YouTube sees rise in channel growth, subscriber numbers in Africa

YouTube, a video sharing and social media platform, has forecasted a year-over-year increase in channel growth and subscriber growth on its platform.  

The Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, Mr. Alex Okosi, who analyzed the growth rate while giving the YouTube specific updates across African markets, during a recent webinar, said in Nigeria alone, the percentage of YouTube channels making seven figures or more in revenue, is up over 60 per cent year over year, with over 650 channels having over 100 thousand subscribers, which is an increase of over 50 per cent year over year, and 35 channels having over one million subscribers, which is an increase of 50 per cent year over year, while over 75 per cent of watch time on content produced by channels in Nigeria comes from outside of Nigeria. 

In the South African market, he said, the percentage of YouTube channels making six figures or more in revenue has increased by over 40% year over year, with over 300 channels having over 100 thousand subscribers, up by over 60% year over year, and 25 channels having over one million subscribers, up by over 30% year over year, while over 65 percent of watch time on content produced by channels in South Africa comes from YouTube.  

According to Okosi, the percentage of YouTube channels making seven figures or more in revenue is up over 60% year over year, with over 400 channels having over 100 thousand subscribers, up over 70% year over year, six channels having over one million subscribers, and one channel with over one billion views, while over 45 percent of watch time on content produced by Kenyan channels comes from outside of Kenya.