Home Which Countries Use Social Networks The Most? [Study]

Which Countries Use Social Networks The Most? [Study]

Experian Hitwise has released some new numbers about social network use around the world. It found that Brazil and Singapore are the top two countries for overall social networking use. But Facebook is not the network on which Brazilians are spending their time.

The study also measured the length of the average user’s Facebook session and found that Brazilians spent comparatively little time on Facebook. While Singapore users spend nearly nearly 39 minutes per Facebook session on average, Brazilian users spend less than half that, just over 18 minutes.

Where are the Brazilians if not on Facebook? They’re using Orkut, owned by Google. Orkut owns 43% of the social networking market in Brazil, but it’s losing ground to Facebook. Orkut fell by 18% since last year, while Facebook gained by 16%. Still, for the country that uses social networks the most in the world, it uses Facebook less than half as long as Singapore, on average, and only 2/3 as long as the U.S.

The Hitwise study measured market share of social networking sites versus total Internet usage as its metric of overall social Web use:

Market share for social networks and forums:

  1. Brazil — 18.9%
  2. Singapore — 16.4%
  3. U.S. — 15.4%
  4. India — 14.0%
  5. New Zealand — 13.9%
  6. France — 15.1%
  7. Australia — 13.1%
  8. U.K. — 12.2%

Hitwise also measured the length of the average user’s Facebook session around the world. ReadWriteWeb’s loyal Kiwi supporters will be proud to know that New Zealand wins the silver medal, at 30 minutes and 31 seconds:

Average time spent on Facebook in August 2011 per session:

  1. Singapore — 38 mins 46 sec
  2. New Zealand — 30 mins 31 sec
  3. Australia — 26 mins 27 sec
  4. U.K. — 25 mins 33 sec
  5. U.S. — 20 mins 46 sec
  6. France — 21 mins 53 sec
  7. India — 20 mins 21 sec
  8. Brazil — 18 mins 19 sec

Other interesting takeaways:

  • India had the fastest growth in Facebook use since last year, increasing in market share by 88%.
  • Facebook gained in market share by 5% in the U.S. since last year.
  • 18% of Singaporeans jump directly from one social network to another during their browsing sessions.

How long do you use Facebook for in one sitting?

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.