In 2025, some of the world’s biggest stars continue to lead social media platforms with their massive followings. Cristiano Ronaldo is the most-followed person across all major platforms, with over 1 billion followers. He is followed by stars like Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande, who each have hundreds of millions of fans online. On Instagram, Ronaldo also leads among individuals, while the official Instagram account has the highest number of followers overall.
On TikTok, content creators like Khabane Lame, Charli D’Amelio, and MrBeast are the most popular, showing how viral videos and fun content attract millions of fans. These numbers show how social media continues to be shaped by celebrities, athletes, and digital creators who connect with people all over the world. In this article, we are going to take a look at most followed accounts on social media platforms such as Instagram, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube and more.
Top 5 Most Followed Accounts Across Platforms 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the title of the most-followed individual on social media, with a staggering 1.02 billion followers across major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. He is followed by Selena Gomez, who has a strong digital presence with 685.8 million followers. Justin Bieber ranks third with 596.2 million, while Taylor Swift follows closely with 561.1 million. Ariana Grande rounds out the top five, amassing 511.7 million followers.
| Rank | Accounts | Followers |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 1.02 billion followers |
| 2 | Selena Gomez | 685.8 million followers |
| 3 | Justin Bieber | 596.2 million followers |
| 4 | Taylor Swift | 561.1 million followers |
| 5 | Ariana Grande | 511.7 million followers |
Top 10 Most Followed Accounts on Instagram 2025
As of 2025, the official Instagram account leads as the most-followed on the platform with 691 million followers. Among individuals, Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with 658 million followers, followed by fellow football icon Leo Messi with 505 million. Selena Gomez ranks fourth with 419 million, while Dwayne Johnson and Kylie Jenner share the fifth spot, each with 393 million followers. Ariana Grande holds the seventh position with 374 million, and Kim Kardashian follows with 356 million. Beyoncé and Khloé Kardashian complete the top 10, with 311 million and 302 million followers respectively.
| Rank | Accounts | Followers |
| 1 | 691 million | |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 658 million |
| 3 | Leo Messi | 505 million |
| 4 | Selena Gomez | 419 million |
| 5 | Dwayne Johnson | 393 million |
| 6 | Kylie Jenner | 393 million |
| 7 | Ariana Grande | 374 million |
| 8 | Kim Kardashian | 356 million |
| 9 | Beyoncé | 311 million |
| 10 | Khloé Kardashian | 302 million |
In 2025, TikTok continues to thrive as a platform for viral content and global stardom, with creators amassing massive followings. Khabane Lame leads the pack as the most-followed account with 162.2 million followers, known for his humorous and relatable silent reactions. Close behind is Charli D’Amelio, a long-time TikTok favorite, with 156.8 million followers. YouTube star MrBeast has also made a strong mark with 118.2 million followers.
The list features a mix of influencers, entertainers, and celebrities like Bella Poarch, Addison Rae, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, reflecting TikTok’s diverse and ever-evolving creator landscape.
| Rank | Accounts | Followers |
| 1 | Khabane lame | 162.2 million |
| 2 | Charli d’amelio | 156.8 million |
| 3 | MrBeast | 118.2 million |
| 4 | Bella Poarch | 93.8 million |
| 5 | TikTok | 90 million |
| 6 | Addison | 88.4 million |
| 7 | Kimberly Loaiza | 83.6 million |
| 8 | Zach King | 82.3 million |
| 9 | The Rock | 80.4 million |
| 10 | Will Smith | 79.8 million |
Top 10 Most Followed Accounts on X (formerly Twitter) 2025
X (formerly Twitter) remains a key platform for real-time updates and global conversations in 2025, with some of the world’s most influential figures leading in follower counts. Elon Musk tops the list with 221 million followers, using the platform actively to share updates on technology, space, and his companies. Former U.S. President Barack Obama ranks second with 130 million followers, followed by football legend Cristiano Ronaldo at 115 million. Celebrities like Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift maintain strong followings, while political leaders such as Narendra Modi and Donald Trump also feature prominently. Notably, NASA secures a spot in the top 10, highlighting strong public interest in space exploration and science communication.
| Rank | Accounts | Followers |
| 1 | Elon Musk | 221 million |
| 2 | Barack Obama | 130 million |
| 3 | Cristiano | 115 million |
| 4 | Justin Bieber | 108 million |
| 5 | Rihanna | 107 million |
| 6 | Narendra Modi | 108 million |
| 7 | Donal Trump | 105 million |
| 8 | Katy Perry | 104 million |
| 9 | Taylor Swift | 93.7 million |
| 10 | NASA | 86.8 million |
Most Followed Categories on X (formerly Twitter) 2025
In 2025, music artists dominated the list of most-followed accounts on X (formerly Twitter), accounting for 50% of the top 10. This reflects the platform’s strong appeal for fans seeking direct updates from their favorite performers. Political influence is also significant, with 30% of the top accounts belonging to current or former heads of state, including global leaders like Barack Obama and Narendra Modi. Athletes and business magnates each make up 10% of the list, with figures like Cristiano Ronaldo and Elon Musk maintaining large and engaged audiences. This distribution highlights X’s role as a hub for diverse global influence spanning entertainment, politics, sports, and innovation.
| Category | Percentage of Followers on X |
| Music Artists | 50% |
| Current/Former Heads of State | 30% |
| Athletes | 10% |
| Business Magnates | 10% |
Top 10 Most Followed Accounts on Threads 2025
As of 2025, Threads Meta’s text-based social media platform has seen a steady rise in celebrity engagement, with top global figures amassing millions of followers. Leading the chart is football star Neymar Jr with 21.8 million followers, showcasing his widespread popularity beyond the field. Selena Gomez follows closely with 19.5 million, while Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian continue to dominate the digital space with 17.1 million and 15.8 million followers respectively. Other entertainment icons like Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, and Shakira also feature in the top ranks, highlighting the platform’s appeal among music and film celebrities.
| Rank | Account | Followers |
| 1 | Neymar Jr | 21.8 million |
| 2 | Selena Gomez | 19.5 million |
| 3 | Kylie Jenner | 17.1 million |
| 4 | Kim Kardashian | 15.8 million |
| 5 | Jennifer Lopez | 14 million |
| 6 | Taylor Swift | 13.9 million |
| 7 | Shakira | 12.1 million |
| 8 | Will Smith | 10.9 million |
| 9 | Khloe Kardashian | 10.8 million |
| 10 | MrBeast | 10.5 million |
Top 10 Most Subscribed Channel on YouTube 2025
As of June 2025, MrBeast leads the YouTube subscriber race with an unprecedented 404 million subscribers, cementing his position as the platform’s most popular creator. Indian music label T-Series follows in second place with 292 million subscribers, maintaining its dominance in the music and entertainment space. Children’s content continues to thrive, with channels like Cocomelon (194M), Vlad and Niki (141M), Kids Diana Show (135M), and Like Nastya (128M) all featuring in the top 10.
SET India and Zee Music Company represent strong Indian television and music content with 184 million and 118 million subscribers respectively. Rounding out the list are the Stokes Twins with 125 million and longtime YouTube icon PewDiePie with 110 million subscribers, showing a blend of entertainment, music, and kids’ content leading the platform in 2025.
| Rank | Channel | June 2025 Subscribers |
| 1 | MrBeast | 404 million |
| 2 | T-Series | 292 million |
| 3 | Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes | 194 million |
| 4 | SET India | 184 million |
| 5 | Vlad and Niki | 141 million |
| 6 | Kids Diana Show | 135 million |
| 7 | Like Nastya | 128 million |
| 8 | Stokes Twins | 125 million |
| 9 | Zee Music Company | 118 million |
| 10 | PewDiePie | 110 million |
Top 10 Most Followed Accounts on Twitch 2025
Twitch is one of the top leading platforms for live streaming, especially in gaming and entertainment, with top creators building massive followings. Ninja remains the most-followed streamer with 19.2 million followers, maintaining his long-standing dominance on the platform. KaiCenat follows closely with 17.9 million, while Spanish-speaking streamers ibai (17.3M), auronplay (16.8M), and Rubius (15.8M) highlight Twitch’s strong global presence.
jadorshayne and TheGrefg are tied with 12.2 million followers each, showcasing rising stars in the content creation space. Popular names like xQc, juansguarnizo, and Tfue round out the top 10, reflecting a diverse mix of gaming, personality-driven content, and international influence across Twitch in 2025.
| Rank | Account | Followers |
| 1 | Ninja | 19.2 million |
| 2 | KaiCenat | 17.9 million |
| 3 | ibai | 17.3 million |
| 4 | auronplay | 16.8 million |
| 5 | Rubius | 15.8 million |
| 6 | jadorshayne | 12.2 million |
| 7 | TheGrefg | 12.2 million |
| 8 | xQc | 12.1 million |
| 9 | juansguarnizo | 11.5 million |
| 10 | Tfue | 11.3 million |
Total Number of Social Media Users Worldwide
Global social media usage has seen steady and significant growth over the past decade, reaching 5.24 billion users in January 2025. This marks a rise of 200 million users from January 2024 and a remarkable increase of over 3 billion users since 2015. The trend reflects the deepening integration of social platforms into everyday life across the world, driven by increased internet access, smartphone adoption, and digital engagement.
From just 2.08 billion users in 2015 to over 5 billion in 2025, social media has evolved into a global communication, entertainment, and commerce hub, shaping how people connect, consume content, and engage with the world.
| Year | Social Media Users |
| Jan 2025 | 5.24 Billion |
| Jan 2024 | 5.04 Billion |
| Jan 2023 | 4.76 Billion |
| Jan 2022 | 4.62 Billion |
| Jan 2021 | 4.20 Billion |
| Jan 2020 | 3.71 Billion |
| Jan 2019 | 3.46 Billion |
| Jan 2018 | 3.20 Billion |
| Jan 2017 | 2.79 Billion |
| Jan 2016 | 2.31 Billion |
| Jan 2015 | 2.08 Billion |
Percentage of the global population using social media 2025
As of 2025, approximately 63.9% of the global population uses social media, reflecting a steady year-on-year increase in digital connectivity. This marks a significant rise from 62.0% in 2024 and 59.1% in 2023, highlighting the rapid pace of global digital adoption. Among adults aged 18 and above, social media penetration is even more pronounced, ranging from 86.1% to 87.3%. The growth trajectory since 2011 when only 18% of the global population used social platforms shows how integral social media has become to daily life, communication, entertainment, and commerce across all regions.
| Year | Social Media Adoption |
| 2025 | 63.9% |
| 2024 | 62.0% |
| 2023 | 59.1% |
| 2022 | 57.9% |
| 2021 | 53.0% |
| 2020 | 47.2% |
| 2019 | 44.5% |
| 2018 | 41.6% |
| 2017 | 36.7% |
| 2016 | 30.7% |
| 2015 | 28.0% |
| 2014 | 25.3% |
| 2013 | 23.9% |
| 2012 | 20.8% |
| 2011 | 18.0% |
User Engagement Across Leading Social Media Platforms 2025
In 2025, user engagement levels across major social media platforms reveal significant differences in usage behavior and platform stickiness. TikTok leads in average time spent, with users spending over 34 hours per month and a daily open rate of approximately 64%, indicating highly immersive and addictive content. Facebook remains the platform with the highest number of active users at 3.07 billion, with users spending over 17 hours monthly and a 63% daily open rate, showcasing its continued global relevance. Instagram follows closely, with 2 billion users averaging 16+ hours per month and a 61% open rate, driven by its strong visual appeal. X (formerly Twitter) shows moderate engagement, with 611 million users spending around 5+ hours monthly and a 40% open rate.
| Social Media Platform | Active Users (in millions) | Average Time Per Month | Daily Open Rate |
| 3,065 | 17+ Hours | ~ 63% | |
| 2,000 | 16+ Hours | ~ 61% | |
| TikTok | 1,582 | 34+ Hours | ~ 64% |
| X | 611 | 5+ Hours | ~ 40% |
| 498 | 1.5+ Hours | ~ 17% |
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, the most followed accounts on social media in 2025 reflect the continued power of global fame, personal branding, and digital influence. From world-renowned athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo to beloved entertainers such as Selena Gomez and viral TikTok creators like Khabane Lame, these individuals have built massive online audiences across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X. Their success highlights how social media remains a key space for connecting with fans, shaping culture, and driving trends worldwide. As content formats and user behavior continue to evolve, these top accounts show the lasting impact of authenticity, creativity, and consistent engagement.
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