11 TikTok Statistics You Should Know

TikTok isn’t just trending, it’s shaping the way we consume, create, and market content. Whether you’re a brand, creator, or just trying to understand what’s driving culture right now, TikTok stats can offer some serious insight. 

In this article, we’ll break down key data points—from user demographics to revenue trends—to show how fast the platform has grown, where it’s headed, and why it matters for anyone building an audience or business online.

What is TikTok?

While it might seem like TikTok just exploded into our consciousness out of nowhere, it’s not really true. Before we dive into the numbers, let’s look at where TikTok originated and what its road to success was like.

TikTok is a social media platform focused on short-form video creation and sharing, released to the global market in 2017. At that time, short video-sharing apps were nothing new since other apps like Vine and Musical.ly were already popular. But TikTok managed to dominate the market by expanding internationally and acquiring Musical.ly not long after Vine’s demise.

Source: Pexels

After expanding globally, the TikTok platform saw explosive success, especially during the pandemic. The number of TikTok downloads and TikTok users worldwide skyrocketed in 2020 and 2021. However, that success has come with its fair share of controversy, mainly about data security.

Let’s take a quick look at 2 hot topics for TikTok users worldwide.

Will the US ban TikTok?

TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain, which might leave you wondering whether it’s worth investing time and effort into the platform. In April 2024, Congress passed a bill requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell its US operations by January 2025 or face a ban. The deadline was later extended to allow more time for a potential sale. If no deal is reached, TikTok could face a ban—though legal challenges might delay the enforcement.

Despite the uncertainty, TikTok remains a powerful marketing tool with millions of monthly active users and a unique algorithm that helps brands reach new audiences organically. For now, TikTok is still available in the US, and it’s worth using the platform to build your brand and engage customers while the situation unfolds. 

With the government banning TikTok becoming a serious possibility, think about repurposing your content for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and other short-form video platforms. In short, keep an eye on the news—but don’t miss out on TikTok’s current potential.

Source: Unsplash

Is it worth selling on TikTok in 2025?

With all the controversy and competition, you might ask yourself: is it worth selling on TikTok, and is it a good platform for business? The answer is a resounding yes. While TikTok is no stranger to controversy, that hasn’t impacted its value for small business owners.

In fact, TikTok is a great platform to sell on. It has the highest average time spent on the app among other popular social media networks and an unusually high average engagement rate of 2.5%. This means that people use TikTok longer than other social media networks, and a higher engagement rate means they’re more likely to interact with your content.

Top TikTok statistics you need to know

Alright, what are we waiting for? Let’s jump into our list of the most interesting TikTok statistics.

By 2029, TikTok’s user base will grow to 2.3B people

Over the last year, TikTok reached a milestone of 1.9B users worldwide. In 2021, that number was 1.4B, which means that the TikTok has seen an increase of around 40% in active users in just 3 years.

TikTok itself forecasts enduring popularity and user growth for the platform, predicting that the social media app will reach 2.3B users by 2029. However, recent insights imply that TikTok usage has slowed down over the past 2 years. As the momentum of TikTok users worldwide slows down, the question of TikTok’s future user growth remains open.

Source: Statista

In 2024, TikTok reached between $20B and $26B in global revenue

Although TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, generally don’t disclose financial numbers and like to keep their cards close to the vest, we do have some info on how the companies are performing financially. The New York Times reported that TikTok took in an estimated $10B in revenue in the United States last year. This is nearly half of their global revenue (estimated to be between $20B and $26B).

In addition, ByteDance on the whole brought in $73B in sales in the first half of 2024. The company makes the biggest share of its revenue from another platform, Douyin, a Chinese social media app.

Source: Google Play

TikTok is the fifth most popular app worldwide by monthly active users

According to Statista data, TikTok is the fifth most popular app in the world in terms of monthly active users. With 1.5B monthly users worldwide, TikTok is proving that there is a bright future for creative, short-form content. 

Instagram and WhatsApp, both owned by Meta, take third and fourth place, each with 2B users. Then comes YouTube in second place, with 2.5B monthly active users. Facebook takes the undisputed first place with just a little over 3B monthly active users worldwide.

TikTok is also the most popular Chinese-owned app—WeChat and Douyin, the other two most used social networking apps, lag behind with 1.3B and 755M monthly active users, respectively.

Source: Statista

SMBs report an 88% increase in sales after marketing products to TikTok users

Whether it’s TikTok ads or organic content, it’s clear that TikTok gives small business owners a chance to connect with their target audience on a different scale.

According to the 2024 TikTok Economic Impact Report, TikTok has actually made a huge difference for small and medium businesses, also known as SMBs, in the US. Over 7M businesses use TikTok to advertise their products, and according to TikTok statistics, small business owners report seeing an 88% increase in sales after promoting their products or services on the TikTok app.

Source: TikTok

On average, global users spend 95 minutes per day on TikTok

Globally, TikTok users spend around 95 minutes watching TikTok videos every day, which is more than any other major social media network. To compare, Instagram gets an average time of 62 minutes of their users’ day, whereas X, formerly known as Twitter, gets around 30 minutes.

In the US, the numbers differ slightly. On average, TikTok users in the US spend around 53.8 minutes of their day watching TikTok videos. Even so, TikTok remains the app where Americans spend the most time, followed by YouTube and X.

Source: BackLinko

In 2024, TikTok was the most downloaded app worldwide

In 2024, TikTok was the most downloaded app worldwide, racking up an impressive 825.5 million downloads—narrowly edging out Instagram, which followed with 817 million downloads.

The sheer volume of downloads highlights a growing audience hungry for fresh, entertaining content. TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes authenticity and engagement, meaning even smaller brands have a chance to go viral without a hefty ad budget. With Instagram close behind, cross-platform strategies can maximize exposure. Still, TikTok’s momentum in 2024 makes it a must-consider marketing channel in 2025.

Source: Statista

Over half of TikTok’s monthly active users are from Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa

Which part of the world has the largest TikTok audience? Data on TikTok usage in countries worldwide shows that the platform has 296M active users from Asia and the Pacific region. The Middle East and Africa aren’t far behind, with 233M users. Latin America takes third place with around 189M users.

In comparison, when it comes to global audiences, the US and Europe don’t make up such huge numbers. North America, Western, Central, and Eastern Europe together make up around 315M users, which is just about 30% of the active TikTok user base. Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, on the other hand, make up an impressive 51% of the overall active TikTok audience.

Source: BackLinko

TikTok’s user base is getting older

Many of us are probably convinced that the main target audience for TikTok is Gen-Z users: young, trendy people with lots of time to spare for watching and creating short-form video content. Well, that’s only half-true.

In 2022, during the height of TikTok’s popularity, social media users aged 18–24 made up the majority of regular TikTok users. However, in 2024, that group has declined, with 25–34-year-olds taking the reins of TikTok’s audience. This means TikTok was wildly successful in attracting young users in the early 2020s, but that might not be the case in the future.

Source: Backlinko

What’s trending on TikTok?

Did you know you don’t have to religiously watch TikTok videos to keep up with the latest trends? You can easily view trending hashtags, popular categories, videos, and songs on the TikTok Creative Center website. For example, you can look at what songs have been the most popular for mobile users over the past 4 months.

In the US, Million Dollar Baby by Tommy Richman, Nasty by Tinashe, and Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar have been at the top for the past 4 months. You can also get more detailed TikTok statistics for each song by clicking on See analytics.

Source: TikTok

For example, Nasty by Tinashe has been most popular with the 18–24-year age group and was widely used in brand advertisements. It’s also clear that the US, Australia, and Greece have been the top regions showing increased interest in this song.

Source: TikTok

86% of Americans know about TikTok Shop, but only 31% have made a purchase

One issue could be that many American users (around 40%) find TikTok Shop less trustworthy than other ecommerce platforms. Another reason could be that Americans use TikTok for entertainment and DIY purposes rather than for shopping.

But, if you’re interested in how to make money on TikTok or how to sell merch on TikTok, don’t be discouraged. TikTok Shop is a relatively new feature, so it might take some time for consumers to get used to it. 

While TikTok Shop is still gaining trust, one way to build credibility and drive sales faster is through TikTok ads. These highly targeted, full-screen video ads help get your products in front of the right audience, increasing engagement and conversions.

Valuable read: What to Sell on TikTok Shop: Surefire Bestsellers

Source: Pexels

More than half of TikTok users are men

According to the most recent data, almost 56% of TikTok users were male, while around 44% were female. When it comes to the 2 largest user age groups, 18–24-year-olds and 25–34-year-olds, data shows that 17.3% of TikTok accounts belong to women aged 18–24, while 18.9% belong to men of that same age group.

Source: Statista

For the 25–34-year-old group, the difference is a bit more drastic. Only 14.6% of active users were women aged 25–34, while 19.3% were men in that same age bracket.

73% of TikTok users watch whatever the algorithm suggests

Unlike other social media platforms, where content competes with multiple distractions (like sidebars and comment sections) TikTok’s immersive format ensures undivided attention. The seamless, scrollable feed keeps viewers engaged, while the algorithm constantly refines recommendations based on user behavior—what they watch, rewatch, like, and share.

This hyper-personalization creates a sense of discovery where users are actively exploring new trends, products, and ideas. For brands and TikTok creators, it’s an opportunity to reach audiences who are highly invested in the content that’s recommended to them. 

Source: Unsplash

Learn more about ecommerce statistics with Printful

Whether you’re looking for reliable information about all things ecommerce or you’re planning on creating your business using dropshipping (or starting a clothing brand!) you’ve come to the right place.

You’ll find valuable information about digital marketing, apparel, and design trends on the Printful Blog. We regularly update our blog with the most relevant info on a variety of ecommerce-related subjects. For example, if you’re looking for similar articles like this, you can check out Etsy statistics or dropshipping stats.

Source: Printful

If you’re more of a visual learner, feel free to peruse our YouTube channel, too. You’ll find tons of useful video content on how to create a print-on-demand business, perfecting your marketing strategy, or how to best use social media when promoting products . . . and much more.

Grow your business with TikTok 

While TikTok statistics show that the app’s explosive growth has slowed down somewhat, TikTok is still undeniably one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. This means TikTok can be a great tool in your marketing strategy. 

And more than that: learning how to use TikTok for ecommerce can open up a valuable new selling channel for your business. If you want to succeed on TikTok, remember to know your audience and carefully follow the most relevant trends.

Read next: TikTok Metrics You Should Be Tracking

More than half of TikTok users are men

According to the most recent data from 2024, 54% of TikTok users were male, while around 45% were female. When it comes to the 2 largest user age groups, 18–24-year-olds and 25–34-year-olds, data shows that 17.3% of TikTok accounts belong to women aged 18–24, while 18.9% belonged to men of that same age group.

Source: Statista

For the 25–34-year-old group, the difference is a bit more drastic. Only 14.6% of TikTok platform users were women aged 25–34, while 19.3% were men in that same age bracket.

Learn more about ecommerce statistics with Printful

Whether you’re a journalist looking for reliable information about all things ecommerce or you’re planning on creating your business—using dropshipping or starting a clothing brand—and want to do some research beforehand, you’ve come to the right place.

You’ll find valuable information about digital marketing, apparel, and design trends on the Printful Blog. We regularly update our blog with the most relevant articles on a variety of ecommerce-related subjects. For example, if you’re looking for similar articles like this, you can check out Etsy statistics or dropshipping stats.

Source: Printful

If you’re more of a visual learner, feel free to check out our YouTube channel, too. You’ll find tons of useful video content on how to perfect your marketing strategy, how to create a print-on-demand business, how to best use social media when promoting products, and much more.

Grow your business with TikTok 

While TikTok statistics show that the app’s explosive growth has somewhat slowed down, TikTok is still undeniably one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. This means TikTok can be a great tool in your marketing strategy. 

And more than that—learning how to use TikTok for ecommerce can open up a valuable new selling channel for your business. If you want to succeed on TikTok, remember to know your audience and carefully follow the most relevant trends.

Read next: TikTok Metrics You Should Be Tracking