Anime has become a mainstream form of entertainment in the United States and the world in recent years.

Viewers enjoy these series due to their well-crafted animation, exciting storylines, and the overall culture they offer.

Due to the rapidly growing fanbase, anime streaming websites skyrocketed in popularity, witnessing more than a million viewerships each day. 

In this article, let us look into how many people watch anime and which country loves it most.

Key Statistics

• Over 100 million people worldwide watch anime.
• Japan has the highest percentage of anime watchers worldwide.
• The first anime ever released was ‘The Dull Sword’ in 1951.
• Approximately 33% of American adults love anime.
• The anime industry reached $31 billion in 2023.
• ‘Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood’ is the most popular anime of all time.
• The Philippines takes the top 3 spot with most anime watchers!
• More than 100 million people had at least seen an anime title in 2020.
• Each episode of anime cost more than $100,000 to $200,000

1. Japan Bags the Most Anime Audiences with More than 75%

How many people watch anime?

As per WorldPopulationReview statistics, Japan has the highest percentage of people watching anime. 75.87% of its citizens or approximately 63 million are drawn to the activity.

After all, Japan is the home country of anime – if not for Japan, the global anime fever is not a thing today.

It is so well-known in the country that one of its cities, Akihabara, is especially dedicated to manga and anime. 

According to Statista, 90% of young Japanese people stated that they watched anime or read manga at one point in their lives.

Data also shows that 89.6% of high schoolers and 88.5% of college students watch anime.

(Statista, World Population Review )

2. ‘The Dull Sword’ Was the First Ever Anime Created in Japan

‘Nakamura Gatana’ or ‘The Dull Sword’ was the first ever animated film in Japan created in 1917.

Created by Junichi Kouchi, it tells the story of a samurai who purchased a katana from a merchant only to find it dull upon using it.

The film has been lost at one point in history but visual culture historian Natsuki Matsumoto managed to digitally restore the film in 2008. 

Despite only running for four minutes, Nakamura Gatana remains as the oldest existing anime that portrays the foundation of the industry.

(Oldest)

3. 33% of American Adults Watch Anime or Read Manga

According to Morning Consult’s report, approximately 33% of adult Americans have a favorable impression of anime. 

Some respondents stated that they first became interested in the anime genre because a family member or a friend recommended a title.

Many of the respondents also stated having come across ‘Dragonball Z’ and ‘Pokemon’ in the 1990s, sparking the start of their curiosity on the genre.

The study states that 22% Gen Zs and 21% millennials started their anime journey after reading manga.

(MorningConsult)

4. The anime industry grew to $31 billion in 2023

As per Polaris Market Research data, the global anime industry nearly grew to $31 billion before the end of 2023, due to the growing number of films, series, and merchandise made during the period.

In 2022, the market had a $29.1 billion market valuation, affected by post-pandemic damages.

It is interesting to note that the anime industry was able to maintain a consistent presence across numerous platforms, particularly in videos, films, music, and manga.

One of the top drivers of the anime industry comes from popular series or movies that are continually taking the animation industry by storm.

According to Industry Today’s projection, the platform is poised to grow 7.68% by 2024 and achieve more than $60 billion net worth by 2032.

(Industry Today, Polaris Market Research)

5. The Most Popular Anime of All Time Goes to ‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’

According to statistics by AnimeNewsNetwork, the most voted positive ratings on every streaming site is ‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.’

The anime has a 9.1 rating on IMDB, nearly a million upvote ratings from MyAnimeList, and an impressive 4.9-star rating from the famous anime-streaming website CrunchyRoll.

The story revolves around two brothers deciding to bring back their deceased mother using forbidden human science in exchange for a human price.

The protagonists went on a journey to undo the taboo and find a solution for the tragedy.

Despite running on only one season with 51 episodes, the series is beloved by the majority of the watchers due to the engaging storyline and characters that matured throughout the series.

(MyAnimeList, AnimeNewsNetwork, IMDB, Crunchyroll)

6. The Philippines Is the Third Country with The Most Anime Watchers

Anime was first brought to the Philippines in the 1970s, proving that anime has been a consistent source of entertainment for the Filipinos.

For more than 50 years, the genre has held a strong foundation in Philippine television, linking deeper connections to Japanese culture. 

Today, anime-inspired coffee shops are present in various city areas in the country, particularly in the business center and capital, Metro Manila.

According to EpicDope data, more than 70.58% of the country’s population watches anime, with Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk, Sailor Moon, and One Piece making it among crowd favorites.

(Epicdope)

7. More than 100 Million People Had Seen an Anime Title on Netflix in 2020

Netflix has adopted a sizable amount of anime content in its streaming platform and anime audiences for Netflix doubled in 2020.

The Netflix 2020 year review showed a more than 100% increase in the overall anime watched on its platform.

Similarly, a study from headphonesaddict shows that over 100 million Netflix users have seen at least one anime title on their screen, representing a 50% increase in viewership.

The demand for the ever-growing Japanese anime has been soaring yearly since the pandemic occurred.

(headphonesaddict, cbr)

8. Each Anime Episode Costs Between $100,000 to $200,000

Throughout the evolution of anime, the animation also improved, allowing audiences to enjoy more vibrant and amazing colors in their display.

But, how much does each episode cost?

According to the SportsSkeeda article, the average range for each anime episode costs between $100,000 and $200,000.

However, the article mentioned that there are numerous factors why an episode costs so much.

Profitable Venture shared Animation is a labor-intensive process that requires much time to produce a good episode. 

In addition, voice acting, length of the video, and post-production are some of the key factors for which each episode is expensive.

One of the most famous anime Dragon Ball Super has episodes that roughly cost $300,000 and the series had one of the largest budgets allocated for each episode throughout its course.

(SpoortSkeeda, Profitable Venture)

9. 93 Countries Chose ‘naruto’ as Their Favorite Anime

As per techjury data, Naruto is on top of the search list with more than 16% upvotes from 93 countries.

Produced by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999, many adults and young adults globally love the adventure anime series.

In addition to Techjury’s tier list, here are the top 5 most-watched anime in 93 countries, including the United States.

1. Naruto with 16.2% global anime-related search volume.
2. Pokemon with 8.8% global anime-related search volume.
3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba with 7.8% global anime-related search volume.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen with 7.3% global anime-related search volume.
5. One Piece with 7.2% global anime-related search volume.

(tech jury)

10. There Are More than 136,000 Different Anime Globally and Growing

There is no definitive answer as to how many anime are worldwide.

However, according to the Japanese Media Arts Database, there are more than 136,700 titles in their category in 2022.

Although Anime has been over 100 years old, the passion for creating amazing anime series still grows.

There are new titles released yearly, meaning that the number is still growing up to this day.

(headphonesaddict, Japanese Media Arts Database)

Conclusion

Anime has taken the world by storm due to its vibrant showcase of Japanese culture while offering diverse genres and cool merchandise.

As the popularity rises, the community joins the train.

Anime is here to stay, promising not just important lessons in life but continued growth, art, and entertaining stories.

Thanks for reading our article on how many people watch anime in the US and world.

Sources

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