The quick answer: podcast consumption reached another US record in 2026. Edison Research found 80% of Americans age 12 and up had ever consumed a podcast, 58% had consumed one in the last month, and 45% had consumed one in the last week. YouTube reports more than one billion monthly podcast viewers, while IAB/PwC measured US podcast advertising revenue at $2.862 billion in 2025.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026.
| Statistic | Figure | Market and period | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ever consumed a podcast | 80% | US age 12+, January 2026 | Edison Research |
| Monthly podcast consumers | 58% | US age 12+, January 2026 | Edison Research |
| Weekly podcast consumers | 45% | US age 12+, January 2026 | Edison Research |
| Both listened and watched | 57% | US age 12+, January 2026 | Edison Research |
| Monthly YouTube podcast viewers | 1B+ | Worldwide, reported May 2026 | YouTube |
| Podcasts in catalog | 3,806,937+ | Worldwide catalog, checked September 5, 2026 | Listen Notes |
| Podcast advertising revenue | $2.862B | US, full-year 2025 | IAB/PwC |
Download the podcast statistics data
Direct answer: Download the 7 headline measurements as CSV or JSON. Each row includes the figure, unit, audience, geography, measurement period, primary source, source URL, verification date, and an important limitation.
What this page covers
- Podcast catalog size: how many podcasts exist
- Downloadable CSV and JSON data
- Podcast listener statistics (US)
- Where people listen: platforms and the rise of YouTube
- Video podcast statistics
- How people discover podcasts
- Podcast advertising revenue
- What the data means for your show
- Frequently asked questions
- How to cite this page
- Methodology, limitations, and update log
- Sources
How many podcasts exist in 2026?
Direct answer: Listen Notes catalogued at least 3,806,937 podcasts and 193,655,641 episodes on September 5, 2026. This measures publicly accessible RSS-based podcast listings, not the number of shows actively publishing.
Listen Notes listed at least 3,806,937 podcasts and 193,655,641 episodes when checked on September 5, 2026. These figures come from its database of publicly accessible RSS-based podcasts. (Listen Notes podcast statistics)
This is a catalog count, not an active-show count. It includes shows that may no longer publish. We removed the previous “active podcast” headline because its definition and timestamp were easy to miss when the figure was quoted elsewhere.
Podcast listener statistics (US)
Direct answer: In 2026, 80% of Americans age 12 and older had consumed a podcast, 58% had consumed one in the previous month, and 45% had consumed one in the previous week, according to Edison Research.
- 80% of Americans age 12 and up, about 230 million people, have ever listened to or watched a podcast.
- 58%, about 167 million people, consumed a podcast in the last month.
- 45%, about 130 million people, consumed a podcast in the last week.
- Monthly consumption reached 68% among Americans age 35 to 54.
All 4 figures come from Edison Research's Infinite Dial 2026. The study surveyed 2,050 people in January 2026 and weighted the sample to represent the US population age 12 and older.
Where people listen: platforms and the rise of YouTube
Direct answer: YouTube reported more than one billion monthly active podcast viewers worldwide in May 2026. An older Edison US benchmark placed YouTube ahead of Spotify and Apple Podcasts among weekly podcast listeners in Q4 2024.
YouTube is now too large to treat as a secondary podcast channel. YouTube says podcast content has more than one billion monthly active viewers worldwide. In April 2026, YouTube Premium users alone watched more than 800 million hours of podcasts. (YouTube, May 2026)
- More than 1 billion people watch podcast content on YouTube each month.
- Podcast viewing on living-room devices reached 700 million hours in October 2025, up from 400 million hours a year earlier. (YouTube)
- Edison's Q4 2024 measurement found YouTube was the service used most often by US weekly podcast listeners: YouTube 31%, Spotify 27%, and Apple Podcasts 15%. This remains a useful benchmark, but it is not a 2026 platform-share measurement. (Edison Podcast Metrics)
Video podcast statistics
Direct answer: Podcast audiences increasingly use both formats. Edison Research found 57% of Americans age 12 and older had both listened to and watched a podcast by 2026, while YouTube reported more than one billion monthly podcast viewers.
- 57% of Americans age 12 and up have both listened to and watched a podcast. (Edison Research, 2026)
- YouTube reports more than one billion monthly active podcast viewers worldwide. (YouTube, 2026)
- YouTube viewers watched 700 million hours of podcasts on living-room devices in October 2025. (YouTube)
The honest read is that podcasting is a dual-format medium. Edison explicitly says video is expanding the audience rather than replacing audio. Record video when it fits your show, but do not weaken the listening experience to chase a video trend.
For a dated breakdown of US viewing frequency, YouTube hours, Spotify show counts, and the limits of cross-platform comparisons, see our full Video Podcast Statistics 2026 report.
For US revenue, ad-supported reach, recall, listener response, and downloadable source data, see Podcast Advertising Statistics 2026.
How people discover podcasts
Direct answer: No reliable primary source supports one universal podcast-discovery percentage. Discovery changes by audience and study, but YouTube's scale makes searchable titles, chapters, clips, and episode pages important distribution assets.
The available primary sources establish YouTube's scale and frequent use, but they do not support one universal discovery percentage for every podcast audience. Discovery varies by age, country, genre, and study wording.
The practical implication is still clear: package each episode for searchable and recommended surfaces. Use descriptive episode titles, publish useful clips, add chapters on YouTube, and give each episode a page that search engines can understand. Do not assume the listening app will create discovery by itself.
Podcast advertising revenue
Direct answer: US podcast advertising revenue reached $2.862 billion in 2025, a 17.6% increase from $2.433 billion in 2024, according to the IAB/PwC full-year report released in April 2026.
- US podcast advertising revenue reached $2.862 billion in 2025.
- That represented 17.6% year-over-year growth from $2.433 billion in 2024.
Both figures come from the IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report for full-year 2025, released in April 2026. The report measures the US market using the traditional audio-based definition of podcast advertising.
We removed the old generic CPM ranges from this article. Actual sponsorship pricing depends on format, audience, niche, campaign terms, and measurement. To model your own assumptions, use the free podcast sponsorship calculator.
What the data means for your show
Direct answer: Keep audio strong, add video where it improves distribution, and turn each episode into searchable assets. The evidence supports a dual-format workflow, not abandoning audio or treating every show like a television production.
Numbers are only useful if they change what you do. Here is what this set actually tells a podcaster in 2026.
Treat YouTube as a serious distribution channel. Its podcast audience is too large to dismiss. Whether it should be your home base depends on your audience, format, and business goal.
Record video when it improves distribution. The overlap between podcast listeners and viewers is now substantial. A simple, reliable video setup can create YouTube episodes and clips without turning the show into television production.
Keep audio excellent. The 2026 data shows that audio and video expand the medium together. It does not prove that one format always wins discovery or attention for every show.
If you want the full playbook for acting on these trends, read our guide on how to promote a podcast in 2026. To turn each episode into the clips and posts these numbers reward, see the complete guide to podcast content repurposing and the Content Engine Method.
Frequently asked questions
How many podcasts are there in 2026?
Listen Notes listed at least 3,806,937 podcasts and 193,655,641 episodes when checked on September 5, 2026. That is a catalog count, not a count of currently active shows.
How many people listen to podcasts?
Edison Research found 80% of Americans age 12 and up had ever consumed a podcast in 2026. Monthly consumption reached 58%, or about 167 million people, while weekly consumption reached 45%, or about 130 million people.
What is the most popular podcast platform in 2026?
YouTube reports more than one billion monthly active viewers of podcast content and describes itself as the most frequently used podcast service in the US. Exact market shares vary by study, audience, and measurement period.
Do more people watch or listen to podcasts?
Podcasting is now a dual-format medium. Edison Research found 57% of Americans age 12 and up had both listened to and watched a podcast by 2026. That overlap is more useful than forcing a universal audio-versus-video winner.
How to cite this page
Suggested citation: Younis, Fahad. “Podcast Statistics 2026: The Numbers That Matter (With Sources).” Podcast Growth Studio. Updated September 8, 2026. https://podcastgrowthstudio.com/posts/podcast-statistics-2026
When quoting a statistic, cite the original research organization listed in the table above. Credit Podcast Growth Studio when reproducing either original chart.
Methodology, limitations, and update log
Method: this page is an editorial compilation, not a Podcast Growth Studio survey. We use named primary sources where possible, record the audience, geography, and measurement period, and label company-reported figures and older benchmarks.
Limitations: the measurements use different methods and cannot be combined into one market-size estimate. The Listen Notes figure counts catalogued shows, not active shows. YouTube's monthly-viewer figure is a company-reported lower bound.
Reuse: quote each measurement with its named primary source. PGS-created charts may be reproduced with a visible link to this page. Do not describe this compilation as an original PGS survey.
Update log: September 5, 2026, primary figures rechecked and outdated estimates removed. September 6, 2026, responsive answer blocks, machine-readable downloads, methodology, and update notes added.
Sources
The headline statistics on this page come directly from the organizations that measured or published them.
- Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026. edisonresearch.com
- Edison Research, YouTube is the preferred podcast listening service. edisonresearch.com
- YouTube, New YouTube Premium features podcast fans will love. blog.youtube
- YouTube, How podcasts took over the living room in 2025. blog.youtube
- Listen Notes, Podcast Stats. listennotes.com
- IAB/PwC, Internet Advertising Revenue Report: Full Year 2025. iab.com
This page is updated as new primary data is released. Statistics last verified September 5, 2026. Page structure last updated September 8, 2026.