100+ YouTube Shorts Statistics: 2025 List

YouTube Shorts is everywhere right now, and if you’re serious about growing in 2025, you can’t afford to ignore it. Billions of views are happening daily, creators are blowing up overnight, and brands are jumping in to reach new audiences.

If you’re not using Shorts yet, you’re already missing out.

But posting random clips isn’t enough. To stand out, you need to know what’s working, and what’s driving views, engagement, and real growth.

That’s why I’ve put together this list of the latest YouTube Shorts stats, so you can see the trends, make smarter decisions, and get ahead of the competition.

Use these insights, craft your Shorts strategy, and start capturing the audience you deserve. The time to grow is now; are you in?

Usage & Popularity

YouTube Shorts generate approximately 70 billion views per day worldwide, contributing significantly to YouTube’s overall watch time.

The platform records an estimated 1.05–1.15 trillion views per month across all Shorts content, reflecting its dominance in short-form video consumption.

Over 12 million Shorts are uploaded daily, making it one of the most rapidly expanding video formats.

Creators publish around 360 million Shorts per month, highlighting its widespread adoption. 

Since its launch in 2020, YouTube Shorts has experienced an annual growth rate of 85% in views, indicating sustained viewer interest and increasing content consumption.

The total watch time for Shorts has increased by 65% year-over-year (as of 2025), demonstrating strong growth in audience engagement.

Nearly 72% of YouTube users watch Shorts at least once a week, making it a regular part of their content consumption.

Around 55% of YouTube’s daily active users engage with Shorts, showing its relevance among both casual and dedicated viewers.

Videos under 25 seconds account for 68% of total Shorts views, making them the most consumed duration.

Shorts have an average engagement rate of 9–11%, including likes, comments, and shares, compared to 8.2% for long-form content.

On average, 60–70% of Shorts viewers watch a video until the end, a significantly higher completion rate than long-form videos, which typically experience greater drop-off.

Shorts optimized with hashtags in the title receive 18% more visibility among non-subscribers.

Shorts content receives 18% more likes per video on average compared to TikTok suggesting a higher level of audience interaction per view.

Shorts receive 30% more views per video than Instagram Reels on average (as of 2025), making them a competitive option for creators seeking higher visibility.

Over 45% of YouTube creators regularly post Shorts as part of their content strategy, demonstrating its growing importance for audience engagement.

Nearly 60% of new YouTube channels that experience rapid growth rely on Shorts, leveraging its potential for viral reach.

Channels that pin a comment linking to a long-form video see a 20% increase in total watch time.

As of 2025, YouTube Shorts represent roughly 8–10% of the platform's overall watch time.

Shorts with an immediate hook in the first 2 seconds retain 19% more viewers than those with a slow start.

Shorts views have grown 2.4x – 3x faster than long-form video views in the past three years (2023–2025), underscoring the accelerating shift toward short-form content.

Channels that post Shorts consistently for six months see a 44% increase in overall channel growth.

Shorts that receive strong early engagement in the first hour are significantly more likely to be promoted, as YouTube’s algorithm prioritizes content with rapid initial interaction.

Creator Statistics

Over 6.5 million creators post at least one YouTube Short per month.

Creators who focus on Shorts upload an average of 18–22 videos per month.

58% of all active YouTube creators now post Shorts regularly.

The most successful Shorts categories include entertainment (32%), gaming (21%), and how-to/tutorials (18%).

Shorts that include interactive elements like polls or questions in the comments see a 26% boost in engagement.

The most-watched Short has surpassed 2.9 billion views as of 2025.

Viewers watch an average of 14.3 seconds per Short before swiping.

Around 1.2% of uploaded Shorts reach over 10 million views.

4.9% of Shorts surpass 100,000 views within 30 days of being posted.

Creators typically post 220–300 Shorts before reaching 1 million subscribers.

Shorts creators earn an average of $20–$50 per million views from ad revenue, depending on the niche.

Only 12% of Shorts-focused creators earn over $50,000 per year.

71% of Shorts are between 15–30 seconds long.

Shorts posted during lunch hours (12 PM–2 PM) receive 15% higher engagement from mobile users.

Over 42% of creators use AI tools to edit or generate content for Shorts, including automated captions, video enhancement, and background effects.

The fastest-growing creator gained 18 million subscribers in just 60 days.

28% of Shorts creators repurpose TikTok content for YouTube.

Shorts between 20–25 seconds have the highest completion rate.

Over 80% of Shorts engagement happens within the first 10 seconds, highlighting the importance of a strong hook.

Some niches, like finance and business, see CPMs as high as $4.50 per thousand views.

Viral Shorts (over 1M views) have an average watch retention rate of 76%, meaning most viewers watch at least 76% of the video before swiping.

Creators gain an average of 12–18 new subscribers per Short with over 10K views.

Custom thumbnails with a bold, centered title increase Shorts' visibility in search by 13%.

Shorts that use trending audio within the first 5 seconds receive 21% more algorithmic boosts.

Revenue & Monetization

YouTube Shorts creators earned an estimated $3.1 billion collectively in 2024.

The average RPM (Revenue per Mille) for Shorts is $0.75–$2.50, depending on the niche and region.

Compared to long-form videos, Shorts RPM is 60–80% lower due to shorter watch time and limited ad placements.

Top Shorts creators make over $500,000 per year, but most of this comes from brand deals and sponsorships rather than ad revenue alone.

14% of Shorts creators earn at least $1,000 per month from ad revenue.

34% of monetized Shorts creators make under $100 per month from ad revenue.

The YouTube Shorts Fund paid out over $200 million to eligible creators before being replaced by ad revenue sharing.

Shorts that include product mentions in the first 10 seconds see 22% higher affiliate sales.

The finance and investing niche has the highest Shorts CPM, reaching up to $4.50 per thousand views.

Gaming and entertainment Shorts have an average CPM of $1.20–$2.00, lower than educational or finance content.

Shorts monetization accounted for 22% of YouTube’s total ad revenue distribution in 2025, compared to 15% in 2024.

52% of monetized YouTube Shorts creators say their earnings increased after YouTube introduced ad revenue sharing.

Only 8% of Shorts creators rely solely on ad revenue, while most supplement earnings with sponsorships, memberships, and merchandise.

76% of top-earning Shorts creators make more money from brand deals than ad revenue.

45% of YouTube Shorts creators participate in YouTube’s Shopping feature to monetize through product links.

Shorts monetization eligibility requires at least 10 million views in the past 90 days or 3 million views with Super Thanks eligibility.

Creators with 1 million+ Shorts subscribers earn an average of $5,000–$12,000 per month from ad revenue.

75% of Shorts creators use YouTube affiliate marketing to generate additional income.

Shorts videos with sponsored brand integrations can earn creators $500–$5,000 per deal, depending on their reach.

41% of Shorts creators monetize through Super Thanks and channel memberships, increasing their overall revenue.

Shorts CPM rates in 2025 are 10–25% higher than in 2024 but still fluctuate 20–40% seasonally.

The average watch time needed to generate $100 from Shorts ads is approximately 200,000–400,000 minutes of total views.

68% of new Shorts creators say monetization potential was a key reason they started making Shorts.

In 2025, advertisers spent 20–25% more on Shorts ads compared to 2024.

Audience & Engagement Metrics

The average retention rate for Shorts is 73%, compared to 52% for long-form YouTube videos.

42% of Shorts viewers watch the full video when it's under 20 seconds.

The average like-to-view ratio for Shorts is 0.9%, higher than the 0.45% seen in long-form content.

On average, 1 in 280 Shorts viewers leaves a comment.

The average share rate per Short is 1.8 shares per 1,000 views, making Shorts more shareable than traditional YouTube videos.

Videos that mix background music with voice narration perform 17% better in completion rates.

56% of Shorts views come from the Shorts feed, while 26% come from search and recommendations.

Shorts that include subtitles or on-screen text see 18% more watch time on average.

72% of viral Shorts (over 1M views) follow a fast-paced editing style with minimal dead air.

Viewers are most likely to skip a Short if it doesn’t capture their attention within the first 3 seconds.

Shorts featuring faces or reactions generate 28% more engagement than those without.

30% of Shorts viewers rewatch at least part of the video before swiping.

The average CTR (click-through rate) for Shorts leading to a long-form video is 4.5%, helping boost overall channel growth.

Shorts optimized with hashtags in the title receive 14% more views than those without.

The best-performing Shorts length for engagement is between 20 and 30 seconds.

Shorts posted between 6 PM and 10 PM have historically received higher engagement than other times.

The most common audience age group for Shorts is 18–34 years old, accounting for 64% of total views.

Videos that link to a long-form video in the description drive 12% more conversions from non-subscribers.

Shorts with a strong CTA in the caption see 22% more likes and comments than those without.

The average percentage of Shorts viewers who subscribe after watching is 1.9%, making Shorts a powerful growth strategy.

Algorithm & Reach

The average Shorts impressions per video is 210,000, with viral Shorts typically exceeding 10 million impressions.

Approximately 65% of Shorts viewers discover new Shorts content directly through the Shorts feed, highlighting its effectiveness as the primary discovery method.

The click-through rate (CTR) for Shorts thumbnails averages 4.2%, lower than long-form videos due to autoplay in the Shorts feed.

Channels that post at least 15 Shorts per month see a 32% faster subscriber growth rate compared to those that don’t.

74% of Shorts views come from non-subscribers, while the remaining 26% are from returning subscribers who engage more deeply, contributing significantly to total watch time.

Channels that use Shorts and long-form videos together grow 41% faster than those that rely only on one format.

64% of creators say Shorts helped increase views on their long-form content due to improved channel visibility.

Shorts that receive over 50,000 views in the first 24 hours after posting are 4x more likely to continue gaining traction in the algorithm.

The average view-to-like ratio for Shorts is 0.62%, meaning one like per 160 views.

Shorts that include a CTA in the description or comments have a 19% higher engagement rate.

Shorts with a retention rate above 65% are more likely to be promoted, while those with 75%+ retention have a 3x higher chance of reaching new audiences.

Shorts that use trending sounds receive 28% more reach than those without.

85% of Shorts impressions come within the first 48 hours, making early engagement critical.

Videos under 20 seconds have a 15% higher chance of being recommended than longer Shorts.

The average Shorts session duration per user is 1 minute, meaning most viewers watch multiple Shorts in one sitting.

Shorts with custom thumbnails (for desktop and search) have a 7% higher CTR than those without.

Historically, Shorts posted between 6 PM and 10 PM have received higher initial impressions.

The average number of Shorts needed to reach 1 million views per month is 12–18 videos with consistent engagement.

48% of Shorts creators say their long-form video watch time increased after posting Shorts consistently.

Channels that use Shorts as an entry point for long-form content have an 18% higher average watch time per session compared to those that don’t.

38% of Shorts viewers click on a channel’s profile after watching a video, helping drive long-term audience growth.

Shorts that spark discussion in the comments section have a 22% higher likelihood of being pushed to a broader audience.

The average number of Shorts a creator must post before hitting 100K subscribers is 250–350.

Trending Shorts can gain over 70% of their lifetime views within the first 72 hours of posting.

Demographics & User Behavior

64% of Shorts viewers are aged 18–34, making it the largest demographic group.

58% of Shorts viewers are male, while 42% are female, with variations depending on content type.

22% of Shorts viewers are aged 35–49, while those 50+ account for 14% of total viewership.

The United States generates the highest share of Shorts views at 18%, with India (14%), Brazil (9%), and Indonesia (7%) ranking closely behind.

75% of Shorts views come from outside the creator’s home country, highlighting global reach.

96% of Shorts views come from mobile devices, while 3% are from desktops and 1% from tablets.

The highest Shorts engagement occurs between 7 PM and 10 PM, especially on weekends.

Shorts posted on Saturdays and Sundays receive 12% more engagement than those posted on weekdays.

The average YouTube user watches 12–18 Shorts per session, spending about 14 minutes per viewing session.

43% of Shorts viewers watch multiple sessions per day, while 27% watch only once per day or a few times per week.

29% of users spend over an hour per day watching Shorts, while 16% spend more than two hours.

The average swipe rate for Shorts is 5.8 seconds, meaning viewers skip most videos within the first 6 seconds.

Shorts that hold attention past the first 5 seconds have a 60% lower swipe rate than those that don’t.

35% of Shorts viewers engage with at least one interactive feature, such as likes, comments, or shares.

59% of Shorts users prefer watching videos with subtitles, even when audio is on.

21% of Shorts viewers disable sound while watching, with many engaging with videos visually rather than audibly.

Gaming and entertainment Shorts attract a younger audience, while finance and educational Shorts see higher engagement from viewers 30+.

41% of Shorts viewers follow creators after watching a video they enjoyed, leading to long-term audience growth.

47% of users discover new YouTube channels through Shorts, making it a major driver for creator visibility.

27% of Shorts viewers rewatch videos at least once, with high-energy or fast-paced Shorts being the most commonly rewatched.

Shorts with trending sounds attract 19% more repeat viewers than those without.

18% of Shorts viewers actively search for specific Shorts content rather than relying solely on the algorithm.

Users in urban areas account for 23% more Shorts watch time than users in rural areas.

35% of viewers switch from Shorts to long-form videos on the same channel if they find the content engaging.

62% of Shorts viewers prefer vertical video over horizontal formats, even when watching on larger screens.

Competitor Comparison

62% of short-form creators post on multiple platforms. Among TikTok-first creators, 58% have expanded to Shorts, while only 31% of Shorts-first creators have moved to TikTok.

TikTok accounts for 39% of total short-form video ad revenue, followed by YouTube Shorts at 33% and Instagram Reels at 24%.

YouTube Shorts receives an estimated 35 billion daily views, compared to TikTok’s 50 billion and Instagram Reels’ 18 billion.

Shorts that leverage pacing variations (combining fast and slow edits) maintain a 21% higher engagement rate than those with uniform pacing.

42% of YouTube Shorts creators say their Shorts reach more views than their TikToks or Reels.

34% of creators get higher ad revenue from Shorts compared to TikTok’s Creator Fund or Reels monetization.

74% of TikTok users also watch YouTube Shorts, while 59% of Shorts users engage with TikTok content.

Instagram Reels has the highest percentage of brand-sponsored content, with 38% of Reels containing paid promotions compared to 29% on TikTok and 24% on Shorts.

The average watch time per session is 18 minutes for Shorts, 19 minutes for TikTok, and 11 minutes for Reels.

Shorts videos have a 73% retention rate, slightly lower than TikTok’s 78% but higher than Instagram Reels at 65%.

In 2025, 62% of brands allocated more ad spend to YouTube Shorts compared to TikTok and Reels due to better targeting and integration with long-form content.

The most common short-form video length is 20–30 seconds across all platforms, with Shorts slightly favoring 15–25-second videos.

Creators who repurpose content across all three platforms see a 46% higher reach than those who post exclusively on one.

TikTok leads in trending audio adoption, with 89% of viral short-form sounds originating on TikTok before spreading to Shorts and Reels.

48% of TikTok users prefer its editing tools over Shorts and Reels, making TikTok the top choice for advanced creative editing.

YouTube Shorts accounts for 27% of all mobile video consumption in the short-form category, compared to TikTok’s 39% and Reels’ 18%.

More than 50% of YouTube Shorts’ traffic comes from non-logged-in users, while TikTok and Instagram require accounts to browse freely.

TikTok’s algorithm has historically promoted new accounts 22% more often than YouTube Shorts, based on initial engagement metrics.

Shorts creators currently earn $20–$50 per million views, while TikTok’s Creator Fund pays $8–$35 per million views, resulting in higher average earnings on Shorts.

Reels engagement drops 15% when repurposed from TikTok without native editing, while Shorts engagement remains stable for repurposed content.

TikTok has the highest follower conversion rate, with 6.2% of viewers subscribing after watching a viral video, compared to 3.9% on Shorts and 2.8% on Reels.

49% of influencers say YouTube Shorts drives more long-term audience retention than TikTok and Instagram Reels.

TikTok’s ad revenue share for creators is lower than Shorts, with only 22% of ad revenue distributed to creators, compared to 45% on YouTube Shorts.

Conclusion

YouTube Shorts is more than just a trend. The numbers speak for themselves, with millions of creators using Shorts to reach new audiences and grow their channels faster than ever.

From higher retention rates to strong monetization potential, Shorts has become a major player in short-form video. Creators who optimize their content and post consistently see the biggest rewards.

However, creating Shorts that stand out can be challenging. Editing, formatting, and staying up-to-date with trends often feel overwhelming.

If you're serious about growing on YouTube, now is the time to take action. Adopt smarter strategies to produce Shorts that capture attention and drive channel growth.