Social Media Penetration by Country and Territory
Kenya and Brazil top the chart ranking social media usage by country in terms of time spent per day. In both these countries, users spend more than three hours a day on social media.
But what does the ranking look like when comparing social media penetration rates? In other words, what percentage of a country’s population is active on social media and what countries have the highest percentages? Here’s a breakdown of social media penetration by country and territory.
Social media penetration by country and territory: top 10
|
Country/territory |
Rate of social media use vs. population |
|
United Arab Emirates |
96.4% |
|
Saudi Arabia |
96.1% |
|
South Korea |
94.6% |
|
Singapore |
88.3% |
|
Nauru |
85.2% |
|
Palau |
83.7% |
|
Hong Kong |
83.0% |
|
Qatar |
82.9% |
|
Spain |
82.9% |
|
Libya |
82.4% |
Social media penetration by country and territory
The global social media penetration rate currently stands at 63.8%. A recent in-depth study of social media penetration rates by country and territory shows that the United Arab Emirates currently tops the list. It has a rate of 96.4%.
Second on the list ranking social media penetration by country and territory is Saudi Arabia, with 96.1%. This is followed by South Korea, with a rate of 94.6%. Despite the country’s high penetration rate, South Korea has one of the lowest social media usage when it comes to time spent. Users there spend just one hour and 13 minutes a day on social media. The three countries or territories listed so far are the only ones whose social media penetration rates are above 90%.
Singapore ranks next, with 88.3% of its population on social media. With a download speed of nearly 300 Mbps (megabits per second) on fixed connections, Singapore also has one of the fastest internet speeds in the world. Nauru rounds out the five countries with the highest social media penetration rates, with 85.2%. It’s worth noting that four out of the top five countries are located in Asia.
Palau is the country with the sixth-highest social media penetration rate. The study’s results show that 83.7% of the population are social media users. Palau is followed by Hong Kong, whose social media penetration rate is 83%. Qatar and Spain are eighth and ninth on the list ranking social media penetration by country and territory—82.9% of internet users in both of these countries are on social media. Libya rounds out the ranking of social media penetration by country and territory, with a penetration rate of 82.4%.
On the other end of the spectrum lie North Korea and Eritrea. At less than 0.1% and 0.5%, respectively, these two countries have the lowest social media penetration rates.
Social media penetration rate by region
|
Region |
Social media penetration rate |
|
Northern Europe |
78.8% |
|
Western Europe |
77.1% |
|
Eastern Asia |
76.0% |
|
Southern Europe |
74.1% |
|
Northern America |
73.8% |
|
Eastern Europe |
70.4% |
|
Southern America |
67.2% |
|
Central America |
64.9% |
|
Southeastern Asia |
64.3% |
|
Western Asia |
63.5% |
According to the same study, social media penetration rates are highest in Europe. Northern and Western Europe have the highest adoption rates, at 78.8% and 77.1%, respectively. This translates into nearly four out of every five individuals in these areas.
Eastern Asia has the third-highest social media penetration rate, with 76%. Southern Europe follows, with 74.1%. Northern America has the fifth-highest social media penetration rate, with 73.8%.