According to data from February 2022, 32.5 million people in the United States were said to listen to podcasts on Spotify that year, while Apple had 28.5 million podcast listeners. Spotify's and Apple's figures were projected to add up to 42.4 million and 29.2 million by 2025, respectively.

According to a forecast on the habits of podcast listeners in 2022, Spotify has overtaken Apple Podcasts in terms of monthly podcast listeners in the United States. Spotify is estimated to reach 32.5 million podcast listeners per month while Apple Podcast is predicted to only have 28.5 million monthly listeners. However, both numbers present an increase in listener number compared to the previous year.

Introduction

Podcast Statistics: The popularity of podcasts is growing quickly around the world. By the end of 2024, it's expected that over 504.9 million people worldwide will listen to podcasts. On average, people spend about seven hours a week listening to their favorite podcasts. Popular platforms like Apple and Spotify draw millions of listeners each day.

By 2025, Apple is likely to have 29.2 million listeners, while Spotify is expected to reach 42.4 million. Let's take a closer look at more interesting Podcast Statistics and numbers about podcasts and how they are used around the world and in the United States.

Podcasts have become a popular way for people to learn, entertain themselves, and stay updated on various topics. More people listen to podcasts every year, and the industry is growing fast. With millions of episodes available, podcasts cover almost every subject, from news and education to health and storytelling.

This article explores key podcast statistics, including the number of people who listen, their favorite topics, and how podcast trends are changing. It also examines the growth of the podcast industry and how creators make money from their content. Understanding these statistics helps businesses, advertisers, and creators see how podcasts are shaping the way people consume information and entertainment in today’s digital world.

The global podcast market is experiencing robust growth, projected to reach a substantial size. While the exact CAGR is unavailable, considering the rapid expansion of digital audio content consumption and increasing podcast listener engagement, a conservative estimate of 15% annual growth from 2025 to 2033 seems reasonable. This would translate to significant market expansion. Given a 2025 market size of $4097.2 million, this growth trajectory points to a considerable increase in market value by 2033. Several factors fuel this growth. The increasing accessibility of podcasts through various platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) and devices (mobile, desktop) contributes significantly. Moreover, the diverse range of podcast formats, including interviews, conversations, and storytelling, caters to a wide audience with varied preferences. The continuous evolution of podcasting technology and the emergence of innovative monetization strategies further contribute to market expansion. However, challenges remain. Competition among podcast platforms is intense, and listener acquisition and retention necessitate consistent high-quality content creation. Furthermore, effective monetization strategies beyond advertising remain crucial for podcast creators' financial sustainability. The market segmentation reveals that interview and conversational podcasts are prominent, underscoring the listener preference for interactive and engaging content. Geographical distribution demonstrates that North America and Europe represent key markets currently, though the Asia-Pacific region shows substantial growth potential as internet penetration and smartphone usage rise. The competitive landscape is dominated by established players and emerging platforms, constantly striving for audience engagement and market share.

The global podcast market, currently valued at $2.461 billion in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.9% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is fueled by several key drivers. The increasing accessibility of podcasting through diverse platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others fosters broader listener adoption. The rise of smart speakers and mobile devices has significantly enhanced consumption convenience, while diverse podcast formats (e.g., interviews, news, comedy) cater to a broad spectrum of interests. Furthermore, the monetization strategies employed by podcasters, including advertising, sponsorships, and subscriptions, are proving increasingly successful, driving investment and market expansion. The development of sophisticated analytics tools allows for better audience targeting and content optimization, further accelerating the sector's growth. However, challenges remain, including ensuring consistent high-quality content creation, managing copyright issues, and competing for listener attention in an increasingly crowded media landscape. Competition within the podcasting industry is intensifying. Established players like Spotify and Apple Podcasts maintain significant market share through their established user bases and integrated platforms. However, newer entrants and independent podcasters constantly challenge the market leaders. Technological advancements will play a crucial role in shaping future growth. The integration of AI and machine learning for personalized recommendations and content creation, alongside advancements in audio technology offering superior sound quality, will be pivotal factors in determining market leadership in the coming years. The successful navigation of these challenges and the exploitation of emerging opportunities will be critical for sustained growth and profitability in the podcast market.

The global podcast market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to reach a value of $6.08 billion in 2025 and maintain a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 29.08% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is driven by several key factors. The increasing accessibility of podcasting technology, coupled with the rising popularity of on-demand audio content, has broadened the market's reach significantly. Diverse podcast genres, catering to a wide range of interests from news and politics to comedy and sports, attract a large and diverse listener base. Moreover, the monetization strategies employed by podcasting platforms, including advertising, subscriptions, and sponsorships, are proving effective, further fueling market growth. The strategic partnerships between podcasting platforms and established media companies are also contributing to market expansion, facilitating wider distribution and content creation. The market is segmented by podcast type (interviews, conversational, solo, panels, repurposed content) and genre, reflecting the diverse landscape of audio content available. Major players like Spotify, Amazon, and iHeartMedia are aggressively pursuing market share, utilizing a range of competitive strategies including exclusive content deals and technological advancements to improve the listener experience. Despite the significant growth, the podcast market faces some challenges. Competition among podcasting platforms is intense, necessitating continuous innovation and investment in technology and content. Furthermore, maintaining consistent audience engagement and monetizing content effectively remain key hurdles for smaller podcast creators. The fluctuating economic conditions might also influence advertising revenue, affecting the financial sustainability of some players. However, the overall outlook remains positive, with the podcast market predicted to continue its robust growth trajectory in the coming years, propelled by advancements in audio technology, increasing smartphone penetration, and evolving consumption habits of digital media. Geographical expansion into emerging markets also represents a significant opportunity for future growth. North America and Europe currently hold significant market share, yet the APAC region shows strong potential for future development.

As of April 2024, 91 percent of listeners in Mexico used Spotify to access podcasts. The second most used app was Apple Podcasts, thought it trailed far behind the Swedish streaming giant, at three percent.

This dataset was used to store and organize publicly available reviews of podcasts focusing on women's sports posted on the Apple Podcasts website. The name for each podcast, the username of the reviewer, and the quantitative and qualitative reviews are all included in the Excel document.

As video podcasts have grown more and more popular, YouTube equally has grown in popularity among weekly podcast consumers in the United States between 2019 and 2024. While Spotify and Apple Podcasts were the more popular choices from 2019 to 2021, YouTube managed to take the lead in the years after. Based on the most recent figures from April 2024, ** percent of weekly podcast consumers use YouTube, whereas Spotify attracted ** percent of weekly consumers.

The European podcast market, valued at $0.59 billion in 2025, is experiencing robust growth, projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.5% from 2025 to 2033. This surge is driven by several key factors. The increasing accessibility of smartphones and high-speed internet has broadened podcast consumption, particularly among younger demographics. Simultaneously, the rise of diverse podcast formats—including interviews, conversational shows, solo podcasts, panel discussions, and repurposed content—caters to a wider range of interests and listening preferences, fostering higher engagement and listenership. Furthermore, the growing popularity of podcast advertising and sponsorship opportunities is attracting significant investment, fueling market expansion. Leading companies like Spotify, Apple, and others are strategically investing in podcast content creation and distribution, strengthening their market positions and further driving market growth. The market's geographical distribution reflects the digital nature of the medium, with high penetration across major European nations including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and others, leveraging existing infrastructure and digitally engaged populations. However, challenges remain. Competition within the market is intense, with established players vying for market share against emerging independent podcasters. Maintaining audience engagement and securing consistent advertising revenue requires significant effort and strategic planning. The market is also subject to broader economic influences and potential shifts in consumer preferences regarding audio entertainment. Despite these challenges, the overall outlook for the European podcast market remains exceptionally positive, driven by a continuously expanding audience and innovative developments within the industry. The focus on high-quality content, strategic partnerships, and targeted advertising will be key to achieving sustainable growth for players in this rapidly evolving market landscape.

In October 2020, it was found that the most popular podcast genre in the United States was comedy, with ** percent of respondents to a survey stating that they were very interested in podcasts designed to make them laugh. News podcasts and those based on true crime were also popular choices, as well as sport and health and fitness.<br><br><h2>Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular</h2>Podcasts have become a go-to form of audio entertainment, with digital episodes on different topics being either streamable or downloadable for easily accessible consumption. The number of podcast listeners within the United States is estimated to increase from **** million listeners to over *********** in 2024.<br><br> <h2>Podcast market leaders</h2>Within the constantly growing market for podcast, the globally leading podcast publisher in 2020 was iHeartRadio with 266.06 million unique streams and downloads. At the same time, a study found that Apple Podcast and Spotify were the most popular platforms to access podcast among Americans in 2020. Spotify was especially popular among the age group of 18 to 34 while younger and older consumers also often used Apple Podcasts.

The podcast market is experiencing an unprecedented boom in France, as well as all around the world. This new way of consuming audio content keeps attracting new listeners thanks to the mobility and adaptability it offers. Apple Podcasts was the most popular application when it comes to listening to podcasts, whereas the French application Deezer was used by *** percent of respondents in France in 2023.

In 2020, Spotify was the most popular platform with Italian podcast listeners aged between 18 and 34 years old (73 percent). According to the results of the survey, Audible ranked second with 30 percent, while Apple Podcast was used by 21 percent of respondents. Lastly, only 13 percent of the respondents used the platform or the mobile application of Soundcloud to listen to podcasts.

In 2020, the most commonly used app for listening to podcasts in the United States was Spotify, with ** percent of podcast listeners aged 18 or above saying that they used Spotify to listen to podcasts. Meanwhile, Apple Podcasts was used by ** percent of adults, down from ** percent in the previous year.

Growing market for podcasts

The term podcast, the name being a merge of the words “play on demand” and “broadcast”, refers to audio or video content in episodic formats that can be streamed or downloaded digitally. Topics cover a huge range of interests such as politics, health, or true crime; however, a study found that the most popular podcast genre in the United States was comedy. With **** million podcast listeners in the United States alone, podcasting has become a large market within the audio sector.

Podcast consumption

Despite the growing podcast audience, the consumption among listeners is relatively low with ** percent of consumers stating that they listen to podcasts less often than once a month. The relatively new audio format is preferred by younger generations, with ** percent of the age group of 18 to 34 years having paid to access podcasts.

This data was pulled from the iTunes website. Only podcasts that were featured on the website are listed in the dataset.

In March 2025, iHeart Audience Network had **** million audience members in the United States. A ranking of the unique monthly audience of the most popular podcast publishers showed that National Public Radio came third with just over **** million. iHeartPodcasts outperformed NPR in that respect, reaching a monthly audience of ***** million. Podcast streaming market While publishers play an important role in the creation of podcasts, streaming services providing a platform for podcast consumption also benefit from the rising popularity of the format. In 2022, the preferred podcasts providers were YouTube, followed by Spotify, Apple Podcast, Pandora and iHeartRadio, exceeding the popularity of Sirius XM and Stitcher. Considering the revenue generated by streaming services through podcast streaming in 2019, Spotify is the clear market leader with a revenue of *** billion U.S. dollars, followed by Stitcher and Wondery. Streaming services have realized the potential of podcasts, which is why they have started to invest in podcast creating and podcast streaming companies. In 2020, Spotify acquired The Ringer while competitor Sirius XM, after having purchased Pandora, obtained the successful podcast streaming service Stitcher. So far, these acquisitions seem to have proven successful, since Spotify is estimated to overtake Apple Podcast in terms of monthly podcast listeners in 2021. Popular podcast content In terms of content, the most popular genres within the podcast market in the U.S. are comedy followed by news and true crime. The podcasts with the highest revenue worldwide in 2019 were The Joe Rogan Experience, a Spotify-exclusive podcast hosted by the American comedian of the same name in which he talks to a wide array of guests, and My Favorite Murder, a bi-weekly true crime comedy podcast hosted by the American comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark in which they discuss true crime cases. While podcasts were already on the rise over the last few years, there has been an upsurge in podcast consumption during the last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which meant a higher demand in audio, or entertainment in general, content.

According to a study from 2020 on podcast platforms in the United States, Spotify was the most popular podcast platform among the younger generation with 44 percent of respondents aged 18 to 34 using the streaming service, followed by Apple Podcasts with 27 percent. In the age group of 35 to 54, 34 percent of respondents stated that they were using Spotify while another 32 percent said that they consumed podcasts on Apple Podcasts.

Ce fichier recense la liste des podcasts du Groupe BPCE avec indication des différentes plateformes d'écoutes (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Castro, Breaker, Ausha, YouTube ...)

The statistic shows where consumers get podcasts in the United States in 2017 according to a Statista survey, by age. During the survey, ** percent of respondents aged 30 to 59 stated that they got podcasts from iTunes / the Apple Podcast App.

A study of podcast consumption in Latin America shows that Spotify was the most popular platform for new episode RSS downloads in the region between June 2023 and May 2024, at 32 percent share. Apple Podcasts accounted for 11 percent of RSS downloads of new podcasts episodes at that time.