Distribution of Facebook users worldwide as of April 2026, by age and gender
Facebook's demographic profile in April 2026 tells a story of a platform in a long, slow transition — from the youth-dominated social network it was in 2010 toward an increasingly broad-age, male-skewed utility platform used across all adult demographics. The dominance of men aged 25–34 (18.4% of all users) reflects the cumulative effect of a decade of demographic shifts: a generation of users who joined Facebook in their late teens and early twenties (2010–2018) and have now aged into the 25–34 bracket while continuing to use the platform. The 3.07 billion total user base these figures apply to is detailed in our Facebook statistics and user analysis.
The male-skewed gender split (56.8% male, 43.2% female) is one of Facebook's most consistent demographic characteristics — maintained across all years of Ads Manager data availability. This imbalance is most pronounced in South Asian and Middle Eastern markets where gender gaps in internet access and smartphone ownership translate directly into Facebook gender gaps. In developed markets (North America, Western Europe), the gender split is much closer to parity — approximately 52% male, 48% female — with women slightly outnumbering men in some age brackets. The broader social media user demographics are tracked in our global social media users worldwide analysis.
Men 25–34 Lead at 18.4% — Full Age-Gender Distribution of Facebook Users Worldwide (April 2026)
The distribution chart reveals two structural features of Facebook's global demographic profile. First, the consistent male surplus across every age group — men outnumber women in every bracket from 13-17 through 65+, with the largest absolute gap in the 25-34 bracket (18.4% men vs 11.6% women, a 6.8pp difference). Second, the dramatic drop-off after 34: the 25-34 bracket accounts for approximately 30% of users, the 35-44 bracket for approximately 21%, and each subsequent bracket progressively smaller. This "right-tailed" distribution reflects both Facebook's historical youth adoption pattern (the platform was founded as a college network) and the natural pyramid shape of population demographics. The marketing significance of this distribution is analysed in our social media platforms used by marketers worldwide analysis.
Facebook Users by Age and Gender — Full Data Table (April 2026)
The table shows each age-gender bracket's share of total global Facebook advertising audience, estimated absolute user count, male-female ratio within each age group, and change since 2022. The daily time spent by these users is in our daily social media usage worldwide analysis.
| Age Group | Gender | Share of Total (%) | Est. Users (M) | Gender Ratio in Group | Change vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-17 | Male | ~1.9% | ~58M | 57% male / 43% female | -0.4pp |
| 13-17 | Female | ~1.3% | ~40M | 57% male / 43% female | -0.3pp |
| 18-24 | Male | ~10.6% | ~325M | 59% male / 41% female | -0.8pp |
| 18-24 | Female | ~7.4% | ~227M | 59% male / 41% female | -0.6pp |
| 25-34 | Male | ~18.4% | ~565M | 61% male / 39% female | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | Female | ~11.6% | ~356M | 61% male / 39% female | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | Male | ~12.2% | ~375M | 58% male / 42% female | +0.8pp |
| 35-44 | Female | ~8.8% | ~270M | 58% male / 42% female | +0.6pp |
| 45-54 | Male | ~8.0% | ~246M | 57% male / 43% female | +0.4pp |
| 45-54 | Female | ~6.0% | ~184M | 57% male / 43% female | +0.4pp |
| 55-64 | Male | ~5.2% | ~160M | 55% male / 45% female | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | Female | ~3.8% | ~117M | 55% male / 45% female | +0.3pp |
| 65+ | Male | ~4.6% | ~141M | 53% male / 47% female | +0.5pp |
| 65+ | Female | ~3.4% | ~104M | 53% male / 47% female | +0.5pp |
The data table's "change vs 2022" column reveals the demographic aging trajectory in precise terms: every cohort above 35 is growing its share of the Facebook audience (35-44 men: +0.8pp, the largest gain), while every cohort below 25 is declining. The 18-24 male bracket — once the defining demographic of Facebook — has declined 0.8pp since 2022, its share eroded by TikTok and Instagram. The 65+ bracket, in contrast, shows steady growth (+0.5pp for both genders) as older adults adopt the platform at higher rates than younger adults are leaving it, and as the large baby boomer cohort continues aging into the 65+ bracket. The social media usage reasons for these different cohorts are in our social media usage reasons worldwide analysis.
56.8% Male, 43.2% Female — Facebook's Global Gender Gap Is Most Extreme in South Asia and the Middle East
Facebook's consistent male-majority user base (56.8% male globally) reflects structural inequality in internet access across the world's most populous regions. In South Asia — India, Bangladesh, Pakistan — male internet penetration significantly exceeds female, and this gap translates directly into Facebook's gender imbalance. India's Facebook user base is estimated at approximately 65-68% male, reflecting both higher male internet penetration and cultural patterns where female social media use is more restricted in rural areas. In contrast, developed markets show near-parity or slight female majority: the United States is approximately 52% male, and several Western European markets (UK, France, Germany) show approximately 51-52% male. The underlying population and internet access data is in our world population analysis.
The narrowing of the gender gap in older age brackets is a consistent pattern across all regions: the 65+ bracket globally (53% male, 47% female) is significantly closer to parity than the 25-34 bracket (61% male, 39% female). This pattern reflects two dynamics: women live longer than men globally, meaning older cohorts have a higher proportion of women in the general population; and older Western women are among the most active Facebook users, particularly for Groups, family connection, and local community features that drive the 65+ female cohort's above-average engagement. The broader social media statistics context is in our social media statistics and facts analysis.
25-34 Year Olds Are 30% of Facebook — 55+ Now 17%, Up From 9% in 2015 — The Platform Is Aging
Facebook's age cohort distribution — with 25-34 as the largest bracket at approximately 30% of total users — represents the cumulative result of a decade of demographic momentum. The cohort that was 15-24 years old in 2015 (Facebook's original dominant demographic) is now 25-34 in 2026, having aged in place on the platform. This cohort-aging effect means Facebook's demographic composition is partially predictable: today's 25-34 cohort will become the platform's dominant 35-44 cohort by 2036, steadily shifting the user base older regardless of what new users join. The 55+ bracket's growth from approximately 9% in 2015 to approximately 17% in 2026 is the most commercially significant demographic shift — older adults with higher disposable income and lower price sensitivity are generally among the most valuable advertising audiences.
The 13-17 bracket's approximate 3.2% share of global Facebook users — representing approximately 98 million teenagers globally — understates Facebook's challenge with younger users in developed markets while masking its continued teen relevance in emerging ones. In the United States, only approximately 32% of teens (13-17) use Facebook regularly, compared to approximately 63% who use TikTok and approximately 72% who use YouTube. In India and Indonesia, Facebook's teen penetration remains significantly higher — approximately 55-65% — because TikTok's competing platforms are less established and Facebook's zero-rated data access continues to give it a default advantage. The teen social media usage patterns are in our biggest social media platforms by users analysis.
South Asia 68% Male — North America 52% Male — Regional Demographics Vary Dramatically
Facebook's demographic composition varies dramatically by region, reflecting both the underlying demographics of each market and the differential adoption patterns by age and gender across markets. South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan) shows approximately 68% male Facebook users — the most gender-skewed major Facebook market in the world — driven by significantly lower female internet access in rural South Asia and cultural constraints on female social media participation. The Middle East shows approximately 65% male users, similarly reflecting lower female internet access in countries like Yemen, Iraq, and Egypt alongside the demographic weight of large expat male workforces in Gulf states. North America and Western Europe show the closest to gender parity at approximately 52% male.
Latin America's approximately 54% male / 46% female split — closer to parity than most regions — reflects the region's relatively equal gender internet access and the particular strength of Facebook and Instagram among women in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Latin American women use Facebook at high rates for family connection, marketplace selling (Facebook Marketplace and Facebook groups functioning as informal e-commerce platforms), and community organisation. This relatively gender-balanced Latin American user base makes Facebook an unusually effective platform for female-targeted consumer advertising in the region — unlike South Asian markets where female Facebook reach is substantially lower than male. The platforms used by marketers across these regions are in our social media platforms used by marketers worldwide analysis.
35-44 Bracket +3pp Since 2019, 55+ Up +4pp — 18-24 Down -3pp as Young Users Migrate to TikTok
Tracking Facebook's age distribution from 2019 to April 2026 makes the platform's aging trajectory unmistakably visible. The 35-44 bracket has grown approximately 3 percentage points since 2019 (from approximately 18% to approximately 21%), the 45-54 bracket approximately 2pp (from approximately 12% to approximately 14%), and the 55+ bracket approximately 4pp combined (from approximately 13% to approximately 17%). In contrast, the 18-24 bracket has declined approximately 3pp (from approximately 21% to approximately 18%), and the 13-17 bracket approximately 2.5pp (from approximately 5.7% to approximately 3.2%). The 25-34 bracket has remained the largest cohort throughout, holding approximately 29-30% of total users across the period.
The 65+ cohort's growth from approximately 5% in 2019 to approximately 8% in 2026 (+3pp in absolute terms) is the most significant structural shift in Facebook's demographic data across the period. In absolute user terms, the 65+ cohort has grown from approximately 125-150 million users in 2019 to approximately 245 million in 2026 — nearly doubling in seven years, while younger cohorts have grown only modestly in absolute terms. This growth reflects the aging of the baby boomer generation into the 65+ bracket alongside growing comfort with digital platforms among older adults — a trend accelerated by COVID-19 lockdowns (2020-2021) that drove significant digital adoption among older demographics. The e-commerce behaviour of these demographics is tracked in our retail e-commerce sales growth worldwide analysis.
USA: Near Gender Parity and Older Skew — India: 66% Male and Younger Skew — Two Very Different Platforms
Comparing Facebook's demographic profile between the United States and India — its two most commercially significant markets — reveals that "Facebook" is in practice two very different platforms operating under the same brand name. The US Facebook audience is approximately 52% male / 48% female, with the 35+ cohort accounting for approximately 58% of users — an older, near-gender-parity platform primarily used for community (Groups), marketplace commerce, and family connection. India's Facebook audience is approximately 66% male / 34% female, with the 18-34 cohort accounting for approximately 60% of users — a younger, strongly male-skewed platform still in an active-adoption phase. These demographic differences produce dramatically different advertising dynamics: the same campaign would reach fundamentally different audiences in each market. Country-level Facebook data is in our top 25 countries by Facebook users analysis.
The US vs India comparison also has significant implications for Facebook's advertising revenue trajectory. US users generating approximately $55 ARPU annually are older (higher purchasing power, more established financial relationships, homeowners more likely to be targeted by high-CPM advertisers) and near gender-parity (reaching both primary household purchasers). Indian users generating approximately $5 ARPU are younger, more male-skewed, and in an earlier stage of digital commerce adoption. As India's user base ages over the next decade — and as Indian digital commerce matures — ARPU should grow significantly, but the demographic aging pattern visible in the US data suggests this is a decade-long process, not a 2-3 year transition. The broader internet company revenue context is in our internet companies revenue analysis.
Women 25–44 Command Highest CPMs — 65+ Growing Fast — Demographic Value Does Not Match Size
Facebook's demographic composition has direct implications for advertising pricing. The highest cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM) demographic segments on Facebook are typically women aged 25-44 in North America and Western Europe — reflecting their purchasing power, household purchase decision-making role, and the high competition among consumer goods, fashion, financial services, and healthcare advertisers for this audience. Despite being a smaller share of total users than men 25-34, women 25-44 command CPMs approximately 20-40% higher than equivalent male demographics for most consumer advertising categories. The 65+ bracket — despite representing approximately 8% of global users — is increasingly valuable as this cohort controls a disproportionate share of consumer spending and has lower resistance to direct-response advertising.
The CPM index chart reveals the commercial paradox of Facebook's demographic composition: its largest demographic segment (men 25-34 at 18.4% of users) commands only approximately 112 on the CPM index, while its smaller but more commercially valuable segments (women 35-44 at approximately 9% of users, CPM index 155) are priced significantly higher. This means that Facebook's revenue is not simply proportional to user demographic share — the platform earns disproportionately from its female users in developed markets and from its older users relative to their share of total users. This dynamic also partially explains why Facebook continues to be commercially strong despite its declining relevance among younger demographics: the audiences it retains (women 35-54, seniors 65+) are premium advertising audiences commanding high CPMs from healthcare, financial services, insurance, and consumer staples advertisers.
Facebook Demographics — Key Statistics (April 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions — Facebook Age and Gender Demographics 2026
Men aged 25–34 are the largest single age-gender demographic on Facebook globally as of April 2026, representing approximately 18.4% of all Facebook users — equivalent to approximately 565 million users. The 25-34 age group as a whole (both genders combined) is the largest age cohort at approximately 30% of global Facebook users. This dominance has been consistent since approximately 2018 when the platform's original 18-24 core demographic aged into the 25-34 bracket. Source: Facebook Ads Manager April 2026, DataReportal 2026. ±3–5 percentage points.
Approximately 56.8% of global Facebook users are male and approximately 43.2% are female as of April 2026. This gender split is consistent across all age groups, with the largest male-to-female ratio in the 25-34 bracket (61% male / 39% female) and the closest to parity in the 65+ bracket (53% male / 47% female). The global imbalance is heavily influenced by South Asia (~68% male) and the Middle East (~65% male), while North America and Western Europe show near-parity (~52% male). Source: Facebook Ads Manager April 2026, DataReportal 2026. ±2–4 percentage points.
The median age of a global Facebook user is approximately 31–33 years as of April 2026. The 25-34 age cohort is the largest (approximately 30% of users), followed by 35-44 (approximately 21%), and 18-24 (approximately 18%). Facebook's user base has aged progressively since 2015 — the 55+ cohort now accounts for approximately 17% of global users (up from approximately 9% in 2015) and the 65+ cohort specifically has grown from approximately 5% to approximately 8% over the same period. Source: Facebook Ads Manager April 2026, Statista demographics 2026. ±2–3 years for median age estimate.
Yes — particularly in developed markets. The 13-17 age bracket accounts for approximately 3.2% of global Facebook users in 2026, down from approximately 5.7% in 2019. In the United States, only approximately 32% of teens (13-17) use Facebook regularly, compared to approximately 63% for TikTok. Globally, the absolute number of teen Facebook users has not fallen as dramatically because South Asian and African teens continue joining the platform. However, Facebook's share of teen digital time has declined substantially in all markets. Source: Facebook Ads Manager April 2026, eMarketer US Teen Social Media Report 2025. ±3–5 percentage points.
Women aged 35–44 command the highest CPMs of any Facebook demographic (approximately 155 indexed versus global average of 100), reflecting their household purchase decision-making role and the high competition among consumer goods, financial services, and healthcare advertisers for this audience. The 25-44 age group overall (both genders) is the most commercially important, accounting for approximately 51% of global Facebook users and the primary household purchasing cohort. Men 18-24 — Facebook's historically dominant demographic — now command only approximately 88 on the CPM index due to reduced advertiser competition following their migration to TikTok. Source: Meta Business Manager benchmarks, industry CPM data 2026. ±20-25% by industry.
Facebook's age distribution varies significantly by region. In Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the 18-34 cohort may account for approximately 55-65% of users, reflecting the region's younger overall population. In North America and Western Europe, the 35+ cohort accounts for approximately 55-60% of the user base — a much older skew. The 65+ cohort is significantly more represented in North America (~17%) and Western Europe (~15%) than in Asia-Pacific (~4%) or Africa (~3%). These regional differences mean global demographic statistics significantly understate the platform's age in Western markets. Source: Facebook Ads Manager regional data April 2026, DataReportal 2026. ±4–6pp per region per cohort.
Facebook (56.8% male globally) is more male-skewed than Instagram, which is estimated at approximately 50-52% male globally — nearly gender-neutral. In developed markets specifically, Instagram skews slightly female (approximately 51-53% female among 18-34 year olds), while Facebook skews slightly male in the same cohort. This difference reflects the platforms' divergent content ecosystems: Instagram's visual-first, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content skews toward female creators and audiences, while Facebook's news, sports, and political content skews male. The platforms-by-users context is in our biggest social media platforms by users analysis. Source: Facebook and Instagram Ads Manager April 2026. ±2–4 percentage points per platform.
Adults aged 65 and above account for approximately 8% of global Facebook users as of April 2026 — equivalent to approximately 245 million users. This is up from approximately 5% in 2019 (+3 percentage points). In North America specifically, the 65+ cohort accounts for approximately 17% of Facebook users — significantly above the global average — as Facebook has become the primary social platform for older American adults maintaining family connections and community involvement. The 65+ cohort commands above-average CPMs from healthcare, pharmaceutical, financial services, and insurance advertisers. Source: Facebook Ads Manager April 2026, Statista. ±3–5 percentage points.
Facebook Ads Manager — Potential Reach by Age and Gender (April 2026) — Primary source for all age-gender demographic data. Facebook Ads Manager shows advertisers the potential reach of campaigns targeting specific age-gender brackets within each country or globally. This is the only publicly available source of Facebook demographic data since Meta does not disclose age or gender breakdown in its official earnings reports. Data represents advertising audience potential reach, not confirmed MAU.
DataReportal — We Are Social Global Digital Report 2026 — Cross-reference source for global and regional Facebook demographic breakdowns. DataReportal's country and regional profiles compile Facebook Ads Manager data alongside national survey data for extended demographic analysis. Used for regional gender split and age distribution estimates.
Statista — Facebook Age and Gender Distribution 2026 / Social Media Demographics — Secondary source for age-gender distribution data and historical trend comparisons. Statista aggregates Facebook Ads Manager data and provides time-series demographic tracking from 2019 onward. Used for 2019 vs 2026 comparison data.
eMarketer — US Teen Social Media Usage 2025 / Social Media Demographics Forecast 2026 — Source for US teen Facebook usage data and CPM benchmarking data. eMarketer's annual social media demographic and advertising benchmarking reports are used for the advertiser value (CPM index) section of this analysis.
