Podcast Statistics 2026: Growth, Spend & Demographics

Introduction 

Podcasting has leaped from niche hobby to mainstream medium, becoming a trusted companion for commuters, fitness buffs and lifelong learners.

Whether you’re into true crime, comedy or business advice, there’s a show for you – and more listeners than ever are tuning in.

The statistics below illustrate the explosive growth of podcasting and hint at where the industry is headed next.

Quick Summary ✅

• Podcasting continues to boom worldwide, with growth in both audience size and industry revenue.
• By 2025, there were 4.52 million podcasts indexed globally and an estimated 584.1 million listeners, up 6.83% from 2024.
• The podcast market is projected to reach $39.63 billion in 2025, highlighting its commercial potential.

Key Podcast Statistics 📈

These figures underline YouTube’s global reach and provide context for the UK market. With a high ad‑reach rate and heavy daily usage, UK marketers can tap into a deeply engaged audience.

Growth in Podcasts & Listeners

Number of podcasts

• In September 2025 there were 4.52 million podcasts indexed globally.
• The number of podcasts has grown from around 550,000 in 2018 (Apple WWDC data) to over 4.5 million in 2025, illustrating explosive growth.
• Only ~15% of podcasts are active (i.e., released an episode in the last 90 days). 

Podcast listeners

• Global listeners: 584.1 million in 2025, up from 546.7 million in 2024.
• United States: 158 million monthly listeners (55 % of the 12+ population).
• Other countries: The U.S. (129.9 million), China (117.1 million), Brazil (51.8 million) and Mexico (27.5 million) are top markets.
• Time spent: On average, podcast listeners spend about seven hours per week, with dedicated fans consuming more than eight episodes per week.

Demographics & Listening Habits

• Age: 18-44‑year‑olds account for 59% of U.S. podcast listeners.
• Gender: Roughly 51% male, 48% female, and 1% non‑binary.
• Political affiliation (U.S.): 53% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans listen to podcasts – showing cross‑party appeal.

Preferred platforms and devices

• Platforms: YouTube is the most used platform for podcasts in the U.S., preferred by 39% of weekly listeners, followed by Spotify (21%) and Apple Podcasts (8%).
• Devices: 70% of U.S. weekly podcast consumers use a mobile phone to listen; computers/laptops (12%), TV (8 %), tablets (5%) and smart speakers (4%) follow.
• Video podcasts: 41% of U.S. weekly listeners prefer to watch podcasts, while 30% like audio‑only and 29% listen while a video plays in the background.
• Podcast completion: True crime and fiction podcasts have completion rates as high as 85%.

Industry Revenue & Advertising

• Global market size: The podcast industry is estimated to be worth $39.63 billion in 2025, up from $30.72 billion in 2024.
• Advertising: Worldwide podcast ad spending will reach $4.46 billion in 2025, with the U.S. contributing $2.55 billion.
• Monetization models: Podcasters generate revenue via ads, sponsorships, listener donations (e.g., Patreon), paid subscriptions and live events.

✨ OOB’s Thoughts ✨

Everyone and their dog has a podcast now. And we love listening to them – on the train, in the gym, making dinner. Podcasting has gone from a niche internet hobby to a full-blown cultural staple. It’s intimate, flexible, and refreshingly human. You don’t just consume a podcast, you build a relationship with it. Hosts become familiar voices. Episodes become rituals. 

The biggest shift we’ve seen with podcasts in 2025 is that they’re no longer just something you listen to. Video podcasts have changed the game, and YouTube is now one of the world’s biggest podcast platforms. Suddenly, podcasts are watchable, shareable, meme-able. A great clip can travel faster than a full episode ever could, and creators know it.

Conclusion

Podcasting has transformed from a niche medium into a mainstream channel with hundreds of millions of listeners and billions in ad revenue.

Growth is still strong but slowing slightly as the market matures.

For marketers and content creators, focusing on high‑engagement genres (comedy, true crime, society & culture) and leveraging video podcasts on YouTube or Spotify can help reach younger, mobile‑first audiences.

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Sources

• podcastatistics.com
• thepodcasthost.com
• demandsage.com