TikTok has grown into a global sensation since its debut in
2016, with an estimated 834 million users. The short-form video hosting service
has swiftly increased in popularity, but who are the platform's users? TikTok's
user demographics in 2023 give some intriguing information.
TikTok's user base is largely youthful, with one in every
four users being under the age of 20. In fact, the majority (25%) of TikTok
users in the United States are between the ages of 10 and 19. TikTok has more
Gen Z users than Instagram, and the bulk of TikTok producers are between the ages
of 18 and 24. The proportion of TikTok users diminishes with age, with those
aged 50 and older accounting for only 11% of all users.
TikTok's user base is predominantly female, with 57% of
users being female and 43% being male. TikTok creators are mostly female
(53.79%), with 46.21% being male. Female 18-24 year-olds make up the single
largest category of TikTok users (23.8%), while male 55+ year-olds make up the
lowest number (1.7%).
TikTok's user base is likewise geographically diversified.
With approximately 135 million users, the United States has the largest TikTok
viewership, followed by Indonesia with 99 million users. Brazil, Russia,
Mexico, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, and Pakistan also have big
TikTok viewers.
In terms of TikTok penetration by country, Saudi Arabia
leads the way, with over 9 in 10 (87.9%) of those over the age of 18 using the
social media app. TikTok's penetration in the United States has surpassed 50%
(50.3%).
When it comes to TikTok creator ages, the data are biassed
towards a younger group. Young people (18-24 years) account for more than half
of all creators (52.83%), while under 18s account for a comparably low 27.47%.
With almost 160 million followers as of July 2023, Khabane Lame is the
most-followed TikTok creator.
At the time of writing, the only other creative with more
than 100 million followers is Charli D'Amelio. She is also the youngest creator
to make the top ten at the age of 19. Zach King (33) is one of just three top
ten creators that are 30 or older. Ten of the top fifteen are at least
partially American.
According to TikTok data for the top earners in 2021, Charli
D'Amelio earned around $17.5 million that year. Sister Dixie came in second
place with $10 million. The D'Amelios made more than the rest of the top seven
($23.05 million) combined ($27.5 million).
In 2021, three teens accounted for the top seven TikTok
earnings. And the average age was slightly over 21 years old. All of the
creators named are either Americans (5) or Canadians (2).
Finally, TikTok's worldwide popularity has reached many age
groups and geographies. Nonetheless, younger users have a distinct preference,
and authors are equally youthful. In terms of age, gender, and region, the
platform's user base is broad, and it will continue to draw a diverse spectrum
of users in 2023.