In the past, statistics on anime popularity in America looked a whole lot different.
For many years, anime was seen as a niche interest that didn’t garner a lot of mainstream attention from the masses.
In today’s world, it’s the complete opposite, as anime has hit its stride, and nearly ¾ of the U.S. enjoys it.
This article will dive into a few statistics focusing on anime popularity among the American population.
Key Statistics
- 27% of anime viewers in the U.S. watch it every day
- The number of anime titles available in U.S. streaming services increased by 150% between 2016 and 2019
- In 2014, Attack on Titan was the most preferred anime series among American viewers
- 15% of adults in the U.S. have a very favorable impression of anime
- 71.86% of the American population watches some kind of anime
- There are roughly 1.97 million searches for Naruto in the U.S. every month
- Millennials are the largest demographic of anime fans in the United States
- The Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film generated $10.7 million on opening day in the U.S.
- North American viewers accounted for 3.17 million legal digital anime downloads in 2020
- The U.S. imported $151 million worth of manga back in 2018
Anime Popularity in America Statistics: An Overview
While there are still plenty of people who don’t watch anime at all, the demographic of anime fans continues to grow.
America is the second largest demographic of anime fans after Japan, and the country is adopting anime more as time goes on.
There have been anime fans all over the world for decades.
It wasn’t until recent years that we started to see a boom in different parts of the world.
Nevertheless, the following statistics offer a general overview of anime’s popularity in the United States.
1. Many Americans Watch Anime Daily
Recent data highlights that there are quite a few people who watch anime on a daily basis in the U.S.
At this time, around 27% of anime viewers in the United States watch it every day.
Whether it’s new episodes, reruns, exploring a new show, or watching a movie, there’s more than enough anime to enjoy.
As with any form of entertainment, some people approach it casually, while others are completely obsessed.
Anime is no different, as it comes with a very diverse fan base.
You also want to consider accessibility, as watching your movies and TV shows anywhere is easier than ever.
So, people happily watch anime on their phones, computers, tablets, and on their TVs at home.
27% might seem like a small number now, but it’ll continue to grow at a surprising rate with each passing year.
(Gitnux)
2. Streaming Services are Stacked with Anime
This wasn’t always the case, but streaming services are well aware of the growing interest in anime.
While services like Crunchyroll traditionally led the way when it comes to anime, now it can be found on almost any streaming service.
Most notably, Netflix is doing its best to be a contender in this subgenre.
Between 2016 and 2019, the number of anime titles available on U.S. streaming services increased by over 150%.
This isn’t a coincidence, as it’s purely a decision based on data trends regarding anime popularity in the U.S.
In the past, anime was commonly associated with young people, and many adults didn’t pay any attention to it whatsoever.
Now that a few decades have passed, multiple generations of people in the U.S. enjoy anime.
For some, it’s nostalgic, while others are happily exploring a new interest that offers a never-ending list of titles to pick from.
(Gitnux)
3. Attack on Titan Stands Tall
While you’ll come across many fleeting, relatively forgettable titles, there are always a few animes out there that will never slip your mind.
Attack on Titan is a title that most people know about, even if they’ve never seen an episode themselves.
Calling the show trendy is an understatement, as it has garnered substantial support from the anime community over the years.
The show found global popularity, which means it was also a hit in the United States.
If you take a look at data going back to 2014, Attack on Titan was the most preferred anime show in the U.S.
This isn’t the end of the road for the title, as it became increasingly popular as the years passed.
Now, Attack on Titan has cemented itself as a notable title in the anime community.
All good things are bound to come to an end.
Rest assured, there are many Americans who are watching reruns of their favorite episodes of Attack on Titan.
(Gitnux)
4. General Popularity of Anime with Adults in the U.S.
Focusing on a niche group of respondents, it seems there are quite a few opinions about anime in the U.S.
Although there’s a growing interest in this market, plenty of people are aware of anime but remain indifferent to the topic.
Nevertheless, to get a better look at the situation, the chart below provides some insight into how Americans see anime.
Even though anime is a massive industry, it’s still reaching new audiences all the time.
There will always be a demographic of people who could care less.
However, the U.S. is right behind Japan when it comes to anime viewership.
Outside of public opinion, a significant portion of people in the United States watch some kind of anime.
When you include every age group, not just adults, the anime fan base gets a lot bigger.
We’ll never see 100% interest, but nearly ¾ of people living in the U.S. watch anime to some degree.
(HeadphonesAddict)
5. Percentage of the U.S. Population that Watches Anime
The most recent data suggests that a majority of the U.S. population watches anime.
Whether it’s every once in a while or for hours every day of their life, it seems most people like a little anime in their lives.
While this figure is bound to change consistently, recent statistics show that about 71.86% of Americans watch anime.
You’ll find that this isn’t too far behind Japan.
Anime is undoubtedly on its home turf, but they’re barely ahead of the U.S. in viewership.
The more currently available data suggests that 75.87% of people in Japan watch anime.
This shows just how large the American anime market has become over the years.
It’ll only get bigger, and considering America’s chokehold on global entertainment, they’ll likely play a significant role in the anime industry moving forward.
(WorldPopulationReview)
Anime Financial Statistics
Considering the global size of the anime industry, you can assume a large portion of the money that comes and goes stems from the anime market in the U.S.
From streaming subscriptions to merchandise and a long list of ways to monetize anime, the industry isn’t necessarily struggling.
People love to support their favorite movies and TV shows.
Between the artwork, storylines, and captivating characters, anime easily churns millions in sales.
The following sections will focus purely on the anime industry from a financial perspective in the U.S.
6. The U.S. Anime Market is Worth Billions
You could take a look at this figure from any recent year, and it would look extremely healthy.
For example, back in 2019, the anime market in the U.S. was worth roughly $3.56 billion.
Imagining where it has climbed since Covid gives you an idea of where the market is headed.
Anime isn’t a fad by any means; it’s seen as a life-long hobby and interest, and for some, an entire way of life.
While anime brings in billions of dollars each year, the dedication from fans is what keeps the industry growing as time goes on.
It wasn’t until the last 10-15 years that Americans started to really latch onto anime.
This isn’t to say that it wasn’t around before then, but it took a while before people could separate anime from children’s cartoons.
The truth is that anime offers something for everyone, and the general population is starting to see and accept that.
This has led to a positive trajectory for the industry, not to mention financial success.
(Gitnux)
7. Average Income for Anime Viewers in the U.S.
An interesting statistic that stands out, among others, is the average yearly income for anime viewers in the U.S. At this time, this figure seems to sit around $59,500 per year.
Now, this doesn’t say much about why someone might like anime, but it might play into the number of people signing up for streaming services just for anime alone.
Nevertheless, anime is a topic that reaches a broad demographic of people.
In regard to yearly income, you’ll find poor and rich people alike who have an interest in anime.
Another angle you can consider is that a lot of the adults who watch anime in the U.S. have been watching it since they were kids.
It’s important to note that this data can vary significantly regarding a number of factors.
Anime lovers come from all walks of life, and income status doesn’t have much to say about their interest in anime.
The truth is that it’s a hot, trending topic in today’s world, and it’s only becoming more popular.
(Gitnux)
8. Much More Than TV Shows
Most of the talk about anime focuses on TV shows for the most part.
Online conversations dive into different seasons of an anime, but there are plenty of films to enjoy as well.
Anime fans happily watch these as well, but it seems like anime films don’t always get the same kind of love.
One could argue this isn’t true when you break down the numbers, as anime films are bringing in plenty of money on their own.
With the U.S. anime fan base ready to support their favorites, many animated films do quite well in the country.
For example, when Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was released, it made $10.7 million on its opening day in the United States.
Once again, many of these viewers grew up around the show and the characters, so the experience was very nostalgic for some.
Couple this with many of the new fans and lingering viewers, and you make $10 million+ with ease.
(TechJury)
9. Manga Imports are Booming
Aside from movies and TV shows, many people enjoy reading manga as well.
A part of the anime world that stands on its own, many countries spend a lot of money importing manga around the world.
Taking a look back at 2018, the United States imported $151 million worth of manga during that year.
You don’t need to see the shipment to know that there’s a lot of manga and a clear sign that there’s a buzzing anime fan base in the U.S.
Some titles will always be more popular than others, but you won’t ever find a shortage of manga.
(Gitnux)
Anime Streaming, Viewership, and Attendance in the U.S.
There’s a rabbit hole of data surrounding the topic of anime in the United States.
To help wrap up this article, we’re going to leave you with a few unique data points.
Most people stream anime nowadays, and many platforms are reaping the rewards.
Due to the conveniences of this, viewership is up in many places across the U.S. as anime can easily be accessed, no matter where you are.
Attendance is only focusing on anime-related events happening throughout the U.S. Keep reading below for a better look at anime’s impact on the U.S. market.
10. Netflix Subscribers and Anime
When you take into account that Netflix is a leading video streaming platform, you can assume they’d have their fair share of anime.
That might be the case now, but it wasn’t until recently that Netflix jumped on the anime bandwagon.
Regardless of this, around 74% of Netflix subscribers in the U.S. have watched anime at some point on the platform.
While some only watched a single episode, it’s the main source of anime for many others.
This is another data point that shows a growing interest in the U.S. market.
For a lot of people, they won’t be interested in a new movie or TV show unless it becomes popular.
Now that anime has become widely popular, more people are open to exploring different anime titles.
(Gitnux)
11. The Rise of Anime Conventions
Another aspect of the anime world that isn’t necessarily new is that anime conventions are happening all throughout the U.S.
Taking a look at data pre-Covid, anime conventions saw roughly 31,000 attendants in the U.S.
Now that the height of Covid has passed, more and more people are finding their way to conventions.
Conventions are a fun way for people to cosplay their favorite characters, meet voice actors, attend interactive events, and more.
Part of the growing attendance at anime conventions stems from the fact that they’re becoming more common.
In the past, only a few select conventions could be found in various cities across the U.S.
While some are more niche than others, nowadays, anime conventions aren’t hard to find.
Some of the biggest anime events in the world are hosted or pass through the U.S. on a yearly basis.
(Gitnux)
12. Millennials are the Largest Demographic
Essentially, every generation watches anime to some degree.
Young and old alike, it’s something that can be enjoyed by anyone.
However, there’s one demographic in the U.S. that carries the weight here, and it’s millennials.
Data states that roughly 42% of millennials in the United States are fans of anime.
Here’s what the numbers look like for other generations:
- Gen Z = 25%
- Gen X = 21%
- Baby Boomers = 12%
The reach that anime has across every generation is a big reason why it’s becoming increasingly popular.
If you’re able to satisfy such a broad demographic, then you’ll inevitably have a large viewer base.
It took quite a while for it to get there, but anime is clearly hitting its stride.
(TechJury)
13. Naruto Still Stands Strong
Even though Naruto was first released back in 2005 in the United States, it’s still in high demand throughout the country.
Many people who grew up with the anime find it nostalgic, which aids its ongoing popularity today.
In the United States, there are somewhere around 1.97 million monthly searches for Naruto.
This isn’t only for episodes online, as the title has branched out into many different things over the years.
This is a good look at what a timeless anime looks like, as it’ll be respected for many more years to come.
It’s also a title that you simply can’t replicate, as it’s a gem of its time.
Clearly popular in the United States, Naruto is cemented in the anime fan base as a whole.
(TechJury)
The Bottom Line
You might not watch anime yourself, but there are millions of others who do.
Anime is commonly associated with Japanese culture for obvious reasons, but millions of Americans also support the industry.
As the years pass by, anime will only become more of a common thing in American culture.
This article has covered several anime popularity in America statistics that show just how prevalent it is outside of Japan.
