Nevertheless,
Cartography world saturated images:
Every second. Furthermore, more than 61,000 images are taken across the globe, fueling a visual heritage which literally explodes. For example, Between selfies. Moreover, shared memories on social networks and digital archives, the planet now produces more than two thousand billion photos per year. Consequently, Immersed in the dizzying figures of a silent revolution, where each trigger shape the memory of the 21st century.
Exponential production: 2,100,000,000,000 shots in 2025 – Cartography world saturated images
According to the latest estimates of Photutorialthe bar of 2.1 photo trillion (2,100 billion) will be reached in 2025, compared to 1.94 trillion in 2024 and 1.81 trillions in 2023. Moreover, This growth rate (approximately +6 to 8 % per year) seems stable since post-Cavid restart in 2022.
By bringing this quantity to more accessible temporal laddersthis represents:
- 61,400 photos taken every second,
- 3.7 million per minuteor
- 221 million per hour.
As an analogy. Meanwhile, it would be necessary photograph every second for 61,000 years To reach the volume of images produced this year.
Ultra-dominant smartphones, marginalized cameras – Cartography world saturated images
According to this study, the smartphone concentrated 94 % of global shots In 2024, compared to 4.7 % for traditional digital cameras (compact, SLR, hybrid, etc.). Furthermore, The gap is such that it upset the entire production chain Photographic: design of sensors, diffusion modes, retouching, archiving.
The evolution is also rapid: in 2020. In addition, 89 % of photos already came from phonesbut this part has continued cartography world saturated images to increase, making the use of a “traditional” camera residual Apart from professional or passionate photographers.
Who takes these photos, and where? – Cartography world saturated images
The uses vary strongly according to the region of the worldwith the United States in mind: an American takes. In addition, on average 20.2 photos per dayfar ahead of other geographic areas.
In Asia-Pacific, the average reaches 15 daily photosconfirming the cultural and social importance of the image in this region widely connected. Consequently, Follow Latin America (11.8 photos/day) and Africa (8,1), while Europe closes walking with only 4.9 photos/day.
These averages do not reflect all populations, but the active usersthat is to say cartography world saturated images those who regularly take photos.
These differences are explained by several factors: the equipment levelaccess to smartphones. networkssharing habits, or value granted to the image in public and private space.
Thus, North America and Asia-Pacific are positioned as larger image producersboth in volume and frequency. Conversely. Europe and Africa – for economic, technical or cultural reasons – appear as areas where The photographic act remains less dailydespite an increased presence on social networks.
THE social networks have become the main vectors dissemination of images in the world. About. about 14 billion photos are shared there, a figure which largely exceeds the number of shots captured daily, because the same image can be broadcast several times : shared, rest, transformed into the same.
WhatsApp largely dominates this landscape with 6.9 billion images shared per dayfollowed by Snapchat (3.8 billion), Facebook (2.1 billion), and Instagram (1.3 billion). Conversely. historical platforms like Flickr register only million daily sharessign of their loss of influence, at least in terms of volume.
This visual flow is also fueled by the massive selfie. In 2024, 94 % of the photos are taken with a smartphoneand the only Android devices produce 93 million selfies per day. In 18–24 year olds, selfie represents approximately A third of the captured images.
cartography world saturated images
These data confirm the central role of young generations in the creation and dissemination of personal images, encouraged by optimized mobile interfaces and a culture of instant sharing. The selfie is not more an exception But a photographic standard, shaped by technology and social uses.
A colossal visual heritage (but invisible): 30 trillions of images by 2030
While the first photograph of history soon celebrates its 200 years. it is estimated that 14.3 photos of photos were produced by 2024, a volume inimaginable A few decades ago.
This figure increases exponentially, with almost 2 trillion new images produced each year. If this trend continues. the total could reach 30 trillion by 2030or even more if we include the visuals generated by artificial intelligence.
Several factors explain this inflation. First, the democratization of mobile photography put a camera in the hands of billions cartography world saturated images of people. Then the Storage capacities increased, allowing to keep thousands of images on each phone. Finally, the Share via social networks or messaging generates a massive duplication of files. This gigantic corpus of images is a contemporary mirrorboth intimate and global, revealing lifestyles, cultures and concerns of our time.
In parallel, Google Images would only index 136 billion images in 2024. A figure still low reported to the world stock. which underlines the paradox of a Dispatched, private digital memory, and often little consulted.
Methodology. reliability: an aggregate of cross -sources
For this study, the author Matic BrozCompile of data from secondary sources (Google, Gigaom, sectoral studies) and extrapole from confirmed figures (sharing volumes, stock of photos in phones, declared uses). The methodology is based on a crossing of surveys, industry reports and internal estimates to Photutorial. The whole is updated in May 2025.
It should cartography world saturated images be noted that the shared figures do not come from public statistical institutesbut digital platforms. sectoral research firms. However, the internal consistency of the data and the transparency of the sources cited make it a precious document.
The study is thus positioned as a updated. consistent synthesis of the state of global photographywhile recognizing the limits inherent in certain indicators, in particular those linked to digital uses that are difficult to measure precisely.
Conclusion
It is not new: we have entered an era of surdocumentation visuelle. Carried by the Smartphone democratizationphotography has become a daily gestureconstituting an unprecedented visual heritage in the history of humanity. Social networks and messaging applications amplify this phenomenonpromoting the circulation and duplication of images on a scale never reached.
This dynamic poses of new issues in terms of storage. management and enhancement of this mass of images, but it also offers a cartography world saturated images unique testimony on our societies, nos cultures and our relationship to the image.
FAQ
In 2025, more than 2.1 photos of photos (or 2,100 billion) should be taken worldwide, according to a photorial study. This figure is constantly increasing, with an annual growth estimated between 6 and 8 %.
It is estimated that in 2024, 14.3 photos of photos have been captured since the invention of photography. If the current trend is maintained, this figure could reach 30 trillions in 2030.
About 14 billion photos are shared every day on social networks, including 6.9 billion via WhatsApp, 3.8 billion via cartography world saturated images Snapchat, 2.1 billion on Facebook, and 1.3 billion on Instagram.
The smartphone largely dominates image production, with 94 % of the photos taken in 2024 taken with a phone. Traditional cameras (reflex, hybrids, etc.) represent only 4.7 % of shots.
Further reading: Xiaomi is starting to distribute Hyperos 2.2 in Europe – Cheaper than Tesla Model Y with a recharge in 12 minutes – (Multimedia) Google unveils Gemini Cli, an autonomous open source coding tool – Xinhua – The Milky Way engraved in Pharaonic Egypt – Here is where to obtain it at -57 % during the summer sales.
