from the comfort of their own homes.

54. Spotify is the most preferred podcast directory, with around 32.8% of podcast listeners.

(Statista)

Apple Podcasts has the second most downloaded podcasting directories, with around 28.3% of users.

Other popular directories are: Web Browser (2.4%), Castbox (2.7%), Google Podcasts (2.6%), Podcats Addict (1.5%), and Overcast (1.1%).

The latest podcast statistics also show that more than 56% of listeners find new podcasts by searching on podcast directories, 20% ask their friends for a recommendation, and 14.5% get suggestions from Google Search (5.5%), social media (1.7%), or follow podcast guests (3.5%).

This shows you that there are many ways to make your podcast more discoverable.

55. 90% of podcast listeners say they prefer listening to podcasts at home.

(The Infinite Dial)

59% of people listen to podcasts while doing household tasks.

52% listen while driving, 50% while cooking, and around 37% of people consume podcasts when commuting.

Podcasts are a medium that listeners tend to enjoy “passively” in the background.

Be mindful of the content you produce and always ensure it's suitable for passive listening.

You should make it easy for your audience to listen to your podcast on their home smart devices, like Google Home or Alexa.

You have to be approved to be on Google Play Music and should have your podcast correctly formatted, with well-optimized episode titles for voice search.

56. While driving, the radio is the most popular audio source.

(The Infinite Dial)

Despite the popularity of online audio, recent podcast statistics show that AM/FM radio still outperformed them in 2021.

28% of survey respondents said they listened to podcasts while driving, compared to 81% who tuned into radio stations.

Grow Leads and Sales with Podcasting

I hope you loved this post on the ultimate list of podcast statistics for 2022.

As we’ve seen in the stats, the podcast industry is on a rapid rise.

If you were on the fence about getting started before reading this article, We guess the data has shown you that there’s no need to worry.

• To start your podcast you’ll need reliable podcast hosting like Spreaker to store your media files securely. The solution offers in-program monetization, allowing dynamic ad insertions, plus it‘s super easy to use.
• Another exceptional hosting site is BuzzSprout. This solution is free, offers robust analytics features, and can help send your podcast to various podcast platforms to increase your visibility.

If you have any questions or feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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