TikTok, launched as Douyin in China in 2016, has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. In just a few short years, it has amassed over 1 billion monthly active users globally. The app allows users to create and share short videos, often set to music, ranging from fun dances to lip-syncs, comedic skits, and more. TikTok’s clever algorithm learns users’ interests and preferences to serve them personalized content that keeps them endlessly scrolling and entertained. The app’s growth has been astronomical – according to bloggingwizard, between Q3 2019 and Q2 2020, TikTok usage in the US alone grew by 123%. Its viral challenges, trending music, and overall addictive nature have propelled it to global dominance, especially among Generation Z. While its future remains uncertain due to data privacy concerns and government bans in some countries, there’s no denying TikTok’s monumental impact on internet culture and online entertainment in just a few short years.
TikTok User Statistics By Country
TikTok has grown to become one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2021. While the app originated in China, it has expanded its reach far beyond that. Some countries now boast tens of millions of active TikTok users.
According to data, China leads the pack by a wide margin with over 450 million monthly active TikTok users. India comes in second with about 200 million MAUs. After that, the numbers drop off significantly, with the U.S. ranked third with over 65 million users. Other top countries include Indonesia, Brazil, Turkey, Russia, Pakistan, Japan, and Bangladesh.
Many factors contribute to which countries have the most TikTok users, such as population size, percentage of younger demographics, mobile device and internet penetration rates, cultural trends, and TikTok marketing campaigns. The app has achieved tremendous growth in populous Asian countries, where short video apps have thrived. Western nations like the U.S. have steadily gained more users as well.
While the rankings may shift over time, it’s clear that TikTok has cultivated a massive international audience. Its continued spread underscores the viral nature of short video content across different cultures and languages worldwide.
#1 – China
China has the largest number of TikTok users in the world. According to BusinessofApps, Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, has over 750 million daily active users as of November 2022. Douyin is one of the most popular apps in China. Another report by Statista shows that Douyin had 752 million monthly active users in China as of November 2022.
The massive user base in China can be attributed to TikTok’s parent company ByteDance being founded in China. Douyin was launched in China in September 2016, before TikTok was released internationally in 2017. Since then, Douyin has seen tremendous growth in China due to its addictive short video format and algorithmic recommendations that keep users engaged.
#2 – India
India had been the biggest market for TikTok before the app was banned in the country in June 2020. At its peak, TikTok amassed over 200 million monthly active users in India, making it the app’s largest market in terms of users (Source: https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/tiktok-loses-its-biggest-user-base-as-the-app-gets-banned-in-india-71593506914029.html). The exponential growth of TikTok in India was driven by strong adoption among the youth and those residing in small towns and rural areas.
Despite the ban, TikTok continues to have access to data of millions of its erstwhile Indian users as per a new report (Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/tiktok-still-has-access-to-data-of-millions-of-indian-users-new-report-reveals-2350334-2023-03-23). This data could prove valuable for targeted advertising and analysis. However, the ban has cut off TikTok’s access to grow further in what was once its largest market globally.
#3 – United States
The United States has approximately 65 million monthly active TikTok users [1]. This makes it the 3rd largest market for TikTok globally. TikTok’s user base in the US continues to grow rapidly, with over 30 million new users joining the platform in 2022.
In terms of demographics, TikTok has found immense popularity among American teenagers and young adults. Around 60% of TikTok’s monthly active users in the US are between the ages of 10 and 29 [2]. The platform’s core user base consists of Generation Z, which market research indicates has largely embraced TikTok as one of its primary social media outlets.
TikTok’s growth in the US has been aided by its lighthearted, entertaining short video content that resonates with younger demographics. The app’s algorithm is adept at identifying user interests and feeding them personalized content. As TikTok solidifies itself in US pop culture, it continues to widen its reach across age groups as well.
#4 – Indonesia
Indonesia is the fourth largest country in terms of TikTok users, with over 22 million as of 2020. The platform has seen rapid growth in Indonesia, with over 5 million new users joining in just the first few months of 2020. Several factors have driven TikTok’s popularity in Indonesia:
- Young population – Over half of Indonesia’s population is under 30, making it well suited for TikTok.
- Influential creators – Top Indonesian TikTokers like Ria Ricis and Sheryl Sheinafia attract millions of engaged followers.
- Viral dance challenges – Indonesians actively participate in viral TikTok dance challenges, fueling engagement.
- Quarantine usage – The Covid-19 pandemic led to increased app downloads and usage as people stayed home.
With continued rapid growth expected, Indonesia will likely solidify its position as one of TikTok’s top global markets in the coming years.
5. Brazil
Brazil ranks as the fifth biggest TikTok market in the world with approximately 74 million monthly active users as of 2022 according to World Population Review. This represents around 34% of Brazil’s population using the app monthly. The country has seen impressive growth, more than doubling from around 32 million MAUs in 2020.
According to Start.io, the majority of Brazilian TikTok users are young people aged 25-34 at 23.6%, followed by those aged 16-24 at 20.3%. This reflects TikTok’s popularity among Generation Z and young millennials. While the earliest adopters were teenagers, usage has expanded into older demographics over time. Brazil ranks behind only China, India, and the United States in its total number of TikTok users.
Other Notable Countries
Russia and Turkey have sizeable TikTok user bases as well. Russia currently has over 40 million monthly active TikTok users. The app has exploded in popularity amongst Russian teens and young adults in recent years. Turkey also has one of the largest TikTok presences globally, with over 28 million monthly active users. TikTok has become a cultural phenomenon in Turkey, widely used by people of all ages to produce a diverse range of content and trends.
Why These Countries Lead in Users
There are several key factors that have driven the rapid growth of TikTok in China, India, the United States, Indonesia, and Brazil:
China was the first market for TikTok (known locally as Douyin), given the app was created and launched there by ByteDance in 2016. As the home country, China has benefitted from first-mover advantage and established a massive user base over time. According to Oberlo, cultural factors in China also promote the use of social apps more heavily than other forms of entertainment.
India has a massive population of digitally connected youth, with over 50% of the population under age 25. This youthful demographic has eagerly adopted TikTok as a platform for entertainment, creative expression, and social interaction. Increased smartphone penetration in India combined with affordable mobile data plans has also fueled TikTok’s rise.
The United States has benefitted from targeted marketing by TikTok to gain share in the lucrative Western market, especially among Gen Z users. TikTok’s fun, irreverent tone and video-first format resonates with younger Americans. The app has also leveraged influencer marketing by promoting creators and celebrities.
In Indonesia, TikTok capitalized on the pre-existing popularity of karaoke and singing culture. Features like duets and lip-syncing made the app highly appealing. A youthful, socially engaged population has helped TikTok grow exponentially in Indonesia.
Brazil likewise has a very high percentage of young smartphone users eager to create and engage with viral video content. TikTok’s tools for remixing and responding to trends captured the creative spirit of Brazilian youth. Strategic marketing campaigns further boosted TikTok’s presence across the country.
Conclusion
China has the most TikTok users by far, with over 500 million monthly active users. India comes in second with around 200 million users. The United States, Indonesia, and Brazil round out the top 5 countries with the most TikTok users.
These countries lead in TikTok users due to a few key factors. Firstly, they have massive populations of over 100 million people. Secondly, they have a high proportion of younger demographics who tend to be the most engaged on TikTok. Finally, TikTok has focused marketing and expansion efforts in these countries.
Looking ahead, TikTok’s growth is expected to continue, especially in developing countries. As smartphone and internet penetration increases in countries like India and Indonesia, the potential user base for TikTok also rises. TikTok’s popularity and addictive nature suggests it could continue dominating the social video space for years to come.
