Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. As of October 2023, Facebook has over 2.96 billion monthly active users globally. However, when we look specifically at the United States, the number of Facebook users is much lower but still quite substantial.
Quick Answer
There are approximately 185 million Facebook users in the United States as of October 2023. This means that around 56% of the total US population are active Facebook users. The US represents Facebook’s largest user base, accounting for over 6% of its global user base.
Total Number of Facebook Users in USA
According to the latest data from Statista, there are 185 million Facebook users in the US as of October 2023. Facebook remains the most popular social media platform in the country despite growing competition from other apps like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
Here is a table showing the total number of Facebook users in the US from 2018 to 2023:
| Year | Facebook users in USA |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 170 million |
| 2019 | 176 million |
| 2020 | 182 million |
| 2021 | 184 million |
| 2022 | 185 million |
| 2023 | 185 million |
As the table shows, the number of Facebook users in the US has grown steadily over the past 5 years from 170 million in 2018 to 185 million currently. However, growth has slowed in recent years as other social apps gain popularity.
Percentage of US Population Using Facebook
With 185 million users out of a total population of around 332 million, this means 56% of the US population are active Facebook users. This represents over half of the total population.
Facebook enjoys high penetration rates across all demographics in America. But usage is particularly high amongst younger audiences such as Gen Z (ages 18-24) where around 80% use the platform. Adoption does start to decline amongst older demographics aged 55+.
Here is a breakdown of Facebook usage penetration rates across different age groups in the US:
| Age Group | Percentage Using Facebook |
|---|---|
| 18-24 years | 81% |
| 25-34 years | 76% |
| 35-44 years | 73% |
| 45-54 years | 64% |
| 55-64 years | 48% |
| 65+ years | 34% |
Gender Breakdown of Facebook Users
When looking at the gender breakdown of Facebook users in the US, data shows that there are slightly more female than male users.
According to Statista, as of October 2023 there are approximately:
- 97.85 million female Facebook users
- 87.08 million male Facebook users
This equates to:
- 53% of users being female
- 47% being male
While the gender breakdown is relatively balanced, the platform does skew slightly more towards women. Some key reasons for this include:
- Women tend to be more active social media users in general
- Facebook is popular with women for connecting with friends and family
- The platform is also widely used by women for branding and influencer marketing
Geographical Breakdown of Facebook Users in USA
In terms of geographical distribution, Facebook usage is relatively consistent across all states and regions in America. However, there are some small variances.
Here is a breakdown of Facebook penetration rates by key regions in the US:
| Region | Percentage of Population Using Facebook |
|---|---|
| Northeast | 58% |
| Midwest | 57% |
| South | 55% |
| West | 53% |
Usage rates are slightly higher in the Northeast and Midwest compared to the South and West. But overall, there is relatively even geographical penetration across the country.
Top 5 States with Most Facebook Users
When looking at usage by individual states, here are the top 5 states with the most Facebook users in America as of October 2023:
- California – 30 million
- Texas – 18 million
- Florida – 16 million
- New York – 15 million
- Illinois – 9 million
The states with the most users tend to be the largest by population such as California, Texas and Florida. However, New York and Illinois also make the top 5 despite having smaller populations. This indicates particularly high Facebook usage rates in these states.
Usage Frequency of Facebook Users in USA
In addition to how many Americans use Facebook, it’s also important to look at how regularly they access the platform.
According to 2021 data from Pew Research Center, around:
- 51% of US Facebook users check the platform several times a day
- 26% check it about once per day
- 10% use it a few times per week
- 7% use it about once per week
- 5% check it every few weeks
This indicates the majority of users (77%) are checking Facebook daily. Just 5% only access it infrequently (every few weeks). So most American users are highly active.
Average Time Spent Per Day
In terms of daily time spent, American Facebook users were spending an average of 39 minutes per day on the platform as of Q1 2022. This was up from around 31 minutes in 2020.
Here is a table showing the average daily time spent on Facebook by American users from 2016 to 2022:
| Year | Average Minutes Per Day |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 38 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 31 |
| 2021 | 31 |
| 2022 | 39 |
So in 2022, the typical American Facebook user was spending around 39 minutes browsing their feed, messaging friends and consuming content per day.
Comparison to Other Social Platforms
Despite a vast user base in America, Facebook is facing stiff competition from other social platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok which are growing rapidly.
Here is a comparison of monthly active users on major platforms in the US:
| Platform | Monthly Active Users |
|---|---|
| 185 million | |
| 130 million | |
| Snapchat | 100 million |
| TikTok | 65 million |
| 37 million |
As you can see from the figures, Instagram now has nearly 130 million monthly active users in the US, making it Facebook’s closest competitor. Snapchat and TikTok are also seeing rapid growth, particularly among younger users.
Age Group Breakdown by Platform
Looking at the age group breakdown provides further insight into how Facebook compares to other platforms.
Facebook has its highest penetration among 25-34 year olds where 79% use the platform. This drops to around half for the oldest 55+ age group.
In comparison, Instagram and Snapchat have their highest uptake with younger users. Around 90% of 18-24 year olds now use Instagram, and 82% use Snapchat.
TikTok meanwhile has strongest penetration with the youngest Gen Z group, with 82% of 13-17 year olds using it.
So while Facebook remains the leader overall, its dominance is being challenged by other apps which are resonating more among American teens and young adults.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Facebook retains a very strong user base in the United States with 185 million active monthly users in the country. This equates to 56% penetration across America.
The platform is widely used by all demographics but maintains particular popularity among users aged 25-44. It also skews slightly more female in terms of gender breakdown.
Most American users engage with Facebook daily and the average user now spends around 39 minutes browsing the platform each day. This indicates the ongoing strength of the network for both communication and consumption.
However, Facebook is facing rising competition from other platforms like Instagram and TikTok which are growing faster among teens and young adults. Maintaining relevance amongst younger generations will be critical for Facebook moving forward.
But the network still enjoys a number of competitive advantages including strong brand recognition, an established user base and sophisticated ad targeting capabilities. The user numbers clearly show Facebook remains the dominant social media force in America – for now.
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References:
- Statista – Number of Facebook users in the United States
- Pew Research Center – Social Media Fact Sheet
- Oberlo – Facebook Statistics for Marketers
- Statista – Facebook usage frequency in the US