Have you ever experienced watching videos on YouTube and suddenly being interrupted by an ad? Sometimes, internet users get annoyed when receiving ads from time to time.

Marketing experts reveal that a person comes across around 6,000 to 10,000 ads daily in 2020, both online and offline.

How to avoid getting ads? Ad blockers are the answer.

These tools hide or remove content related to advertisements.

Ad blockers users enjoy a safe browsing experience without distracting ads and video promotions.

Today, approximately 42.7% of internet users use ad-blocking software to have an ad-free browsing experience.

Do you want to know more about ad blockers demographics and usage statistics? Just continue reading.

Post Contents

1 Key Ad Blockers Statistics
2 Ad Blockers Demographics and Usage Statistics in 2024
3 Conclusion
4 Sources

Key Ad Blockers Statistics

In Q4 2019, ad blocker users worldwide exceeded 763 million.
Ad blockers are predominantly used by men aged 35 years old and below.
Vietnam had the highest ad blocking penetration rate in Q3 2021, with 44.7%.
Three out of five users aged 18 to 24 use ad blockers on laptops and desktops.
The ad blocker usage in the United States reached 27% in 2021, up from 15.7% in 2014.
In 2020, about 36% of internet users in the United Kingdom used ad blockers.
In December 2016, more than 600 million devices worldwide had ad blockers.

Ad Blockers Demographics and Usage Statistics in 2024

1. The Number of Ad Blocker Users Worldwide Exceeded 763 Million in Q4 2019

Most internet users today expect a fast and seamless digital experience.

We do not want interruptions when we watch videos or read blogs online.

This is why in Q4 2019, ad blocker users worldwide reached 763.5 million, up from 212.99 million in Q4 2013.

These figures include users of desktop and mobile adblock browsers and desktop ad block plugins.

Let’s take a look at the number of ad blocker users worldwide from Q4 2013 to Q4 2019:

Ad blocker users worldwide reached 561.64 million in Q4 2015
Ad blocker users worldwide reached 633.82 million in Q4 2016
Ad blocker users worldwide reached 729.07 million in Q4 2017
Ad blocker users worldwide reached 732.32 million in Q4 2018
Ad blocker users worldwide reached 763.51 million in Q4 2019

(Statista)

2. Men Aged 16 to 24 Used Ad Blockers the Most, Accounting for 49.2%

Ad blockers are majorly used by people aged 35 years old and below.

Men between 16 to 24 years old used ad blockers the most, accounting for 49.2%. In comparison, women of the same age account for 43.2%.

Here is the list of ad blocker users worldwide showing age and gender demographics:

49.2% of ad block users are men aged 16 to 24, while 43.2% are women of the same age
47.6% of ad block users are men aged 25 to 34, while 43.0% are women of the same age
44.8% of ad block users are men aged 35 to 44, while 38.4% are women of the same age
39.1% of ad block users are men aged 45 to 54, while 33.5% are women of the same age
37.3% of ad block users are men aged 55 to 65, while 32.1% are women of the same age

(Backlinko)

3. Vietnam Recorded the Highest Ad Blocking Penetration Rate in Q3 2021, Accounting for 44.7%

In Q3 2021, the average adblocking rate worldwide was around 37%.

Vietnam recorded the highest adblocking penetration rate, with 44.7%. China comes next, with 43.4%.

Meanwhile, Ghana recorded the lowest usage, accounting for 9.3%.

Below are the leading countries that used ad blockers in Q3 2021 with their respective adblocking penetration rates:

Vietnam had an adblocking penetration rate of 44.7% in Q3 2021
China had an adblocking penetration rate of 43.4% in Q3 2021
Indonesia had an adblocking penetration rate of 41.7% in Q3 2021
South Africa had an adblocking penetration rate of 40.4% in Q3 2021

(Statista)

4. 60% of Users Aged 18 to 24 Used Ad Blockers on Laptops and Desktops

More and more people use ad blockers on their personal computers and mobile devices to stop unskippable and time-consuming video ads.

Three out of five users between 18 to 24 years old used ad blockers on laptops and desktops, and almost one out of five users of the same age used them on their smartphones.

Here are the percentages of ad blocker users by age and devices in Q1 2021:

60% of users between 18 to 24 years old used ad blockers on laptops and desktops, and 18% of users of the same age used them on smartphones
47% of users between 25 to 34 years old used ad blockers on laptops and desktops, and 34% of users of the same age used them on smartphones
51% of users between 35 to 54 years old used ad blockers on laptops and desktops, and 35% of users of the same age used them on smartphones
44% of users 55 years and older used ad blockers on laptops and desktops, and 25% of users of the same ages used them on smartphones

(Earthweb)

5. The Ad Blocker Usage in the United States in 2021 Reached 27%, Up From 15.7% in 2014

According to eMarketer, more than one in four internet users in the United States block ads on one of their devices in 2021.

This equates to a 27% ad blocker usage rate in the country, up from 15.7% in 2014.

Here is a list of ad blocker usage in the United States from 2019 to 2021:

Ad blocker usage in the US in 2019 reached 25.8%
Ad blocker usage in the US in 2020 reached 26.4%
Ad blocker usage in the US in 2021 reached 27.0%

(eMarketer and Backlinko)

6. In Q2 2020, 45% of Internet Users in the United States Aged 15 to 25 Used Ad Blockers

In Q2 2020, ad blockers in the United States were predominantly used by younger ages from 15 to 25 years old, accounting for 45%.

Ages 26 to 35 and 46 to 55 follow with 42% each.

Meanwhile, ages 36 to 45 and 56 and above have the lowest ad blocker usage, with 38% and 39%.

(Statista)

7. In 2020, 36% of Internet Users in the United Kingdom used Ad Blockers

About 36% of internet users in the United Kingdom used ad blockers in 2020, down from 47% in 2016 and 41% in 2018.

The majority of ad blocker users in the country are men from younger generations aged 35 and below.

Approximately 42% of ad blocker users are men, while 29% are women.

(Backlinko)

8. More than 600 Million Devices in the World were Running Ad Blockers in December 2016

Most internet users worldwide want to enjoy an ad-free experience while browsing, watching, and reading online.

Before achieving an ad-free experience, users must install an ad blocker.

In December 2016, around 634 million devices in the world had ad blockers to stop too many annoying ads and protect users’ privacy on their internet-connected devices.

(Think with Google)