After reviewing a few anime statistics, it won’t take long to realize how popular the topic is today.
Whether you’re a fan or not, some can’t be escaped entirely.
In 2021, around 2.88 billion of global viewers enjoyed watching anime, accounting for 36% of all viewers.
For this article, we will take a deep dive into anime and highlight a variety of statistics that prove its long-standing popularity.
Key Statistics
- Roughly 33% of Americans in the U.S. have a positive outlook on anime
- In 2020, over 100 million households worldwide watched at least one title in the anime category on Netflix
- Around 90% of young people in Japan admit to watching anime
- The anime industry as a whole reached $22.5 billion in 2020
- Japan and the U.S. are the countries with the highest population that watches anime
- The most popular anime movie studio is called Studio Ghibli
- Over 50% of all Netflix users watched anime in 2021
- By 2032, the global anime market may be worth around $53 billion
- 6% of Gen Z aren’t familiar with the anime genre
- It costs around $100k to $200k on average to produce an anime episode
Top Anime Statistics in 2025: The Need to Know
With an increasing interest in anime as a whole, the industry is seeing a global boom, and it’s doing better than ever.
There was a time when anime was seen as a niche interest, but it’s a topic that has been vast for quite a long time.
Anime has evolved into much more than cartoons.
Not only can you find a broad variety of genres, but it has also delved into video games, merchandise, TV, movies, and much more.
The following statistics offer a general overview of anime, its viewers, and other key data points.
1. How Do Americans View Anime?
A sizable portion of the American population has a positive outlook on anime.
You’re bound to find varying sentiments on the topic, but around 33% of Americans enjoy what anime has to offer.
There are many different styles to choose from, but it can be rather overwhelming for new viewers.
Even though this 33% may seem small, this doesn’t consider many other nuances about anime and the American public.
Anime is still a growing community but has seen a boom in interest in recent years.
Covid also played a part in this growing interest, as more people had time to explore different forms of entertainment.
If you were to look at this particular statistic merely 10 years ago, the data would look a lot different.
Anime is headed in the right direction when it comes to public perception, but there’s also a sizeable community that isn’t interested in it at all.
In general, more Japanese and American animes are becoming easily available thanks to streaming services.
This has also played a role in the growing community of anime lovers.
(HeadphonesAddict)
2. Anime, Netflix, and the Pandemic
As Covid rapidly became a worldwide issue in 2020, more and more people entered lockdown, leading to an increase in the usage of entertainment services.
This boded extremely well for the likes of Netflix and other streaming services in multiple ways.
In 2020 alone, roughly 100 million households across the world watched at least one anime title during that year.
While many of these are bound to be one-time viewers, it still shows a shift in curiosity about what anime has to offer.
Considering there are so many genres to choose from, you can easily argue that anime has a little something for everyone.
From another perspective, many of these first-time viewers likely turned into long-term fans.
Overall, even if anime isn’t for everyone, creators and animation studios are starting to adapt to the masses.
Then again, there are plenty of more niche animes out there as well.
(HeadphonesAddict)
3. Most Young People in Japan Watch Anime
Understandably, you’ll find that most young people in Japan watch anime.
Not only because a lot of animes originate from Japan, but it’s a huge part of their culture as well.
Recent statistics show that around 90% of young people in Japan consistently watch anime.
Once again, this considers more than just TV shows on Netflix as well.
Taking a look at the global audience, 16.4% of 13 to 15-year-olds worldwide read some kind of manga, and it’s 17.6% for 16 to 18-year-olds.
Although many different age groups enjoy anime, it’s a topic that’s heavily enjoyed by men.
Men account for 90% of manga readers, with the remaining 10% going to the female demographic.
You can look at the Japanese youth and their interest in anime from another angle.
Based on data taken from October of 2023, 88.6% of Japanese students in high school watch anime.
Interestingly, interest in anime among the Japanese youth declines a bit once the reach college years.
Many people enjoy the artwork, but the storytelling is a crucial component as well.
It’s important to keep in mind that many of these recent statistics are enjoying highs stemming from the pandemic. Nevertheless, anime is expected to become more popular in Japan and many other parts of the world as time passes.
(HeadphonesAddict/Statista)
4. The Anime Industry Isn’t Hurting Financially
You can assume that the anime industry is doing well financially based on current viewer interest.
While there’s still a significant portion of the world that hasn’t really caught on or gained interest in anime, the industry brought in $22.5 billion in 2020.
That’s a good figure, no matter who you ask, but there actually weren’t as many titles that year as you might expect.
You’ll always find plenty of classic titles to choose from, but there were only 66 new titles released in 2020.
The industry has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the years, but its future looks bright.
Analysts have offered their two cents on the market size of the anime industry all the way up to 2030.
With many new experiences bound to be on the way in the coming years, anime will only become more popular in urban and rural regions worldwide.
(HeadphonesAddict)
5. Anime Market Size (2020 – 2030)
The anime market has found a lot of ways to bring in money from its global fan base.
Aside from the general topic, each anime has its own unique fan base that’s extremely dedicated.
At a glance, you’ll find that the list of anime merchandise is never-ending and brings in plenty of money each year.
In the chart below, you can get a look at what analysts believe the anime market will look like moving forward.
As you can see, there are only upward expectations for anime down the road.
It’s understandable, as animators have effectively catered to a very broad audience on a global scale.
Now that the industry has existed for decades, a lot of it is extremely nostalgic for many viewers as well.
Focusing on standout statistics from 2020, the Asia Pacific region led global market growth for that year.
Moreover, merchandising held the highest market share for the anime industry in 2020.
Overall, there are many factors that are aiding the overall success of the industry, and it’s healthier than ever.
(PrecedenceResearch)
Anime Popularity Statistics
If it isn’t evident already, anime is more popular than you might think.
Even if this comes as a shock to some, there’s more than enough data to support this claim.
It wasn’t long ago that anime wasn’t seem as very popular, but that sentiment has changed quite a bit since then.
Nowadays, anime is seen as a cool topic that stands on its own, an art form that can’t be contended by any other.
The popularity of anime is bound to vary among different parts of the world, and there are numerous factors that play into this.
In the next few sections, we’ll cover a few statistics that help highlight the overall popularity of anime.
6. Where is Anime the Most Popular?
It isn’t uncommon for trendy things to become more popular in more urban and populated areas of the world.
When it comes to where anime finds the most popularity, there’s no question that Japan takes the number one spot.
This speaks for itself, but the close second is the United States.
While 75.87% of Japan’s population watches anime, the United States comes in second at 71.86%.
Keep in mind that this includes the entire population, not just specific demographics.
The table below provides a look at how popular anime is among different populations throughout the world.
| Country | % of Population That Watches Anime |
| Japan | 75.87% |
| United States | 71.86% |
| Philippines | 70.58% |
| France | 62.5% |
| Brazil | 55.78% |
| South Korea | 50.7% |
| Mexico | 45.48% |
| Malaysia | 42.7% |
| Canada | 34.67% |
| Taiwan | 32.5% |
As the list keeps going, you’ll find a mix of urban and rural regions, showcasing that anime is popular no matter where you look.
Even though there are plenty of anime titles to choose from, a handful of animation studios are running the game.
Most notably, Studio Ghibli is a name that’s known all over the world, and for good reason.
(WorldPopulationReview)
7. The Most Popular Anime Studio
If you were to ask anime fans across the world, they’re likely to offer many unique opinions on their favorite animation studio.
However, Studio Ghibli is a name that’s well-respected by almost any anime fan.
The mastermind behind it all, Hayao Miyazaki, has produced some of the most memorable anime movies of our time.
There are many influences on the animes of today’s world, but you can’t argue that Studio Ghibli didn’t play a massive part in where it is today.
Studio Ghibli is relatively sparse with new anime titles, but everything they produce can be considered timeless in its own right.
Many people would agree there’s a certain quality and charm that’s found in the stories that Hayao and Studio Ghibli produce.
When you consider how much work goes into each animation, it makes sense why it takes years for a new title to come out.
(WorldPopulationReview)
8. The Influence of Netflix
Another aspect that has helped the viewer base of anime grow is the platforms that support it.
Years ago, you could only find most animes available on specific streaming services or wait for them to air on cable and TV.
In today’s world, anime is vastly available on almost any video streaming service you can think of.
Netflix is seen as one of the biggest influences in this regard, as more than 50% of all Netflix users watched some kind of anime in 2021.
You can bet that many of these viewers only began watching anime because it was promoted to them on the platform.
Of course, there’s also the demographic of viewers who are pre-existing anime fans.
Overall, video streaming platforms have helped put anime on the map and continue to be a leading source for many popular anime movies and shows.
(TechJury)
9. Anime is Popular with a Majority of Gen Z
As you can expect, anime tends to be popular with young people.
The same goes for cartoons in general, but anime comes with a different flair that can interest people of all ages.
Nevertheless, when it comes to Gen Z, a majority of this demographic is well aware of anime.
Only 6% of this generation isn’t aware of what anime is.
The topic of anime can be hard to escape in today’s world as it’s a hot topic of conversation.
You’ll also find much more marketing material for anime among different mediums of entertainment.
Gen Z eats up many types of anime for a number of reasons.
Similar to many other forms of popular media, younger generations like Gen Z are the driving force behind many popular things.
Considering anime has so much to choose from, the topic is able to cater to the many different types of characters and interests that make up Gen Z.
(TechJury)
10. Popularity Has Led to More Expensive Productions
With increasing demands over time, many animation studios have had to adapt to changing times.
There are many conflicting views on art styles and the technology and methods that are used to create anime nowadays.
The truth is, regardless of personal opinion, it can be rather expensive to animate a single episode.
It’s bound to vary from one project to the next, but on average, it can cost $100,000 to $200,000 to animate a single episode.
This is an average, which means the actual figure for each episode is guaranteed to vary quite a bit.
Some episodes will be more expensive than others, but this makes sense as some simply take more work to produce.
The world of animation has changed immensely over the years.
With the help of technology, many animation studios are experimenting with different styles and capabilities.
In the same vein, this has made for a very competitive market that can change at a rapid pace.
(TechJury)
Anime Viewership Statistics
If you were to break down viewership to each individual viewer, there would be a massive list of unique statistics that come with each person.
Some are obsessed viewers, while others only chime into anime every once in a while.
Among the many different viewership statistics, each one plays into the industry’s overall success.
There are many shows that are historically more popular than others, and viewership statistics will also highlight the many unique opinions of each anime enthusiast.
11. Third Most Popular Sub-Genre Worldwide
Various anime titles might be contending amongst themselves, but they’re also up against many other sug-genres throughout the world.
Other popular examples include crime dramas and sitcoms, which actually carry more of the market demand than anime does.
For more context on this particular topic, you can find additional information in the table below.
| Sub-Genre | Share of Market Demand |
| Crime drama | 8.4% |
| Sitcom | 6.2% |
| Anime | 5.5% |
| Romantic drama | 3.6% |
| School children | 3.6% |
| Comedy drama | 3.5% |
| Sci-fi drama | 3.3% |
| Superhero series | 3.2% |
| Fantasy drama | 3% |
| Soap opera | 2.9% |
Of course, there are many other popular sub-genres, but anime has quickly made its way to the top.
It wasn’t too long ago that anime didn’t even come close to other popular sub-genres.
There’s a good chance that anime’s share of the market demand will increase over time as it becomes a more normal aspect of entertainment throughout society.
At this time, a majority of anime viewers are within specific age ranges.
Eventually, this will be more spread out to most age ranges as each generation gets older.
(HeadphonesAddict/ParrotAnalytics)
12. Crunchyroll’s Userbase Continues to Grow
Netflix may be a household name in video streaming, but Crunchyroll is a veteran in its own right as well.
Being known as a hub for a vast list of anime movies and TV shows, Crunchyroll boasts a dedicated user base that’s quickly growing.
As of 2021, Crunchyroll reported 120 million registered users, and the platform has come a long way since its early days.
It’s important to highlight that the figure above is only for registered users, but the platform hosts over 5 million paid subscribers.
Moreover, Crunchyroll had over 60 million followers across all of their social media at the time.
Some might argue that Crunchyroll isn’t the best place for anime, but many others stick with it purely for the convenience it provides.
You can easily find anime to watch on a variety of streaming platforms, but anime is essentially the entire theme for Crunchyroll.
So, if you want a video streaming platform that focuses on everything related to anime, Crunchyroll is the place to be.
(TechJury)
13. Viewership Broken Down Between Men and Women
Another interesting angle you can look at when it comes to anime viewership is how this particular statistic is broken down between men and women.
On a global scale, anime’s fanbase is roughly 54% male and 46% female.
This figure is guaranteed to vary quite a bit consistently, but it shows that the sub-genre can interest both sides of the coin.
Interestingly, there are a few regions in the world where women outweigh men in viewership numbers.
Areas like Vietnam, France, and Russia have a stronger female anime fanbase than other regions.
There are many factors that play into these statistics, but anime has always been an exciting subject for men and women of all ages.
It’s an extremely diverse fanbase overall, and it’s only becoming more diverse as anime becomes more accessible in different parts of the world.
(TechJury)
14. Certain Generations Favor Anime More Than Others
Taking a look at Japanese born between 1995 and 2000, around 66% of this demographic watch anime on a daily basis.
Although anime has been around for quite some time, a few niche demographics are more fond of it than others.
This is likely due to many nostalgic memories attached to their favorite animes as a kid.
You’ll also find varying sentiments about which animes are the most popular across different generations.
21% of this demographic watch seven different animes every week, and 33% watch anime for six hours or more on a weekly basis.
Some might call it an addiction, while others call it a harmless hobby.
Regardless of how you see it, anime has a vast and dedicated community helping to drive it forward.
Anime garners a lot of attention in today’s world.
Moreover, it has become pretty trendy to be interested in anime, making the sub-genre more popular among many demographics.
Considering the numerous factors that play into the growing popularity of anime, it starts to make sense how it has become such a hot topic in conversation.
(TechJury)
15. Trends in Anime Shift Like Any Form of Entertainment
In some ways, it can seem like everyone is watching the same anime at the same time.
It becomes pretty clear which shows or movies are more popular than others, and there are many reasons for this.
While Attack on Titan was the most in-demand anime in the U.S. for January and February of 2021, Demon Slayer is seen as the most popular for that entire year.
There’s room for everyone, but everything comes and goes in cycles.
Demon Slayer grossed $232 million in 2021.
However, looking at the most popular animes of all time, Demon Slayer only comes in third.
Detective Conan and Dragon Ball sit at number one and two based on a survey done in Japan back in 2021.
All of this proves that many animes find success in their own ways, mainly because they all create unique communities of their own.
It won’t take long before a new anime comes along and moves its way up this historical anime chart.
(HeadphonesAddict)
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a casual viewer, or have never once been interested, there’s no denying the growing success of the anime industry.
With many veteran and new animation studios throughout the world, there’s more anime than you’ll ever know what to do with.
Overall, it’s a growing industry that’s branching out into many avenues to connect with a new and existing fanbase.
This article has highlighted many unique anime statistics that shine a light on how vast and important the industry has become as a whole.
