Many experts agree it’s too early to tell if virtual communities will be a promised land or the next El Dorado. Yet, it’s no secret that the metaverse carries massive potential, given the global investments in 3D technology, AI, and virtual or augmented realities.
So, if you’re considering jumping on the bandwagon and investing in virtual projects, check out these informative metaverse statistics to learn more about the latest tech industry trends and predictions.
Top Ten Metaverse Statistics:
Currently, 149 virtual worlds exist in the metaverse.
In 2022, more than $120 billion of investments flowed into the metaverse.
The metaverse industry could grow to $996.42 billion by 2030.
By 2024, there could be 1.7 billion mobile AR user devices worldwide.
By 2026, 25% of people will spend at least an hour daily in the metaverse.
By 2030, the metaverse could add nearly $5 trillion to the global economy.
36% of internet users in the US are interested in using the metaverse.
47.59% of internet traffic for the metaverse comes from mobile users.
Mixed-reality onboarding can improve employee retention by 82%.
In 2020, around 50 million Americans used virtual reality.
The Latest Metaverse Stats & Facts
Currently, 149 virtual worlds exist in the metaverse.
The virtual worlds sector is an ever-growing ecosystem accessible via Web2 and Web3 internet technology or VR headsets. In the first quarter of 2023, the Metaverse Universe chart comprises nearly 150 live or in-development virtual worlds.
Of course, these virtual worlds differ in the number of monthly active users and other parameters, but the futuristic concept based on the metaverse remains the same across the board.
(Metaversed Consulting)
In Q3 2022, Roblox had more than 58.8 million daily active users.
Roblox enjoys enormous metaverse popularity since this gaming platform offers an exciting alternative to the traditional gaming experience. After all, more than half of children under 16 in the US played Roblox in 2020.
Moreover, the global Roblox fever is not subsiding, given that the gaming platform attracted over 50 million daily users in the last quarter of 2022. Roblox is among the most successful metaverse projects, with a bright future as more and more people join virtual reality worlds.
(Statista)
In 2021, real estate sales on top metaverse platforms reached $501 million.
The digital land boom offers an excellent opportunity for metaverse investments, and the burgeoning virtual platforms are the new frontiers for investors worldwide. Even though the market is young and relatively risky, many agree that “getting there early” is the shortcut for high-value deals in the future.
According to estimates, projected real estate sales on the four primary metaverse platforms could come close to $1 billion.
(CNBC)
In 2022, more than $120 billion of investments flowed into the metaverse.
The metaverse offers endless possibilities and investment opportunities, making virtual worlds too big for investors to ignore. For instance, the latest metaverse predictions say over 15% of corporate revenue will come from the metaverse in the next five years.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that record-breaking investments flowed into the cyber world during 2022. But, of course, most tech experts and corporate executives expect the trends to continue in 2023.
(McKinsey)
In October 2021, the global Web 2.0 metaverse sector was worth $14.8 trillion.
The Web 3.0 world is yet to attract investors and audiences, but Web 2.0 companies already have a significant role in the global metaverse markets. Namely, the Web 2.0 metaverse corporations collectively generated nearly $15 trillion in market value in 2021.
In comparison, the gaming and eSports companies only had $1.98 trillion in market capitalization, while Facebook (Meta) had $0.9 trillion.
(Statista)
Reality Labs, Meta’s AR/VR division, generated nearly $2.3 billion in revenue in 2021.
Augmented and virtual realities are the metaverse building blocks, and tech giants invest heavily in AR/VR software and hardware. For instance, in 2021, Meta announced it would invest $10 billion into its Reality Labs division, making this move one of the top metaverse investments in recent years.
Zuckerberg’s corporation is already reaping the benefits, given that Reality Labs reported record-breaking revenues for 2021. In comparison, the division generated ‘only’ 501 million in revenue in 2019.
(Statista)
Facebook Inc plans to create 10,000 jobs in the next five years to build the metaverse.
As we said, Mark Zuckerberg and his company are among the pioneers regarding investments in the metaverse and virtual worlds.
A direct consequence of Facebook’s investments is increased employment. So, the company estimates that the global metaverse adoption will create approximately ten thousand job opportunities in the European Union within the next five years.
(Reuters)
In October 2022, Meta lost around $700 billion in market value, with shares plunging 24%.
Despite the enthusiasm and the hype surrounding the metaverse, it’s not all roses for the tech giants. The global economic crisis affects everyone, and the tech industry is not immune to these problems.
For example, Meta’s market value plummeted from over $1 trillion to around $268 billion in September 2021. Compared to a year earlier, Meta’s shares dropped by 67%.
(CBS News)
Metaverse Trends & Projections
According to Global Data, the metaverse industry could grow to $996.42 billion by 2030.
The metaverse encompasses several segments: blockchain, cloud infrastructure, data governance, AR and VR, and user-oriented applications. Each technology will require investments and research to build a functioning metaverse in the years to come.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that experts forecast massive growth for the metaverse industry from 2022 to 2030, taking the overall value to around $1 trillion.
(Global Data)
The global metaverse market could grow at a 39.44% CAGR between 2022 and 2030.
In 2022, the global metaverse market size was around $47.48 billion, but the recent high-profile investments could significantly increase the overall market capitalization.
Namely, the industry could grow by nearly 40% between 2022 and 2030, with modest forecasts saying that the metaverse’s value in 2030 could be around $678 billion.
(Strategic Market Research)
The metaverse market could reach $1.5 trillion before 2030.
The world is only at the start of the metaverse hype, but lucrative business opportunities generate engagement and attract audiences. That’s why the metaverse market is skyrocketing.
For instance, Fortune Business released metaverse statistics for 2022, estimating the market’s value at approximately $100 billion. The same source claims that the industry could expect a 47.6% CAGR and grow to around $1.5 trillion by the decade's end.
(Fortune Business Insights)
By 2024, there could be 1.7 billion mobile AR user devices worldwide.
We already mentioned the importance of AR and VR technologies for building the metaverse, so developing these technologies and increasing their widespread adoption is essential.
So, following the trends in the metaverse, by the end of 2023, the yearly AR headset sales could exceed 30 million units. Consequently, the number of AR user devices worldwide could reach 1.7 billion by 2024.
(Statista)
By 2026, 25% of people will spend at least an hour daily in the metaverse.
According to Gartner’s predictions, a quarter of the planet’s population will dwell in the metaverse for at least one hour daily by the end of 2026. In addition, 30% of organizations will follow the trends in the metaverse by offering suitable products and services.
Gartner’s forecast suggests people would visit the metaverse for work, education, shopping, social interaction, or entertainment.
(Gartner)
In 2024, the total spending on AR/VR could reach $72.8 billion.
Although critics say that the metaverse is only a hypothesis and might never come to life, many corporations are preparing for the next iteration of the internet. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual and augmented reality technologies.
As a result, the latest metaverse market trends reveal increased spending in VR/AR. According to Forbes, global spending on these technologies could grow to $72.8 billion by 2024, compared to $12 billion in 2020.
(Forbes)
By 2030, the metaverse could add nearly $5 trillion to the global economy.
Many tech experts predict that 2030 could be the defining year for the metaverse, although we still have a long way to go before the decade’s end.
For example, Forbes estimates that metaverse-related investments could add approximately $5 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
(Forbes)
Metaverse Demographics
36% of internet users in the US are interested in using the metaverse.
Even though virtual worlds are a hot topic, only around a third of Americans are interested in using the technology. Admittedly, 12% of the respondents said they are “very interested” in using the metaverse.
Interestingly, men are more likely to be interested in virtual worlds, with 18% being “very interested.” In comparison, only 7% of women are “very interested” in the metaverse.
(Statista)
39% of global Internet users said overcoming obstacles they faced in real life was the primary benefit of the metaverse.
More than a third of metaverse users participating in a 2021 survey said that metaverse could help them overcome obstacles they meet in real life. Thus, this aspect of the virtual worlds was perceived as the most significant benefit of using the metaverse.
Similarly, 37% of respondents said that the most important benefit comes from enhanced imagination and creativity.
(Statista)
52% of global Internet users join the metaverse for work.
Although the metaverse is years away from widespread adoption, many industries use 3D models and AR/VR technologies daily. Notably, metaverse usage statistics show that more than half of users enter virtual worlds for work.
In addition, 48% say they join the metaverse for art performances and live entertainment, while 44% do it for financial investments. Similarly, 40% enter the metaverse for education, while 32% join the platforms to socialize. Only 29% of users enter the metaverse for gaming.
(Strategic Market Research)
79% of metaverse users have already made a purchase.
Virtual environments and holographic representations can offer plenty of entertainment, but many users enter the metaverse for shopping or money investments.
That’s why the biggest metaverse brands must provide value today while building the infrastructure for the metaverse of tomorrow.
(McKinsey)
54% of experts say that the metaverse will be fully-immersive and much more refined by 2040.
In a recent Pew Research survey, 624 tech experts, developers, researchers, policy leaders, and activists gave their insights and opinions on the future of the metaverse. More than half said they expect the concept to have full functionality by 2040.
However, 46% of respondents answered that the metaverse WILL NOT be fully immersive and much more refined by 2040.
(Pew Research)
Interesting Facts About the Metaverse
Facebook, now Meta, is the world’s largest virtual platform.
In October 2021, Mark Zuckerberg announced the restructuring and rebranding of its super-successful social networking platform, Facebook. The new name for the corporation was Meta, indicating that virtual reality and metaverse will be the company’s focus in the future.
So, given the three billion Facebook users worldwide, Zuckerberg owns the world’s largest virtual platform.
(Statista)
Over 45.8 million fans watched Travis Scott’s virtual performance in Fortnite.
Virtual reality technologies offer enormous opportunities for entertainers, and Travis Scott’s record-setting performance in April 2020 is the perfect example of metaverse opportunities and trends.
The digital, cyberpunk-ish airing of “Astronomical” attracted 27.7 million unique players during the premiere, with more than 45 million viewers watching the 3D show afterwards.
(Billboard)
Roblox’s revenue grew by 107% in 2021 compared to 2020.
The free-to-use online gaming platform Roblox has been around since 2006, but its popularity has skyrocketed after the COVID-19 pandemic. We mentioned that more than half of American children under 16 use this platform, but many adults also invest in Robux, an in-game virtual currency.
Namely, Roblox’s sales in 2021 reached $1.9 billion thanks to the expansion of the metaverse user demographics.
(Strategic Market Research)
In 2020, around 50 million Americans used virtual reality.
2020 was a turbulent year in many ways, but it also benefited many industries. For instance, the VR gaming industry saw an all-time high demand for virtual reality headsets.
Besides virtual reality, augmented reality was also popular in 2020, with 83.7 million Americans using this technology.
(Strategic Market Research)
47.59% of internet traffic for the metaverse comes from mobile users.
The latest metaverse stats reveal that mobile devices dominate the industry, with nearly half of the internet traffic for virtual worlds coming from smartphones and tablets.
On the other hand, only 8.88% of the metaverse-related traffic comes from desktop users. The secret lies in the convenience of using AR technologies on mobile devices.
(Strategic Market Research)
Mixed-reality onboarding can improve employee retention by 82%.
3D models, avatars, and digital twins have penetrated almost every industry, and innovators continue to find new methods for using these metaverse technologies.
For example, metaverse fun facts show that companies that use mixed reality during onboarding can boost employee retention. Likewise, the same technologies can increase productivity by a whopping 70%.
(Strategic Market Research)
Republic Realm bought the most expensive metaverse property for $4.3 million.
Republic Realm is a metaverse-oriented division of a crowdfunding platform and one of the top players in the virtual real estate business. Republic Realm owns around 2,500 plots of digital lands across dozens of virtual worlds.
Also, Republic Realm bought digital land in The Sandbox for $4.3 million, overtaking the record set by the Metaverse Group and its $2.43 deal.
(Business Insider)
Conclusion
As informative and comprehensive as our metaverse statistics are, it’s fair to say that the global tech industry only scratched the surface of what virtual worlds could offer. In other words, the metaverse is an unexplored terrain with plenty of ambitious adventurers eager to dive into new worlds.
In case you are one of those, good luck with your endeavors. But even if you are not, try to prepare because the metaverse is coming sooner than we might expect.
