Podcast listenership tends to be higher in regions with younger populations in MENA, where the median age is 28, over 54% of adults listen to podcasts weekly. In contrast, North America and Europe, both with median ages above 39, see significantly lower listenership, at 40% and 39% respectively.

Higher rates of podcast listenership can be attributed to both format accessibility and content relevance. Younger audiences are highly connected through smartphones and social media and actively seek on-demand, mobile-friendly content formats, showing stronger preference for audio podcasts due to their accessibility and ability to fit seamlessly into fast-paced, multitasking lifestyles.

Podcast content is also highly targeted to topics of youth interest including pop culture, health and wellness, fashion, and personal storytelling. Driven by these trends, in MENA, where 55% of the region’s population is under the age of 30, podcast consumption has witnessed a significant increase among younger demographics in the MENA region, with podcasts focusing on community-like discussions and conversational content particularly resonating with youth across the region.