World Map of Social Networks

December 2012, a new edition of my World Map of Social Networks, showing the most popular social networking sites by country, according to Alexa traffic data (Google Trends for Websites was shut down on September 2012).

Facebook with 1 billion active users has established its leadership position in 127 out of 137 countries analyzed. One of the drivers of its growth is Asia that with 278 million users, surpassed Europe, 251 million, as the largest continent on Facebook. North America has 243 million users, South America 142 million. Africa, almost 52 million, and Oceania just 15 million (source: Facebook Ads Platform). In the latest months Zuckerberg’s Army conquered Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and Vietnam (update: my data are about visitors, but I’d like to report that Draugiem’s spokeperson told me that they have 1.2 million members in Latvia. Facebook Ads claims 400K members)

In Russian territories there was a long battle between two main local players: V Kontakte and Odnoklassniki. According to Alexa the first is gaining ground and now has 190 million registered users.

In China QZone still dominates the Asian landscape with 552 million users, followed by Tencent Weibo and Sina Weibo. Since the latest update QZone has also conquered South Korea.

In Iran, where it’s hard to access Facebook due to state censorship, the leader is Cloob.

BUY THE POSTER

BUY MY BOOK “Social Media ROI” (in Italian)

[Versione italiana dell'analisi di dicembre 2012]

Tweet

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

June 2012, a new edition of my World Map of Social Networks, showing the most popular social networking sites by country, according to Alexa & Google Trends for Websites traffic data*.

Facebook with more than 845 million active users has established its leadership position in 126 out of 137 countries analyzed (in this edition I’ve added Uganda).

Europe is the largest continent on Facebook with 232 million users, North America has 222 million, Asia 219 million users (Facebook Ads Platform).

Countries where Facebook is not the leader:

- Russian territories where there is an ongoing battle between the two main local players: V Kontakte and Odnoklassniki.

- China where QZone claims 560 million users, followed by Tencent Weibo (337 million) e Sina Weibo (334 million).

- Iran where it’s hard to access Facebook due to state censorship

- Vietnam and Latvia still likely to use local social networks: Zing and Draugiem respectively

Caveat: Google+ stats are not displayed by Google Trends for Websites

Concentration of social networks around the world (animated map) from 17 different top social networks to 7.

Top 3 Social Networking Sites (June 2012 – according to Google Trends for Websites)

If we take a look over Facebook’s shoulders we can see the battle for the second position between Twitter and LinkedIn or, especially in Europe, between Badoo and Twitter.

BUY THE POSTER

BUY MY BOOK “Social Media ROI” (in Italian)

[Versione italiana dell'analisi di giugno 2012]

Tweet

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A new edition of my World Map of Social Networks, showing the most popular social networking sites by country, according to Alexa & Google Trends for Websites traffic data* (December 2011).

Facebook with more than 800 million active users has established its leadership position in 127 out of 136 countries analyzed (in this edition I’ve added Afghanistan).
Since June 2011 the largest social networking service of the world has finally conquered Netherlands, and with it the whole Europe, Brazil, after a long struggle against Orkut, and Japan (caveat: a large part of Japananese networking activities are on mobile. Most important players on mobile are Gree, Mobage, Mixi).

Europe is the largest continent on Facebook with 223 million users, North America has 219 million, Asia 202 million users (Facebook Ads Platform).

There’s still an ongoing battle on Russian territories between the two main local players: V Kontakte and Odnoklassniki. According to Google Trends for websites, but not to Alexa, Odnoklassniki is winning (I will change my map when the two sources will say the same).

Evolution of social networks around the world (animated map) from 17 different top social networks to 6.

Top 3 Social Networking Sites (December 2011 – according to Google Trends for Websites)

If we take a look over Facebook’s shoulders we can see the battle for the second position between Twitter and LinkedIn or, especially in Europe, between Badoo and Twitter.

BUY THE POSTER

BUY MY BOOK “Social Media ROI” (in Italian)

[Versione italiana dell'analisi di dicembre 2011]

Tweet

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A new edition of my World Map of Social Networks, showing the most popular social networks by country, according to Alexa & Google Trends for Websites traffic data* (June 2011).
Below you will find an updated version and an infographic poster of all changes since June 2009. You can also see an animated version of all my maps.

Facebook is slowing gaining users around the world (almost 700 millions) establishing its leadership in 119 out of 134 countries analyzed (in this edition I’ve added Ethiopia and Tanzania).
Since December 2010 Zuck’s creature has conquered Iran and Syria, although struggling against censorship. Europe has now became the largest continent on Facebook with 205 million users (Facebook Ads Platform).

Probably Netherlands and Brazil will be the next countries to surrender. According to Alexa Facebook is already the leader there, but Google Trends shows a different picture (I will change my map when the two sources will say the same).

To put this infographic on your web site, just copy and paste the HTML code below:
<br /> <a href="http://www.vincos.it/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/WMSN0611-1024.png" ><img src="http://www.vincos.it/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/WMSN0611-570.png" alt="World Map of Social Networks" title="World Map of Social Networks" width="100%" border="0"></a><br />

Signals of changes are coming from Russian territories where there’s a strong battle between the two main local players: V Kontakte and Odnoklassniki.
In Kazakhstan V Kontakte was overtook by Odnoklassniki and the same is happening in Russia (according to Google Trends for Websites only).

Top 3 Social Networking Sites (June 2011)

If we take a look over Facebook’s shoulders we can see the rise of Twitter (in France, Germany and United States) and the slow but constant growth of LinkedIn. New entries since last December analysis highlighted in yellow.

World Map of Social Networks Poster /// LIKE – SHARE – BUY IT

To put this infographic on your web site, just copy and paste the HTML code below:
<br /> <a href="http://www.vincos.it/world-map-of-social-networks/" ><img src="http://www.vincos.it/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/WMSN-Poster-0611-570.png" alt="World Map of Social Networks" title="World Map of Social Networks" width="100%" border="0"></a><br />

[Versione italiana dell'analisi di giugno 2011]

Tweet

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A brand new map of the world, showing the most popular social networks by country, according to Alexa & Google Trends for Websites traffic data* (December 2010).
I’ve decided to drop Many Eyes and redesign the map in order to give each social network a fixed colour to ease comparability over time. Below you will find an updated version plus an infographic poster of all changes since June 2009.

Zuckerberg’s creature continues to gain users around the world (almost 600 millions). Since June 2010 Facebook has stolen new important nations from local, previously strong, competitors (in 115 out of 132 countries analyzed it is market leader) especially in Europe. In particular:

- From Iwiw: Hungary

- From Nasza-Klasa: Poland

- From Hi5: Mongolia

- From Orkut (Google): Paraguay and India. Orkut remains the first social network in Brasil.

In Japan Mixi is still the most used web-based social network (Ameba that I previously mentioned it’s not a pure social networking site, but also a portal/blog-hosting provider). But if we look to mobile social networks usage the leader is Gree followeb by Mobage Town. [edited thanks to the insights from Akky Akimoto]
The situation remains unclear in Armenia, Georgia, Netherlands. In these countries Alexa gives victory to Facebook, but Google Trends for Websites still shows a predominance of local players.

Top 3 Social Networking Sites (December 2010)

If we take a look over Facebook’s shoulders we can see the rise of Twitter especially against MySpace (in Australia, Canada, Germany and Italy) and the slow but constant growth of LinkedIn (in Australia, Canada, UK). New entries since last June analysis highlighted in yellow.

World Map of Social Networks Poster /// LIKE – SHARE – BUY IT

To put this infographic on your web site, just copy and paste the HTML code below:
<br /> <a href="http://www.vincos.it/world-map-of-social-networks/" ><img src="http://www.vincos.it/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/WMSN1210-Poster-570.png" alt="World Map of Social Networks" title="World Map of Social Networks" width="100%" border="0"></a><br />

[Versione italiana dell'analisi di dicembre]

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A map of the world, showing the most popular social networks by country, according to Alexa & Google Trends for Websites traffic data* (June 2010).
Please share, like and help me to improve it with your comments !

 Grab the embedding code

 Some visible changes to highlight since December 09 map (see below): Month after month Facebook continues to gain users around the world (almost 500 millions). Since December 2009 Facebook has stolen new nations from its local competitors (in 111 out of 131 countries analyzed it is market leader). In particular:

 - From Orkut (Google): Estonia and maybe India (Alexa gives India to FB, while Google Trends for Websites shows an head to head match with Orkut as winner. If you take a look at keywork searched graph you’ll se a growing interest towards the American social network. The same trend is visible in Paraguay).

- From Hi5: Thailand, Romania, Peru, Portugal. Hi5 resists in Mongolia where the situation is unclear.

- From One: Lithuania

- From Wretch: Taiwan

- From Friendster: Philippines Odnoklassniki and V Kontakte still remains the social networks preferred by Russian people

In Europe: Hungary, Poland and Netherlands still love local providers.

P.S. the situation is unclear in Armenia, Georgia, India, Mongolia, Paraguay.

Top 3 Social Networking Sites (June 2010)

 

One year after the previous ranking table (below) we can see the rise of Twitter against MySpace (in Australia and Canada) and Bebo (in UK) and the slow growth of Linkedin.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A map of the world, showing the most popular social networks by country, according to Alexa & Google Trends for Websites traffic data* (December 2009).

Please share and help me to improve it with your comments !

The World Map of Social Networks – by Vincenzo Cosenza

Grab the embedding code  

Some visible changes to highlight from June map (see below):

 - Facebook continues its colonization of the world with more than 350 millions users. Since June Facebook conquered new territories from its competitors (in 100 out of 127 countries analyzed it is market leader). In particular:

- From Orkut (Google): India. Caution: data based on Alexa only, because Google doesn’t provide Orkut traffic data. It could be interesting to understand if these two social networks are mirroring social class divisions.

- From Hi5: Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua. Hi5 resists in Peru, Portugal, Romania, Thailand and Mongolia

- From Odnoklassniki: Azerbaijan only. It seems that Facebook hasn’t found a good strategy to convince Russian people that still prefer Odnoklassniki and V Kontakte.

- From Maktoob: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

- From Cyworld: South Korea

- From Lidé: Czech Republic

- From Skyrock: Guadeloupe and Martinique I’ve added to the map: Cuba, Qatar, Reunion

I’ve deleted Iran because censorship situation doesn’t allow me to get reliable data. If you have any insight please help me.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A map of the world, showing the most popular social networks by country, according to Alexa & Google Trends for Websites traffic data* (June 2009).

Please share and help me to improve it with your comments !

   Grab the embedding code

Top 3 Social Networking Sites:

 
Some visible patterns to highlight:

- Facebook has almost colonized Europe and it’s extending its domination with more than 200 millions users
- QQ, leader in China, is the largest social network of the world (300 millions active accounts)
- MySpace lost its leadership everywhere (except in Guam)
- V Kontakte is the most popular in Russian territories
- Orkut is strong in India and Brazil
- Hi5 is still leading in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and other scattered countries such as Portugal, Mongolia, Romania
- Odnoklassniki is strong in some former territories of the Soviet Union
- Maktoob is the most important Arab community/portal

Other country specific social networks:

- Iwiw in Hungary
- Nasza-klasa in Poland
- Cyworld in South Korea
- Friendster in Philippines
- Hyves in Netherlands
- Lidé in Czech Republic
- Mixi in Japan
- One in Lithuania
- Draugiem in Latvia
- Wretch in Taiwan
- Zing in Vietnam

________

* Data based on Alexa & Google Trends for Website results:

- “Alexa’s traffic rankings are based on the usage patterns of Alexa Toolbar users and data collected from other, diverse sources over a rolling 3 month period. A site’s ranking is based on a combined measure of reach (unique Alexa users who visit a site on a given day) and pageviews (the total number of Alexa user URL requests for a site).”

- “Google Trends for Websites shows you a graph reflecting the number of daily unique visitors”