How Many People Use Instagram in 2024? A Deep Dive into the Platform‘s Monthly Active Users

Let‘s cut right to the chase – Instagram has a staggering 2.35 billion monthly active users (MAUs) as of January 2024. This makes it one of the largest and fastest growing social platforms on the planet.

But what‘s really driving this growth, and how is Instagram being used? In this comprehensive deep dive, we‘ll analyze Instagram‘s monthly active user data to uncover key trends and demographics. From age groups to countries to gender splits, we‘ll explore every angle of Instagram‘s massive user base in 2024.

Monthly Active Users: Instagram by the Numbers

First, let‘s look at the big picture numbers on Instagram‘s monthly active users over the past 5 years:

Year	Monthly Active Users
2019	1 billion
2020	1.16 billion
2021	1.42 billion
2022	2.06 billion
2023	2.35 billion

As you can see, Instagram gained over 1.3 billion new monthly active users from 2019 to 2024. That‘s truly astonishing growth for a platform that‘s under 10 years old.

The pandemic years of 2020-2021 accelerated Instagram‘s growth, as homebound users flocked to social media. 2022 also saw massive growth of 640 million new MAUs. And in 2024, Instagram continues its meteoric rise.

Now let‘s analyze the demographics and usage trends behind these incredible monthly user figures.

Who‘s Using Instagram in 2024? Age Demographics

Unlike Facebook, Instagram has a very youthful audience. The majority of users are under 34, which has fueled Instagram‘s growth as a hot destination for young people.

Here is the breakdown of Instagram‘s monthly active users by age as of January 2024:

• 32.8% are 25-34 years old
• 29.6% are 18-24 years old
• 18.4% are 35-44 years old
• 11.8% are 45-54 years old
• 7.4% are 55-64 years old

Clearly the 25-34 and 18-24 age groups dominate, making up over 62% of total users. This indicates Instagram is perhaps the most influential social platform among millennials and Gen Z.

Looking more broadly, over 90% of monthly active users are under 35. Only 7.4% are over 55, Instagram‘s smallest demographic.

So while grandparents are increasingly joining Instagram, the platform remains a young person‘s game. For teens and twenty-somethings, Instagram is likely their most checked app each day.

Gender Split: Who Uses Instagram More, Men or Women?

In 2024, Instagram has nearly equal numbers of male and female monthly active users globally.

According to the data, 50.4% of MAUs are female, while 49.6% are male. So Instagram has achieved close to a perfect gender balance.

However, looking within specific age brackets reveals some variation:

• 18-24 year olds: 51.6% male, 48.4% female
• 25-34 year olds: 51.0% male, 49.0% female

So among the two core demographics, male users slightly edge out female users. But for all other age groups, female users are the majority:

• 35-44 year olds: 52.9% female, 47.1% male
• 45-54 year olds: 55.4% female, 44.6% male
• 55-64 year olds: 57.5% female, 42.5% male

In summary, women significantly drive Instagram usage among older audiences, while men represent the majority of younger users.

Which Countries Have the Most Instagram Users?

While founded in the US, Instagram has grown into a truly global platform. But which countries have the most monthly active Instagram users in 2024?

The USA still tops the list with over 150 million MAUs. India and Brazil follow closely with 140 million each.

Here are the leading countries worldwide by total Instagram monthly users:

Country	Monthly Active Users
USA	150 million
India	140 million
Brazil	140 million
Indonesia	130 million
Turkey	54 million

However, looking at user penetration reveals some different global leaders. For example, Kazakhstan actually has the highest Instagram penetration at 78.5% of the total population. Also in the top 5 for penetration are Iceland, Sweden, Cyprus and Brunei.

So while larger populations equal more total users, Instagram has actually penetrated further into smaller countries. This demonstrates its truly global scale and appeal.

Daily Active Users: How Many People Use Instagram Every Day?

In addition to monthly users, Instagram also reported over 500 million daily active users (DAUs) back in 2018. While they haven‘t updated this figure, we can estimate it‘s grown significantly.

Industry analysts tend to calculate DAUs as 20% of total MAUs. Using that benchmark, Instagram likely has around 470 million daily active users in 2024.

So almost half a billion people are scrolling through their Instagram feeds, watching Stories and engaging with content every single day. That puts Instagram‘s daily user base around the size of the entire US population – stunning reach and activity.

Stories Takeover: 700+ Million Users on Instagram Stories

Stories have become a central part of the Instagram experience. More than 500 million users were posting Stories daily as of January 2017. Given Instagram‘s growth since then, industry estimates put the current daily Stories user count above 700 million.

So it‘s likely that around one-third of Instagram‘s 2.35 billion monthly users are posting Stories regularly in 2024. They allow users to share quick, fun updates through photos and short videos that disappear after 24 hours.

Stories have even eclipsed feed posts in popularity. They offer a more casual sharing experience that feels less pressurized than curating the perfect Instagram grid post.

For businesses and creators, Stories are essential for driving engagement and connecting with users. The explosive growth of Stories usage demonstrates how integral they‘ve become to Instagram.

Shopping on Instagram: Your New Favorite Store

Once solely for sharing photos, Instagram has steadily evolved into a shopping and ecommerce platform.

Here are some surprising stats that highlight Instagram‘s transformation into a shopping destination:

• 130+ million users tap on shoppable posts to view products and pricing each month.

• 90 million users visit shoppable product tags in posts monthly.

• 80% of users say they make purchase decisions based on Instagram content.

• 76% of marketers plan to increase Instagram shopping initiatives.

It‘s clear that users are actively turning to Instagram to discover and purchase products. Businesses are also taking advantage of shoppable posts and tags to drive sales.

As users continue to embrace shopping on Instagram, it could emerge as the world‘s largest social commerce platform. The monthly user stats signal Instagram is already well on its way.

Interacting with Brands: Why Users Follow Business Profiles

Users haven‘t just embraced shopping – they are also following brands more actively on Instagram.

Check out these stats showing how users engage with business profiles:

• 90%+ of users follow at least one business account.

• 50% use Instagram to find entertaining branded content.

• 75% take action after seeing an inspirational business post.

• 60%+ engage with influencer and brand collaborations.

This data demonstrates that Instagram users genuinely want to connect with brands on the platform. They follow accounts seeking entertainment, inspiration, and influencer content.

For businesses, these stats make clear the massive opportunity Instagram provides. Posting engaging, inspiring content allows brands to build dedicated followings and drive action.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways on Instagram Monthly Users

Let‘s recap the key stats and trends on Instagram‘s monthly active users:

• 2.35 billion monthly active users makes Instagram one of the largest global platforms.

• 62% of MAUs are under 34, with 18-24 year olds dominating.

• Gender breakdown is nearly equal at 50/50 male/female.

• Leading countries are USA, India and Brazil with 150M+ MAUs each.

• 470 million estimated daily active users in 2024.

• 700 million+ Instagram Stories users and growing.

• Over 130 million tap into shopping posts every month.

• 90%+ of users follow brand profiles.

For any business or influencer, these monthly user stats signal massive opportunities to reach engaged audiences on Instagram. Understanding the demographics and trends among Instagram‘s users provides valuable insights to create content that resonates.

As Instagram continues its meteoric rise to 2 billion+ MAUs, it has undeniably become one of the most influential platforms globally across all generations. But specifically for teenagers and millennials, Instagram sits at the very center of modern social media culture.