Global: February 5, 2024: Facebook, the social media giant owned by Meta Platforms, celebrated its 20th anniversary on February 4, 2024, announcing a remarkable milestone of over three billion active users worldwide. This accounts for 57% of global internet users and 38% of the global population.
Launched in 2004 as “TheFacebook” by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates at Harvard University, the platform quickly gained popularity on college campuses across the United States. Within its first year, it reached one million users, and by 2005, it was renamed “facebook.com.” Over the years, Facebook’s user base skyrocketed, hitting one billion users in 2012 and going public with a valuation of $104 billion.
In 2021, Meta Platforms, Inc., Facebook’s parent company, was announced by Zuckerberg, marking a strategic move beyond social media. The conglomerate owns and operates various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
The current user statistics reveal that Facebook’s audience is diverse, with India leading at 385.6 million users, followed by the U.S. (188.6 million), Indonesia (136.3 million), Brazil (111.7 million), and Mexico (94.8 million). In Africa, Egypt tops the list with 49.3 million users, followed by Nigeria (36.2 million), South Africa (27.4 million), and Algeria (26.6 million).
Facebook’s advertising audience is substantial globally, with countries like Italy (29.7 million), France (32.6 million), Turkey (34.8 million), Pakistan (45.9 million), Colombia (38.1 million), and Argentina (29.6 million).
Breaking down the age groups, the largest Facebook audience falls in the 25-34 age category, making up 29.9% of all users. Other age groups include 13–17 years (4.8%), 18–24 years (21.5%), 35–44 years (19.4%), 45–54 years (11.6%), 55–64 years (7.3%), and 65 years and older (5.6%).
Despite facing challenges related to data privacy and user safety over the years, Facebook’s revenue remains robust. For the fourth quarter of 2023, Meta reported a revenue of $40.1 billion and a profit of $14 billion, surpassing analysts’ forecasts. The company continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and plans to introduce its own AI chips, internally named “Artemis,” later this year for integration into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
