Instagram is a social media platform for sharing photos and videos, with features like Stories, Reels, and direct messaging. It launched in 2010 and was acquired by Facebook (now Meta) in 2012. This page compiles verified Instagram facts and statistics, with a source link for each data point.
Instagram stats at a glance (verified)
| Metric | Figure | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch date | October 6, 2010 | 2010 | TechCrunch |
| Acquisition price (Facebook → Instagram) | ~$1 billion (cash + shares) | April 9, 2012 announcement | Meta / Facebook Newsroom |
| Global Instagram ad reach (accounts reachable via ads) | 1.74 billion users | January 2025 | DataReportal (Kepios analysis of Meta ad tools) |
| Instagram ad reach in the United States | 182 million users | Late 2025 | DataReportal: Digital 2026 (USA) |
| Instagram Stories daily users (internal data) | 500 million users per day | January 2019 (reported later) | Instagram post |
Note on methodology: Meta does not consistently publish a single, official public “monthly active users” figure for Instagram. Where this article uses “users,” it is labeled as ad reach when the figure comes from Meta’s advertising tools and is summarized by DataReportal.
Instagram history (key milestones)
- October 6, 2010: Instagram launches. (source)
- April 9, 2012: Facebook announces it will acquire Instagram for approximately $1 billion (cash + shares). (source)
- August 2016: Instagram introduces Stories. (source)
- June 2018: Instagram reaches 1 billion monthly active accounts (announced by Instagram). (source)
- July 2023: Threads launches (a text-based app from Instagram’s team). (source)
Instagram user and audience statistics
How many users can Instagram ads reach worldwide?
Data compiled by DataReportal (based on Meta’s advertising tools) shows that Instagram ads reached 1.74 billion users worldwide in January 2025. Source
How many users can Instagram ads reach in the United States?
In the United States, DataReportal reports that Meta’s advertising tools indicated 182 million Instagram users were reachable via ads in late 2025. Source
How many people use Instagram Stories each day?
Instagram has stated that Stories are used by 500 million users every day, citing Instagram internal data (January 2019). Source
Photo by Souvik Banerjee on Unsplash
FAQ (quick answers)
When did Instagram launch?
Instagram launched on October 6, 2010. Source
Who owns Instagram?
Instagram is owned by Meta (formerly Facebook). Facebook announced it would acquire Instagram in April 2012 for approximately $1 billion in cash and shares. Source
Sources & references
- TechCrunch – Instagram launch (October 6, 2010)
- Meta / Facebook Newsroom – acquisition announcement (~$1B, April 2012)
- DataReportal – Essential Instagram stats (ad reach methodology + figures)
- DataReportal – Digital 2026: United States (Instagram ad reach in the USA)
- Instagram – Stories daily usage statement (internal data reference)
- Instagram – 1 billion monthly active accounts announcement (June 2018)
- About Instagram – product background and updates