The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has revealed that the three shows of Eurovision 2021 reached a global audience of 183 million people. This is up one million from the last contest in 2019.
Eurovision 2021 viewing figures
The headline number is based on the consolidation of viewing figures from across 36 different markets. According to the official press release, the audience share was 40.5% which is four percentage points higher than that achieved for the 2019 contest across the same group of channels. Typically, these channels get an average audience share of 19.4%.
The show was particularly popular with younger age groups. The viewing share for the grand final among 15 to 24-year-olds was 52.8% — up 7 percentage points on 2019. Normally, the same time slot on the same channels only gets a share of about 14.5% from this age group.
There was also a strong showing for all things Eurovision online. A total of 50.6 million unique viewers across 234 countries watched on the official YouTube channel, up 28% on 2019. Live online content was consumed overwhelmingly by the younger age groups. A massive 71% of these viewers were aged between 18 and 34.
Eurovision 2021 — top ratings
The EBU has highlighted seven markets in which the contest fared particularly well, they are:
- Italy — The largest audience for Rai since returning to the contest in 2011. An average of 4.3 million viewers watched the grand final, accounting for 24.4% of TV viewing in the country.
- The Netherlands — The biggest audience for the grand final since the current Dutch records began in 2003, up 21% on 2019. 5.4 million viewers watched on NPO, amounting to an audience share of 78.5%.
- France — Its best audience of the past decade, with 5.5 million viewers, up 15% on 2019.
- United Kingdom — 7.4 million viewers watched – the highest number since 2014 and up 6% on 2019.
- Germany — The largest audience of all markets for the 11th consecutive year with 7.8 million viewers, up 3% on 2019.
- Iceland — The largest viewing share of any market at 99.9%.
- Finland — Its best audience since current records began in 2003. A total of 1.4 million viewers watched, equating to an audience share of 81.4%. That’s up almost three times on the 2019 figure.
Eurovision organisers are pleased with the results. First-time Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl says:
We’re thrilled to see that audiences welcomed back the Eurovision Song Contest in such huge numbers and very proud to have brought millions together at a time when so many are still apart. The overwhelmingly positive response to this year’s incredible shows from NPO, NOS and AVROTROS, and the huge success of Måneskin and so many of this year’s songs demonstrates that, even in its 65th year, the Eurovision Song Contest’s impact is bigger than ever.
While Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, Sietse Bakker, adds that he’s extremely proud of the team behind the shows.
There were 1,624 people in the credits. They have worked very hard over the past weeks, months, two years to create these incredible shows in this bizarre and unreal time.
How did you watch the 2021 contest? Are you one of the 183 million? Let us know below.
This is a ridiculously low number. Mind that it is 180 millions how watched all three shows combined, not just the finals. Most importantly – low viewership in big countries like Poland, Spain, France, not to mention non -participating countries like Turkey or US. Despite its quality, ESC is on the path to become a niche festival like Drag Paul race, watched only by die-hard fans and gays.
I really wonder how Eastern statistics looks. Because in my country very few of my friends watched it. And a lot of people find the contest pure thrash.
Which country is that? I think I saw some figures last week, don’t remember where. Romania was something like 2%, which is appalling of course, and Bulgaria was about 15%.
You must be from Romania or Bulgaria. These two countries are anomalies in the sense that they dont really care about Eurovision but prefer their own local, gypsy trash music
234 countries!! Pitcairn Islands y’all!!
It’a a bizarre number seems 195 countries are recognised by the UN. Probably, most countries in the EBU don’t recognise this amount of countries. They probably cannot even name the countries because many of them would be controversial
They are probably including territories like Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Gibraltar, besides some not-fully recognized countries. Still 234 is a lot.
183 million (and 2016’s 204 million) as numbers look a bit smaller compared to that from the 80s or 90s, which was supposedly around 500 million.
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plus, I am sure the number is slightly lower (although higher a bit than 2019’s) because “only” 39 countries take part, and will hit at least 190 million again next year if at least 41 countries (I hope 43, tho) participate.
I’ve never seen if those 400-500 million viewers would actually be true, but there are some things to remember when we think about 80’s and 90’s: – There were less channels to view back then, so there wasn’t much variety to choose what to watch, in some countries the public broadcaster was the only broadcaster – There were less people in Europe, for example Europe’s population in 1995 was 732,194,921 so if we consider that the contest is mostly watched in Europe overall around 70% of Europe would have needed to watch it. – There were less countries competing and… Read more »
in my opinion, the 500-million number can easily be reached in recent years if we count also online viewers, from both broadcasters’ online services (for example, SVT Play and BBC iPlayer) and official sites (eurovision*tv, official Youtube channel).
Might be possible, you never know when some countries could have a broadcaster that starts showing Eurovision suddenly.
I was hoping for a jump in the figures, given that we’ve been waiting so long for an event like this to take place.
Great viewing figures! It would be good for the contest if people would be interested to watch it, even if their country wouldn’t be in the final. One thing I’ve seen is that us, the people in their 20’s as well as teens seem to like Eurovision even without their own country being in the final, might be because of the content we get more and more on the internet. Also the fact that it’s a commong thing to talk about with others no matter where you’re from, and there’s a lot to discuss!
Where you one of the 182 million viewers?
What do you think!
Talking of all things eurovision, where is that darling Debanaderemiatwiwiblogsdotcom? We are missing you Hunty.
4.5 millions for Italy is less than I expected. There are TV show, trash realities and unuseful talent shows which achieve much more. That’s quite disappointing. I know I can’t compare ESC with one of Sanremo nights but at least with other stuff…
For sure that’s 4,5 millions of Italians are Måneskin fans !
not really true….
The tv show Top dieci on Rai1 had 3.548.000 viewers, 19,3% share (May29th)
The reality L’isola dei famosi on Canale 5 had 2.520.000 viewers 15,73% share (May 21st).
Only the show Amici had more viewers than ESC , in 8 episodes 26-28%, final 33%.(May 15th)… and of course Sanremo 48%. -52%
Rai said that ESC was a big success.
( p.s.: Eurovision 2019: 19,72%- 3.539.000).
I think it isn’t disappointing, Italians love ESC more and more and next year …. Boooommmm :-))))))
CIAO and thanks.
What about the trash show of Pio & Amedeo? What about daily TV programmes such as Striscia or I soliti ignoti? Also other everyday’s rubbish like Uomini&donne can achieve those numbers…
Sorry: I expected much more and Esc surely deserves much more!
Thanks for your answer. -Pio &Amedeo show(prime time like ESC): 22% share on private channel Canale5 / Striscia la notizia (access, not prime time) 18%share, Canale5 / I soliti ignoti (access, not prime time) 22%share, on Rai1 / Uomini e donne (daytime) 22%- on Canale5 / Eurovision 2021 (25%share) wins. Anyway, do I expect much more? YES! Does ESC deserve much more? YES, YES, YES! you’re right, friend. Rai is proud to organize ESC, and I think Rai will do the best. As I am an Eurovision-fan, my dream, with ESC in Italy next year, is at least 35% share… Read more »
A lot of people don’t even know what Eurovision is. The true test is next year, but I don’t doubt that RAI’s marketing machine will work.
Because they add up all the programs
This means that some people can be counted several times and it is not 183 million people who watched Eurovision but actually total screenings.
Considering the decline of network television and ratings in general, to see Eurovision remaining stable after a year’s absence is absolutely fantastic
So basically everyone was watching Eurovision in Iceland that night?
Almost the entire country?
That’s actually phenomenal. Great to see a nation loving it so much. If they can maintain that momentum, it would garner great interest from Icelandic acts, which would also create great entries too.
I can see Iceland winning this decade.
I think it means everyone who watched tv watched Eurovision, so that leaves out the people who watched no tv that night; but still amazing!
No they count those who watched TV at that time regardless of channel.
There are significantly fewer than the entire population of Iceland who watched Eurovision
Ratings are about the tv share, meaning the % of people watching TV at that particular time (and not the population). So 99.9% of Iceland’s population in total didn’t watch Eurovision, but rather of those in Iceland watching tv at that particular time, 99.9% were watching Eurovision.
For a country with a terrible record in the past 15 years and apparently little interest the U.K. still has a big audience for Eurovision that the BBC treats with contempt. The British deep down would love to be better at this competition. The love competition in anything .
I think the derision of the British public has lessened with the improving quality of songs featured at ESC.
Wow, Iceland is awesome!
How do they know the age groups of the tv viewers? Via polls?
I watched the semis on youtube, and the final on the online version of our tv channel. I thought our commentators would be too annoying, but they mostly just translate and read facts about the artists, so it’s ok. I just wish they’d stop hammering the point that emigrants can/ should vote for our country. Just tell them the numbers, they can figure out who to vote for.
Finlands figures are shockingly good. Even better than 2006 when they won and 2007 when they hosted
Didn’t Iceland have an online stream for everyone to watch? Because a share of 99,9% is a bit unbelievable.
99.9% in Iceland! My jaw falls to the ground. But I understand them, they wanted to support their very good and very nice contestants. On the other hand, the other TV channels must have cried in Iceland. And for France 2, I think the fact that our wonderful Barbara was in the second part of the show and the terrible suspense of the points has done the program a lot of good. People who were watching something else came during the commercial and stayed, because they wanted to know if we were going to finally get there … And, that… Read more »
I hope we can reach the 200 million mark in the feature. Would probably happen if a country like russia, or turkey (if ever competing) would win.
do these 183 million already include the 50 million who watched it online? i mean … i guess so, but i can’t find any clarification.
I don’t think so in fact, as they speak about things like audience share, age profiles etc…..none of that would apply to those watching on YouTube
Age profiles would definitely apply to youtube, as creators are privy to those statistics on their channel’s metrics.
No, the TV figures and YouTube figures are separate.
Thanks!
I am interested to know how many people watched/viewing figures in Ukraine, Lithuania, Russia, Azerbaijan, Malta, Norway? There is a misunderstanding about the 183 million figure, 183m people did not actually watch the final (as many people think) but all the shows and not in full but approximately for at least 1-5 minutes. The figures for audience watching the full show on average is way lower (less than 100m viewers if you count the numbers from BIG 5 and Western countries) Viewing rates were low in Italy (yet they were the best since 2011) considering they were campaigning hard for… Read more »
I’m not certain if that’s right. 5’5 million people watched the show on average in the netherlands. If you take the 5 minute count the most watched fragment had around 8 million viewers.
Yes that’s what i meant, they count the 8 million figure for the total 183 million people viewership.
The viewing figures in Norway were 1,481,000, the highest since 2015. The market share was 86%, the highest since 2010.
Alex …Yes, in Italy ESC (Rai1) was the most whatched show on 22nd May on the 9 generalist channels, in prime time, with 24,98% share. At second place , the Albano and Romina concert on the private channel Canale 5 with 10,7% share. ESC was also the most watched show througout the day, on all 9 generalist channels. Ciao.
that’s great, i was surprised it got only 25% when other countries got like 40 or 50% (UK)
Yes Lithuania was massive, Eurovision was huge in small countries.
Nice to see the show is most popular among the young audience..
That means ESC is in safe hands going into the future.
all of my close friends watched bar one, that’s like 8 people out of 9… (age group 18-20)… I do wonder tho how do they find out these data (the age group)
Ratings agencies take viewing samples from households tasked to record their viewing habits for data-gathering purposes.
It’s not entirely accurate but it more or less gives a gross estimation of how many watched live on the night and how much belong to certain demographics measured by age.
In most countries, you don’t just record what did the household watch but also who in the household was present. This is either done by logging in or by using a personal device for each person.
The state-of-art solutions uses a wearable or person’s phone that records the sound all the time and checks for the “tracking signal” which is not detectable by human ear but each broadcaster in that country (TV, radio, possibly others) broadcasts it.
Being in the host country boosted Dutch figures, and acts with a lot of hype (Italy and Iceland) also attracted more viewers back home it seems.
Iceland and Malta also always have massive viewer numbers because of their size – if half the country watches, the other half can’t help but do so
I think it’s more related to the market being relatively small with very few competing stations and even those may give up on that evening knowing that they have no chance of attracting reasonable amount of people.
Watched it on TVE Internacional, as I was curious to hear commentary coming from Tony Aguilar, Julia Varela and Victor ESCudero. 🙂
The question at the end “Were you one of the 183 million?” is kinda useless considering we are commenting on a Eurovision fan website lol
hahahahah lol
please be joking 🙁
lolol “I was one of the 183 million!! 😀 ”
I was one of the 50 million watching on YouTube. I’ve tried watching it at SVT but could not stand commentators talking over hosts.