The metaverse is no longer just a sci-fi dream—it’s becoming a new digital playground!
In 2024, the metaverse is growing like crazy, changing how we hang out, work, and even play games.
From virtual workplaces that are hotter than ever to users spending more time in VR games, the metaverse is shaking things up big time.
If you’re a tech fan, an investor, or just someone who’s curious about what’s next, knowing the latest stats is key. These numbers give you the lowdown on what’s making the metaverse tick and why it’s the place to be this year.
Keep reading to discover 10 fascinating Metaverse statistics that might surprise you!
- The Metaverse has more than 400 million monthly active users around the world
- 80% of Metaverse users are under 16 years old
- The Metaverse market is expected to be worth around $2,346.2 Billion By 2032
- By 2026, 25% of people will spend 1 hour a day in the Metaverse
- Only 1 in 10 US adults are familiar with the concept of the Metaverse
- 4 in 10 US adults associate the term ‘metaverse’ with Facebook or Instagram
- The Global Virtual Reality Tourism market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 33.0% from 2023 to 2030
- Roblox is the most popular metaverse game with over 900 million downloads
- 60% of US adults are not interested in the Metaverse
- The shift towards remote work has accelerated demand for metaverse technologies
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Let’s take a closer look at some of the fascinating stats that I found during my research.
1. The Metaverse has more than 400 million monthly active users around the world
Every month, around 400 million people actively participate in the Metaverse. This includes playing metaverse games, using metaverse technologies and interacting with metaverse applications.
The majority of these people live in North America followed by China and Japan.
According to Statista, the number of people who use the metaverse is expected to increase to around 2633 million by 2030. This growth will be propelled by the gaming industry as well as the adoption of metaverse technologies in the healthcare and education industries.
For context, 2633 million is larger than the population of China!
2. 80% of Metaverse users are under 16 years old
It may come as a surprise but, the majority of Metaverse users are minors with 80% of users being under 16 years old.
This is mostly likely due to the prominence of metaverse gaming, which is currently one of the biggest markets within the metaverse space. Games such as Roblox appeal to younger users more so than older users.
We may see more adults choosing to use the metaverse when technologies are rolled out in mainstream workplaces.
3. The Metaverse market is expected to be worth around $2,346.2 Billion By 2032
By 2032, the Metaverse market could reach a staggering value of $2,346 billion. This would represent a compound annual growth rate of 44.4% from 2024 – 2033.
I say this makes the Metaverse a pretty promising investment! However, the growth potential of the market depends on the speed and success of adoption.
At the moment, VR and AR technologies are supporting the growth of the Metaverse space. However, the industry faces several challenges including high development costs, complex technologies, and security concerns.
4. By 2026, 25% of people will spend 1 hour a day in the Metaverse
In just 2 years time, 25% of people are expected to spend at least 1 hour a day in the Metaverse.
This would be a significant shift from current Metaverse usage.
This will include time spent using metaverse technologies for work and education, which are two of the fastest-growing sectors.
Another big opportunity lies within the commerce space. Metaverse technologies have the potential to boost sales and increase user engagement with digital stores which could have a significant positive impact. It is thought that more and more stores will begin to harness metaverse over the next few years to reap the benefits of the transformative technology.
5. Only 1 in 10 US adults are familiar with the concept of the Metaverse
Despite the rapid growth of the Metaverse, it is still a relatively new concept.
Only 1 in 10 US adults are familiar with the concept of the Metaverse. This is most likely due to the complex nature of the technology, which is a pretty big barrier to adoption!
Trying to explain the Metaverse to someone who is not familiar with web3 or blockchain is a difficult task. For adoption to continue growing, projects will need to break down this barrier and demystify the technology.
6. 4 in 10 US adults associate the term ‘metaverse’ with Facebook or Instagram
One of the most surprising facts that I found during my deep dive is that 4 in 10 US adults associate the term ‘metaverse’ with Facebook or Instagram.
In 2021, the social media giant Facebook changed its name to ‘Meta Platforms’. Understandably, this has caused many people to link social platforms with Metaverse technologies.
Meta Platforms has made significant strides in the AR and VR space and will launch their highly-anticipated AR Smart Glasses in 2025.
The tech company is one of the biggest names within the Metaverse industry. However, there is more to the Metaverse than Meta Platforms.
7. The Global Virtual Reality Tourism market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 33.0% from 2023 to 2030
Another promising use case for the Metaverse lies within the tourism sector. By 2030, the Global Virtual Reality Tourism market will grow by 33%.
This will involve using VR technology to allow tourists to ‘sample’ destinations before they make a booking. Metaverse tours will make it possible for you to experience a location before making the financial commitment to go there.
8. Roblox is the most popular metaverse game with over 900 million downloads
For quite a few years, Roblox has been a prominent leader in the Metaverse gaming space. The app has had over 900 million downloads since 2016 and a marketcap of over $25 billion.
In 2023, the game secured position 1 in the list of the top free adventure games in the Google store.
60% of Roblox users are under the age of 16 and only 18% of users are over the age of 25. This explains why such a large portion of Metaverse users are minors.
9. 60% of US adults are not interested in the Metaverse
Metaverse adoption has been an ongoing challenge throughout the 21st century. One of the biggest challenges faced by Metaverse technology is that the majority of adults simply aren’t interested.
According to Statista, 60% of adults don’t use the Metaverse because they aren’t interested in it. The same study found that the second biggest reason that adults don’t use the Metaverse is that they don’t think they need it.
It seems like the Metaverse is in need of a bit of a makeover! For wider adoption to occur, the technology needs to be more appealing to the adult population.
10. The shift towards remote work has accelerated demand for metaverse technologies
There is no denying that the Covid pandemic played a role in accelerating the growth of the Metaverse.
The pandemic saw a sharp increase in remote working and companies are now on the hunt for innovative ways to combine the benefits of remote work with in-person experiences.
The metaverse could be used to make remote work more engaging and dynamic. This is a pretty big use case that could add significant value to the market over the next few years.
Even though the pandemic is long gone, remote work isn’t going anywhere. In fact, remote jobs see a 25% increase by 2030.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. 10 statistics about the Metaverse that you might find fascinating.
It is clear that the potential use cases for Metaverse technology are pretty vast! As it stands, the biggest sector is Metaverse gaming with apps like Roblox making up a significant chunk of Metaverse users.
However, demand for Metaverse technology in sectors such as healthcare, tourism and commerce is on the rise. The market is expected to grow substantially by 2030 and it seems like the Metaverse might stay to play a more prominent role in your life!
By staying on top of these trends, you can make smart investment decisions and maybe even get ahead of the curve.
How many people actually use the metaverse?
The Metaverse has over 400 million active monthly users. However, a shocking 31% of people in the US have never heard of it.
What is the growth rate of the Metaverse?
The Metaverse will experience a growth rate of 44.4% between 2023 and 2033. This growth will be driven by increased demand for Metaverse technology in sectors such as healthcare, education and commerce.
What country uses Metaverse the most?
North America leads the way for Metaverse usage followed by China and Japan. The technology has opened up a variety of new business opportunities in each country and adoption will continue to grow over the next few years.
Read More About the Metaverse