One thing that social media is really good for is watching videos.
These days, people consume a lot of video content on social media channels like Facebook.
This has caused social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to integrate certain features that accommodate for video streaming and while Google’s video sharing platform YouTube was launched back in 2005, Facebook took its time producing a live streaming product, and didn’t come out with a new one until 2016.
This resource is all about the essential Facebook live stats, so that we can see how it compares to other video streaming services on the Internet.
Key Statistics
- Facebook Live had 2 billion viewers by 2020
- 1 out of every 5 Facebook videos was live in 2017
- Facebook Live videos give 6 times as many interactions compared to regular videos.
- There were 3.5 billion Facebook live videos in 2018
- The daily watch time for Facebook live quadrupled in just a year
- Live videos on Facebook get 10 times the comments of normal videos
- Facebook users watch live videos for three times longer than regular videos
When the Algorithm Changed
Back in 2018, Facebook made a few changes to their news feed algorithm, which focused and encouraging meaningful interactions, where reactions, comments, and shares got priority over passive actions like selecting the ‘like’ button.
One of the most important ranking signals for this kind of prioritizing was the kind of content that people were posting. So, what does this have to do with Facebook live?
Well, the videos that Facebook live put out encouraged meaningful interactions with the algorithm in 2018.
Mark Zuckerberg was noticing that people were interacting more around live videos than regular ones, so these were given priority.
Social Media Streaming Statistics
1. 52% of Live Streaming Is Done Through Social Media
Before we look at some pretty amazing statistics, it is important to keep one thing in mind: social media is the number one destination when it comes to streaming live videos.
This statistic explains why Facebook live and other players in the live streaming arena get such an impressive level of engagement among users.
More than half of the people that watch live videos around the world watch them through social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.
In second place are digital streaming subscriptions, like TV networks, and apps and sites.
2. 25% of Live Video Viewers Watch Videos to Keep Themselves Informed
According to this statistic, one of the most common reasons why people watch live videos is to keep themselves informed as to what’s going on in the world.
25% of users say that they view live videos to make them feel up-to-date when it comes to the latest events and news.
20% of users watch live videos so that they can feel like they are part of an event, while 17% of users say that watching a live video adds to the authenticity of the content in general.
3. 93.7% of Businesses Are on Facebook
One incredibly mind-blowing statistic is that 92.7% of businesses are on Facebook.
Of course, this means that Facebook is one of the biggest social media channels when it comes to business marketing.
However, what’s interesting is that this number is actually declining, and in 2018, the figure was at 96%.
The most used content on social media is video and again, the most popular platform for publishing a video is Facebook.
4. 42.7% of Businesses Put out A Live Video in 2018
As you can see, the number of businesses that are using live video to get their message across to their target demographic is increasing.
According to this statistic, in 2018, there was a 38% increase in businesses using live video to connect with their audience.
In 2017, more than 2/3 of businesses didn’t use a live video during that year.
This means that as time goes on, more businesses are catching on to the fact that people enjoy live video content, and it’s a great way for them to connect to their audience on a more intimate level.
Detailed Facebook Live Stats in 2025
5. 1 Out Of Every 5 Facebook Videos Was Live in 2017
As we mentioned above, Facebook launched Facebook live back in 2016, and as you can see from this statistic, the Facebook community was pretty open about trying out the new feature.
In just one year, Facebook live took over 1/5 of the video viewership on the network. This means that 20% of videos on the platform will live.
6. There Were 3.5 Billion Live Facebook Broadcasts in 2018
This is another pretty impressive statistic that shows how quickly people have been drawn to the concept of viewing live videos on Facebook since its inception back in 2016.
Fast forward just a couple of years, and there are 3.5 billion live Facebook broadcasts. This is almost half of the world’s population.
7. The Video View Count for Facebook Live Reached 2 Billion Viewers in 2018
This means that between 2016 and 2018, almost 2 billion people watched Facebook live videos.
Of course this is telling of how many daily active users there are on Facebook when it comes to Facebook live.
8. The Daily Watch Time for Live Videos on Facebook Quadrupled in One Year
This is the type of statistic that shows just how popular Facebook live is when it comes to its audience.
Based on the fact that more people are watching live videos along with traditional videos as well, it is safe to say that content is still king, and people are flocking to social media to check it out.
9. The Best Facebook Live Videos Are Between 15 and 20 Minutes Long
You’re probably wondering at this point what the optimal time is for a live video on Facebook.
According to research, it was discovered that the most popular Facebook live videos were between 15 and 20 minutes long.
Facebook Live vs. Conventional Videos
Of course, one of the most common questions when it comes to Facebook live is is it affective? The short answer is a resounding yes.
The long answer is based on a number of statistics that show how Facebook users interact with live videos on the social media network. Let’s take a look at these statistics.
10. Facebook Live Videos Get Six Times the Interactions as Conventional Videos
Facebook live videos show high engagement rates when compared to conventional videos.
An explanation for these high engagement rates is quite simple, because Facebook live viewers want to be able to participate in live discussions and be a part of something that is happening in real time.
Another thing about live videos is that they offer a little bit of exclusivity.
Your audience has an opportunity to watch something that nobody else has watched before and being able to comment on what’s happening provides a unique experience for them.
11. Facebook Live Videos Get 10 Times the Comments
Live videos attract a higher number of comments; as many as 10 times more than conventional videos.
Whenever you are post a comment during a live video session, there is a good chance that the author of the video is going to reply to it.
The chances are much higher than on a conventional video.
Of course, the opportunity to be part of a community like this by commenting and then receiving a reply in real time appeals to a huge number of people.
12. People Spend Three Times Longer Watching Facebook Live Videos
People on Facebook love watching Facebook live videos and tend to watch them three times longer than conventional videos.
One of the reasons for this is that there is no option to fast forward with Facebook live videos.
This means that if you are going to truly engage with a live video, you are highly likely to follow what’s going on in the video until the very end.
The other thing is that live videos are a lot of the time not saturated with comments, which means that if you spark a conversation in the comments section, of course, you aren’t going to want to leave until that conversation is over.
Facebook Live Popularity
13. Search Popularity for Facebook Live Increase by 330% in Just a Year
Mark Zuckerberg announced back in 2016 that being able to go live on Facebook was available to everybody, and as a result, the search term ‘Facebook live stream’ exploded in growth.
In 2015, the live feature was available to public figures only, but once everybody had the opportunity to broadcast a live video on their Facebook page, Facebook live became a hot topic.
People wanted to know everything about going live on Facebook, from best practices to technical requirements.
Facebook Live Usage Stats
14. 91% of Companies Used Facebook Live in 2018
We found out that the vast majority of companies used live video as part of their content strategy on Facebook in 2018.
The second most popular platform when it came to social media for publishing live video was Instagram, and then third in line was YouTube.
15. One Third of Social Media Marketing Experts Have Used Facebook Live in The First Quarter of 2019
In the first quarter of 2019, 1/3 of video marketers made the most of Facebook live to connect with their audience.
Of course, this means that Facebook live is increasing in popularity, but what’s interesting is that the jump in the number of people using Facebook live isn’t as great as in previous years.
We have talked all about how popular Facebook live is among brands and businesses alike, but only 1% of companies actually share live videos on Facebook everyday as a part of their social media marketing strategy.
The biggest percentage of businesses that were surveyed, or 58%, said that their live video sharing practices were infrequent.
1/4 of these businesses said that they shared live video on Facebook monthly, and 12% of them said that they shared live video on Facebook every week.
5% of these companies said that they shared live videos on Facebook several times a week.
If you look at best practices when it comes to Facebook live, the social media network suggests that you post frequently.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you need to necessarily go live just for the sake of going live and reaching a certain quota.
Instead, you need to focus on being creative, and using different live video formats including how-to videos, tutorials, and Q&A sessions.
17. 24% of Businesses Said Live Videos Were Effective
When it comes to statistics, there is a lot of information through Facebook on live videos for companies, including the complete number of views to average watch rates, and all this information is available within the ‘post detailed’ section.
However, despite this, 29% of companies out there aren’t exactly sure how effective their strategy for live video is.
However, there are still 24% of businesses out there that believe that their live video marketing strategy is really effective.
Finally, 36% of companies say that they believe that their live video marketing strategy has been somewhat effective.
18. 76% of Broadcasters Stream Their Events Live on Facebook
Live events are one of the most common types of live videos on Facebook among broadcasters. The least used type of content for Facebook live videos is how-to videos.
19. 70% of Marketers Use Live Videos on Facebook to Connect with A New Audience
Of course, one of the most important questions when it comes to using Facebook live as a part of your social media marketing strategy is can you post your Facebook live video to reach more people?
70% of markets out there believe that they can use Facebook live to reach a completely new audience, and 58% of them say that their live video strategy on Facebook increased brand awareness and exposure.
Considering there are billions of people using Facebook, obviously it is a great space and a great opportunity for you to expand your reach and find new people to talk about your product or service.
20. 90% of People Believe that Video Quality Is Most Important
The premise of Facebook live is pretty simple, all you’ve got to do is make sure that you are going live and letting your audience in on what you are doing in real time.
However, 90% of people believe that video quality is the most important aspect of going live, which means that you’ve got to make sure that your live video settings are in accordance with Facebook guidelines.
The platform supports a number of different resolutions, so consider this when you are thinking about going live next.
21. 17% of American Adults Watched Live Videos on Facebook
Back in 2016, 17% of American adults spent time watching live videos on Facebook live.
Native Videos on Facebook
22. 92% of Videos on Facebook Are Native
This statistic might be a little bit confusing, because native videos actually include live videos.
This means 92% of Facebook users are using the platform’s native video formats, including live video.
Performance Benchmarks for 2020
23. Less than 1% of Live Videos on Facebook Are in The Top 10,000 Facebook Posts
What’s really interesting about Facebook live videos is that they get a lot of attention, but they aren’t necessarily popular enough to be prioritized on Facebook’s top 10,000 list.
Just 1% of live videos on Facebook are in the top 10,000 Facebook posts, which means that people are potentially still getting used to the concept of Facebook live being a major part of their general interactions.
24. Live Videos on Facebook Get 101,362 Engagements as An Average
Of course, this statistic shows that if you are going to go live on Facebook, you’ve got a pretty good chance of doing really well when it comes to your views.
However, what’s interesting is that conventional videos have the highest number of engagements, sitting roughly around 42% more than live videos on Facebook.
25. Live Videos on Facebook Get 165% More Comments than Other Videos
While conventional videos on Facebook might still get more engagement than live videos, what’s interesting about live videos on Facebook is that they get more comments than on-demand videos.
Again, this is a pretty high number, and indicates that you are able to reach a lot of people within your audience if you choose to go live on Facebook.
Facebook Watch
One of the things that you might have realized recently about Facebook is that the live map is missing. This helpful tool was used for finding live broadcasts from around the world.
Each live stream was represented on the map by a blue dot and streams that had a high view count were represented by a bigger dot.
However, when you visit the map on Facebook now, you get redirected to Facebook Watch, which is Facebook’s video streaming service.
27. There Are 400 Million Active Users Every Month on Facebook Watch
Facebook decided to launch Facebook Watch back in 2017 and back then, the service was only available to American users.
However, just a year later, it was available to everybody. The social media network announced at the end of 2018 that Facebook Watch had 400 million active users every month.
The Most Viewed Live Videos on Facebook
28. The Chewbacca Mom Has More than 175 Million Views
Candace Payne was put on a pedestal on the Internet back in 2016 when she bought a Chewbacca mask and decided to live stream this.
It wasn’t the fact that she put on a Chewbacca mask, it was the fact that she couldn’t stop laughing and was enjoying herself so much.
The viral video garnered more than 50,000 views in just an hour, and then three days later, it had received 78 million views.
Facebook Returning to its Roots?
Mark Zuckerberg seems to be wanting to take Facebook back to its original roots and believes that people need to have both private and public spaces in the digital world.
They claim to be focused on the privacy and security of their users, and one of the features that we might see rolled out on Facebook live soon is the ability for buyers to have the option to ask questions and even place an order without leaving the broadcast.
Final Thoughts
So, we are at the end of our resource about Facebook live statistics for 2025.
As you can see, there are some pretty surprising and interesting statistics above about Facebook live, and you will have discovered that Facebook live can be used for a number of different video content forms.
If you are a brand or a company, you also need to keep live video on Facebook in mind as part of your social media marketing strategy, because at the end of the day content is king, and the more you can put into different types of video content like Facebook live, the better your business is going to do.
