Social Media Strategy

TikTok Age Demographics: Shocking Stats Every Marketer Needs

SocialRails Team
SocialRails Team
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TL;DR - Quick Answer

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Step-by-step guide. Follow it to get results.

"TikTok is just for Gen Z kids dancing" is the most expensive marketing myth of 2025.

While you're ignoring TikTok thinking your audience isn't there, 38% of users are over 30, spending an average of 95 minutes per day on the app. That's more daily engagement than Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter combined.

Here's the complete breakdown of TikTok's age demographics, who's actually using the platform, and what it means for your marketing budget.

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TikTok Age Demographics 2025: The Complete Breakdown

Age GroupPercentage of UsersTotal Users (Est.)Trend
10-19 years25%~275M users↓ Declining
20-29 years37%~407M users→ Stable
30-39 years20%~220M users↑ Growing Fast
40-49 years11%~121M users↑ Growing Fast
50+ years7%~77M users↑ Growing

Key Insight:

38% of TikTok users are age 30+ - that's 418 million adults with purchasing power. The "TikTok is for kids" narrative is 3 years outdated.

The Biggest Surprise in TikTok Demographics

Fastest Growing Age Groups (2023-2025)

+86%

Ages 30-39

From 11% in 2023 to 20% in 2025. Millennials have arrived.

+120%

Ages 40-49

From 5% to 11%. Gen X is the fastest adopter.

+240%

Ages 50+

From 2% to 7%. Boomers are joining for news & grandkid content.

📊 What's Happening:

While teens (13-19) still use TikTok, their share dropped from 32% in 2021 to 25% in 2025. Meanwhile, users 30+ grew from 22% to 38%. TikTok is rapidly aging up—exactly what happened to Facebook from 2008-2015.

TikTok Gender Demographics

57%

Female Users

Women slightly outnumber men on TikTok globally, with higher engagement rates and longer session times.

43%

Male Users

Male audience growing faster (+15% YoY) than female (+8% YoY) as platform diversifies content.

Gender Split by Age Group

Age GroupFemale %Male %Marketing Note
13-1761%39%Beauty, fashion, lifestyle dominate
18-2458%42%Dance, comedy, relationships content
25-3454%46%Career, parenting, home content
35-4452%48%Nearly even split, varied interests
45+48%52%News, DIY, grandparent content

TikTok Demographics by Country/Region

Top 5 Countries by User Count (2025)

CountryUsers% of PopulationAvg Age
🇮🇩 Indonesia126M45%24 years
🇺🇸 United States116M35%27 years
🇧🇷 Brazil84M39%25 years
🇲🇽 Mexico71M54%23 years
🇻🇳 Vietnam50M50%26 years

Regional Age Differences

🌎 North America

  • • Average user age: 28 years
  • • 43% are 30+ (highest globally)
  • • Strong growth in 40-60 demographic
  • • Business/education content performs well

🌍 Europe

  • • Average user age: 26 years
  • • 35% are 30+
  • • UK/Germany skew older than Southern Europe
  • • Fashion/lifestyle content dominant

🌏 Asia-Pacific

  • • Average user age: 24 years
  • • 28% are 30+ (youngest region)
  • • High engagement with e-commerce features
  • • Entertainment/music content thrives

🌎 Latin America

  • • Average user age: 25 years
  • • 30% are 30+
  • • Fastest growing region (+45% YoY)
  • • Dance/comedy content highly viral

TikTok User Behavior by Age Group

How Different Ages Use TikTok

🧒 Ages 13-19 (Gen Z)

Content They Watch:

  • • Dance challenges & trends
  • • Comedy skits & memes
  • • Gaming content & esports
  • • Makeup tutorials & fashion
  • • School life & relationships

Engagement Habits:

  • • 112 min/day average screen time
  • • Post 2-3x per week
  • • High participation in challenges
  • • 89% discover new music on TikTok

🎓 Ages 20-29 (Millennials/Gen Z)

Content They Watch:

  • • Career & side hustle advice
  • • Finance & investing tips
  • • Cooking & recipes
  • • Travel & lifestyle
  • • Relationship & mental health

Engagement Habits:

  • • 95 min/day average screen time
  • • Post 1-2x per week
  • • 76% have purchased from TikTok
  • • High engagement with educational content

👨‍💼 Ages 30-39 (Millennials)

Content They Watch:

  • • Parenting hacks & tips
  • • Home improvement & DIY
  • • Business & entrepreneurship
  • • Fitness & wellness
  • • Food & cooking tutorials

Engagement Habits:

  • • 78 min/day average screen time
  • • Mostly watch, rarely post
  • • 68% research products on TikTok
  • • Higher purchasing power than younger users

🏠 Ages 40-49 (Gen X)

Content They Watch:

  • • News & current events
  • • Gardening & home projects
  • • Health & fitness over 40
  • • Personal finance & retirement
  • • Pet content

Engagement Habits:

  • • 52 min/day average screen time
  • • Watch-only, rarely create
  • • 54% trust TikTok recommendations
  • • Highest average order value in e-commerce

👴 Ages 50+ (Boomers)

Content They Watch:

  • • Grandparent content
  • • Historical facts & nostalgia
  • • Crafts & hobbies
  • • Health advice for seniors
  • • Travel destinations

Engagement Habits:

  • • 38 min/day average screen time
  • • Primarily passive viewers
  • • Fastest growing segment
  • • Share content to Facebook/email

What TikTok Demographics Mean for Your Marketing

Should Your Business Be on TikTok? Decision Matrix

Your Target AudienceTikTok OpportunityContent Strategy
Gen Z (18-25)🔥 Extremely HighTrends, challenges, authentic behind-scenes
Millennials (26-40)✅ HighEducational, how-to, problem-solving content
Gen X (41-55)📈 Growing FastNews, tips, real-life stories, no trends
Boomers (56+)⚠️ EmergingSimple, clear, informative content
B2B Enterprise⏳ Wait & WatchLinkedIn still better, but test TikTok ads

TikTok vs Other Platforms: Age Comparison

Average User Age Across Platforms (2025)

Facebook
40.2 years
LinkedIn
37.8 years
Twitter/X
36.5 years
Instagram
30.1 years
TikTok
26.5 years
Snapchat
23.6 years

Content Strategy by Age Demographics

What Works for Each Age Group

📱 Targeting 18-24 (Young Millennials/Gen Z)

✅ Do This:

  • • Jump on trends within 24 hours
  • • Use trending sounds & music
  • • Raw, unpolished authentic content
  • • Quick cuts, fast pacing
  • • Humor & self-deprecation
  • • Participate in challenges

❌ Avoid:

  • • Overly polished, corporate feel
  • • Hard-selling products
  • • Slow, lengthy explanations
  • • Out-of-date references
  • • Ignoring comments

💼 Targeting 25-35 (Millennials)

✅ Do This:

  • • Educational "how-to" content
  • • Life hacks & productivity tips
  • • Career & finance advice
  • • Behind-the-scenes business content
  • • Product comparisons & reviews
  • • Storytelling format

❌ Avoid:

  • • Forced trend participation
  • • Juvenile humor
  • • Clickbait without value
  • • Ignoring ROI/practical benefits
  • • Too trendy/FOMO-heavy messaging

🏠 Targeting 35-50 (Gen X/Older Millennials)

✅ Do This:

  • • Problem-solution format
  • • Clear, straightforward delivery
  • • Expert interviews & testimonials
  • • Before/after transformations
  • • Practical, actionable tips
  • • Longer-form content (60-90 sec)

❌ Avoid:

  • • Rapid-fire editing
  • • Gen Z slang
  • • Trend-focused content
  • • Unclear value proposition
  • • Gimmicky hooks

TikTok Demographics: Key Statistics Summary

📊 Quick Stats Reference Sheet

Platform Stats:

  • Total users: 1.1 billion monthly active
  • Daily active users: 750 million
  • Average session: 95 minutes per day
  • Videos watched: 167 per session
  • Downloads: #1 most downloaded app 2024

Age Breakdown:

  • Under 20: 25%
  • 20-29: 37%
  • 30-39: 20%
  • 40-49: 11%
  • 50+: 7%

Engagement:

  • Average watch time: 21 hours/month
  • Engagement rate: 5.96% (vs 1.22% Instagram)
  • Share rate: 2.4x higher than Instagram
  • Video completion: 68% watch to end

Commerce:

  • Shop users: 72% have made purchases
  • Avg order value: $67
  • Conversion rate: 4.8% (vs 2.1% social avg)
  • GMV 2024: $44 billion (projected)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average age of TikTok users?

The average TikTok user is 26.5 years old globally as of 2025. However, this varies significantly by region: North America averages 28 years, Europe 26 years, and Asia-Pacific 24 years. The platform is aging up rapidly—the average age was 23 in 2021 and has increased by 3.5 years as older demographics adopt the platform.

Is TikTok still popular with teenagers?

Yes, but their dominance is shrinking. Teens (13-19) now represent 25% of TikTok users, down from 32% in 2021. While still a significant portion, many teens are exploring newer platforms like BeReal while their parents and older siblings join TikTok. That said, teens remain the most active creators and trend-setters on the platform.

What percentage of TikTok users are over 30?

38% of TikTok users are over 30 years old, representing approximately 418 million users globally. This demographic is growing the fastest—up 86% in ages 30-39, 120% in ages 40-49, and 240% in ages 50+ compared to 2023. This older audience has higher purchasing power and represents a huge opportunity for businesses selling premium products and services.

How does TikTok's age demographic compare to Instagram?

TikTok's average user (26.5 years) is younger than Instagram's (30.1 years). However, TikTok is closing the gap rapidly as it attracts older users. Instagram has 42% of users over 35, while TikTok has 18%. But TikTok's 35+ segment is growing 3x faster than Instagram's, suggesting eventual convergence.

Should B2B companies be on TikTok?

It depends. B2B companies targeting younger professionals (25-40) in tech, marketing, finance, or creative fields should absolutely test TikTok. Educational content, industry insights, and behind-the-scenes business content perform well. However, if you sell to C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies, LinkedIn remains the better choice. Start with TikTok ads to test before committing to organic content creation.

What age group spends the most money on TikTok?

Users aged 30-44 have the highest average order value ($89) on TikTok Shop, followed by 25-29 ($71) and 18-24 ($54). While younger users make more frequent small purchases, the 30-44 demographic has significantly more disposable income and makes larger, considered purchases. They're also more likely to buy without discounts or promo codes.

Understand audience demographics across platforms:

Conclusion

TikTok age demographics have shifted dramatically. The "TikTok is for Gen Z" narrative is 3 years outdated. Today, 38% of users are over 30, representing 418 million adults with real purchasing power.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ages 20-29 are the largest group (37%), but 30+ is growing fastest
  • Gen X (40-49) is the fastest-growing demographic (+120% since 2023)
  • Average user age is 26.5 years and climbing
  • 57% female, 43% male globally (nearly even in 35+ age groups)
  • Older users watch more, buy more, but create less content

The opportunity: While competitors dismiss TikTok as "too young" for their brand, savvy marketers are capturing attention from affluent 30-50 year olds who are actively seeking business, finance, parenting, and home improvement content.

If your target audience is 25-45, ignoring TikTok means leaving money on the table.

Ready to reach your audience on TikTok? Use SocialRails to schedule, publish, and analyze your TikTok content alongside all your other social platforms.

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