UK: podcast reach 2017-2026

As of 2021, there were over 19.1 million podcast listeners in the United Kingdom (UK). The audience is growing steadily as the popularity of podcasts increases, with estimate of over 28 million listeners by 2026.

Podcast listening behavior and UK trends

Over the past decade, podcasts have become one of the most popular forms of (audio) entertainment in the UK. While podcast reach and consumption are as high as ever, podcasts are still most widespread among young audiences, with close to 40 percent of UK listeners aged 26 to 35 listening to podcasts on a weekly basis. Correspondingly, a recent survey showed that smartphones are by far the most commonly used device to listen to podcasts. When asked about their podcast listening behavior, a large share of UK audiences stated that they primarily listened to podcasts while driving or traveling.

What is the most popular podcast genre in the UK?

Audiences can choose from an ever-expanding catalogue of podcast genres, titles, and formats. Recent surveys indicated that sports and comedy were the most popular podcast genres with male listeners in Great Britain, while comedy and music were the leading genres among female listeners. Overall, News and Weather and Desert Island Discs ranked as most popular radio programs and podcasts in the UK, with 48 and 36 percent of listeners having a positive opinion of these shows in 2020.

Estimated number of podcast listeners in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2017 to 2026 (in millions)

Characteristic	Number of listeners in millions
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Supplementary notes

Data provided by Statista Market Outlooks are estimates

Digital Audio Advertising includes all ad revenue generated through pre- and in-Stream Audio Ads that appear in music (music also includes all kinds of radio services) and podcast streaming services.

This includes ad-supported free versions of premium subscription services or services funded by advertising.

Formats can be single spots, tandem spots, or popular special advertising formats like presenting, On Air Promotions and Infomercials, directly embedded in the audio file or dynamically inserted. Banner or Video ads included only in the web player of the streaming service are not in-scope.

All figures are estimate. A detailed methodology can be found in the Statista Market Outlook.

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