Question 1

How many Americans listen to podcasts?

Accepted Answer

About 58% of Americans age 12 and older listen to a podcast at least once a month, and roughly 80% have listened to or watched one at some point, according to Edison Research's Infinite Dial 2026 study.

Question 2

What percentage of podcast listeners are men vs. women?

Accepted Answer

Edison Research's 2026 data shows monthly podcast listening at 62% for men and 54% for women. The gap has narrowed significantly over the past decade but hasn't fully closed.

Question 3

What age group listens to the most podcasts?

Accepted Answer

Adults under 30 have the highest overall listening rate, but adults 55 and older are currently the fastest-growing group of new listeners, according to Edison Research.

Question 4

Which app do most people use to listen to podcasts?

Accepted Answer

Among weekly podcast consumers, YouTube is now the most commonly used app (39%), ahead of Spotify (20%) and Apple Podcasts (11%), per Edison Research's Podcast Metrics survey.

Question 5

Do most people watch or listen to podcasts?

Accepted Answer

Both. Edison Research found 57% of podcast consumers have both listened to and watched a podcast, while 21% listen only and just 2% watch only.

Question 6

What's the most popular podcast genre?

Accepted Answer

Comedy, true crime, news/politics, and entertainment/pop culture consistently rank among the most popular genres in the U.S., though exact rankings vary by data source and measurement method.

Statistics

Podcast Listener Statistics: How Many Americans Are Actually Listening in 2026