Online Video Statistics 2026 (Viewing & Streaming)
Roughly nine in ten people who use the internet watch online video in any given week — about 91% of internet users, according to DataReportal's Digital 2026 report. With more than 6 billion people now online, that makes video the single most universal activity on the internet, ahead of social posting, search, and shopping.
This page collects the latest 2025 and 2026 figures on how many people watch online video, how long they watch, video's share of internet traffic, and the viewing numbers behind YouTube, Netflix, and TikTok — drawn from DataReportal, Nielsen, Ericsson, company earnings, and industry research.
Key online video stats (2025-2026)
- 91.1% of internet users watched online video in the past week, and 94.6% did so in the past month (DataReportal, Digital 2026).
- The typical internet user spends about 2.5 hours a day on social and video feeds — roughly 18h 36m a week (DataReportal, Digital 2026).
- Video is 76% of all mobile data traffic as of end-2025, forecast to reach 80% by 2028 (Ericsson Mobility Report, Nov 2025).
- Streaming hit a record 47.5% of US TV viewing in December 2025 — more than broadcast (21.4%) and cable (20.2%) combined (Nielsen, The Gauge).
- YouTube draws over 1 billion hours of viewing per day and has 2.7 billion+ monthly users (YouTube / Google).
- Netflix members watched 96 billion hours of content in H2 2025, with 325 million+ paid memberships (Netflix Q4 2025 earnings).
- TikTok surpassed 1.9 billion monthly active users globally (latest available, end-2024).
- Over 75% of all video views now happen on mobile devices (industry research, 2025).
What percent of internet users watch online video?
Online video is now close to universal among connected people. DataReportal's Digital 2026 report finds that 91.1% of internet users watched some form of online video in the past seven days, and 94.6% of online adults watched within the past 30 days. Set against a global base of 6.04 billion internet users (73.2% of the world's population, as of October 2025), that means well over 5 billion people watch online video each month.
To put video in context, no other online behavior reaches the same penetration. Watching video out-ranks visiting social networks, online search, and ecommerce as the most common thing people do once they are connected.
- 6.04 billion internet users worldwide, +5.1% year over year (DataReportal, Digital 2026).
- 91.1% watch online video weekly; 94.6% watch monthly (DataReportal).
- Music videos and comedy/meme clips are the most-watched content types weekly (Statista, 2025).
How many hours of online video do people watch?
The average internet user spends about two and a half hours a day on social and video feeds — platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook — which adds up to roughly 18 hours and 36 minutes per week, per DataReportal's Digital 2026 data. The heaviest segment is women aged 16-24, who average about 25h 45m a week (roughly 3h 40m a day).
On long-form streaming alone, the numbers are enormous. The average US adult streams about 208 minutes of TV per day (around 3.5 hours) as of 2025, and Netflix members worldwide logged 96 billion hours of viewing in the second half of 2025 — up about 2% year over year.
Weekly time on social & video feeds, by segment (2025-2026)
What share of internet traffic is video?
Video dominates the pipes. On mobile networks, video made up 76% of all data traffic at the end of 2025, up from 74% a year earlier, and Ericsson forecasts it will reach 80% by the end of 2028. Mobile traffic overall is projected to roughly double by 2030, with video doing most of the heavy lifting.
Across fixed and mobile networks combined, video remains the largest single application category by volume, according to AppLogic Networks (formerly Sandvine) in its 2025 Global Internet Phenomena Report — a position video has held for years as streaming quality and average watch time keep climbing.
Video's share of mobile data traffic, 2024-2028
How much video is watched on mobile vs. connected TV?
Two screens now drive online video: the phone for short, frequent sessions and the connected TV (CTV) for long-form streaming. More than 75% of all video views come from mobile devices, and around 85% of mobile video is watched on mute — which is why captions and on-screen text have become standard.
At the same time, the living-room TV has become an internet device. About 90% of US households used an internet-connected TV at least monthly in 2025, and YouTube reports the TV screen is now its fastest-growing surface. Connected TV has effectively turned the biggest screen in the house into a delivery point for the same online video that started on phones and laptops.
- 75%+ of video views originate on mobile (industry research, 2025).
- ~90% of US households use a connected TV at least monthly (2025).
- US adults stream about 208 minutes of TV per day (2025).
How big is short-form video?
Short-form video — the under-90-second clips popularized by TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts — is the fastest-moving format in the category. About 90% of consumers say they watch short-form video on their phones daily, and marketers rate it the most effective social format, with roughly 85% calling short-form the top-performing format on social media.
The money has followed the eyeballs: global short-form video ad spending reached an estimated $111 billion in 2025 and is projected to climb to about $145.8 billion by 2028. On engagement, short clips tend to outperform long-form on social platforms, and videos under 90 seconds retain roughly half their viewers on average.
What are the YouTube, Netflix, and TikTok viewing numbers?
The three platforms that define online video each operate at a scale that was unimaginable a decade ago.
- YouTube: 2.7 billion+ monthly users and over 1 billion hours of video watched daily; it generated about $60 billion in total revenue in 2025 (YouTube / Google).
- Netflix: 325 million+ paid memberships and 96 billion hours watched in H2 2025; revenue reached $45.2 billion in 2025, up about 16% (Netflix Q4 2025 earnings).
- TikTok: 1.9 billion+ monthly active users globally (latest available, end-2024), with ad revenue projected near $33 billion in 2025.
On the TV screen specifically, YouTube is now the single most-watched media company in the US. It held a record ~13.4% of all US TV viewing in July 2025 and remained the largest individual destination through year-end, ahead of Netflix (around 9.0% of TV viewing in December 2025), per Nielsen's The Gauge.
Share of US TV viewing, December 2025
How fast is live streaming growing?
Live streaming — from sports and gaming to shopping and creator broadcasts — is one of the fastest-growing slices of online video. Grand View Research valued the global live streaming market at roughly $88 billion in 2023 and projects it will reach about $345 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of around 23%.
The strain shows up on networks too: AppLogic Networks notes that live-streamed sports events can spike traffic to 3-4x normal levels in a matter of minutes, a pattern operators increasingly plan around. The broader video streaming market — live and on-demand combined — is forecast to hit about $416.8 billion by 2030.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of internet users watch online video?
About 91.1% of internet users watched online video in the past week and 94.6% of online adults watched in the past month, according to DataReportal's Digital 2026 report. With 6.04 billion internet users worldwide, that translates to well over 5 billion monthly viewers.
How many hours of online video does the average person watch?
The typical internet user spends roughly 2.5 hours a day on social and video feeds, about 18 hours and 36 minutes per week (DataReportal, Digital 2026). On TV streaming specifically, the average US adult streams around 208 minutes (3.5 hours) of video per day in 2025.
What share of internet traffic is video?
Video accounted for 76% of all mobile data traffic at the end of 2025 and is forecast to reach 80% by 2028, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report (November 2025). Video is also the single largest application category across fixed and mobile networks combined.
Does streaming now beat traditional TV?
Yes, in the US. Streaming reached a record 47.5% of total TV viewing in December 2025 — more than broadcast (21.4%) and cable (20.2%) combined — per Nielsen's The Gauge. Streaming first eclipsed combined broadcast and cable viewing in 2025.
Which platform gets the most video viewing?
YouTube is the largest single destination, with 2.7 billion+ monthly users and over 1 billion hours watched daily; it also holds the biggest share of US TV viewing of any media company (around 13% in mid-2025). Netflix leads on long-form subscription viewing with 96 billion hours watched in H2 2025.
How much video is watched on mobile?
More than 75% of all video views now come from mobile devices, and roughly 85% of mobile video is watched on mute (2025 industry research). Connected TVs are the other major surface, used by about 90% of US households at least monthly.
How fast is live streaming growing?
The global live streaming market was valued at about $88 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach roughly $345 billion by 2030 — a CAGR near 23%, according to Grand View Research. Live-streamed sports can spike network traffic to 3-4x normal levels.
Sources
DataReportal — Digital 2026 Global Overview Report · Ericsson — Mobility Report, November 2025 · Nielsen — The Gauge (Dec 2025) and Media Distributor Gauge · AppLogic Networks (Sandvine) — 2025 Global Internet Phenomena Report · Netflix — Q4 2025 earnings / Business of Apps · Grand View Research — Live Streaming Market Report and Video Streaming Market · Statista — Most-watched online video content type.
Data reflects the latest available figures as of mid-2026; platform and market figures cite their stated data year. TikTok monthly-user figures are the latest available (end-2024). Where a precise 2026 figure was unavailable, the most recent verified year is noted.