Curious about how many Discord servers are there? As Discord has exploded from a gaming chat app to a mainstream community platform, the number of active servers has seen jaw-dropping growth.
Over 19 Million Servers and Counting
As of January 2023, there are over 19 million active Discord servers worldwide. To put that into perspective, back in 2018 there were only 4.4 million servers on Discord. That‘s over 4x growth in just 5 years!
Here‘s a breakdown of Discord‘s server count growth:
- 2018: 4.4 million
- 2020: 6.7 million
- 2021: 13.5 million
- 2022: 19 million
Driving this growth is Discord‘s popularity boom since COVID-19. With remote work and learning becoming the norm, Discord provided a much-needed space for online community and connection. Server creation spiked to 6.7 million in 2020 as users flocked to Discord.
Gaming Still Dominates, But New Topics Gain Traction
While gaming servers still make up the majority on Discord, non-gaming topics are seeing rising popularity. Researchers estimate around 30% of active servers are now centered on non-gaming interests.
Some popular non-gaming server categories include:
- Music, entertainment, books, and pop culture
- Investing/finance
- Productivity and remote work
- Health, fitness, and wellness
- Food and cooking
This demonstrates Discord‘s versatile appeal for community bonding around any topic. The platform facilitates both targeted small group discussion and discovery through large public servers.
Smaller Communities Lead Server Count
Despite high-profile public servers, data shows smaller servers dominate Discord.
- Over 50% of servers have 10 members or less.
- Only around 22,000 servers have over 1,000 members.
This distribution highlights Discord‘s strength in nurturing tight-knit bonds, not just large audiences. The average server size is approximately 50 members.
Business and Monetization Opportunities
As a small business consultant, I see great potential for companies and entrepreneurs to leverage Discord. Some possibilities include:
- Building brand community and customer engagement
- Networking and partnerships
- Member clubs and premium content
- Direct sales through dedicated servers
Discord also offers monetization through "Server Boosting", which allows fans to pay for perks on their favorite servers. Top servers can easily clear over $10,000 per month through boosting subscriptions and tips.
The Takeaway
With over 19 million active communities spanning every topic imaginable, Discord has proven itself as a flexible and powerful platform for nurturing belonging.
For companies and creators, Discord can foster direct relationships beyond just chasing content metrics. The vibrant ecosystem being built brings opportunity, if you approach it thoughtfully.
