Minecraft has captivated gamers young and old since its initial release in 2009. From humble beginnings as a passion project by creator Markus "Notch" Persson, it has grown into a worldwide phenomenon with over 238 million copies sold and 174 million monthly active users as of 2024.
Minecraft’s simplistic graphics belie a nearly endless creative potential. Players mine resources during the day to build structures and tools to survive monster attacks at night. With multiple game modes from creative to hardcore survival, private realms for friends to endless multiplayer servers, there is something for everyone.
We dug into the numbers behind one of the most influential and best-selling video games of all time to uncover key statistics and interesting facts about Minecraft.
Highlights
● Nearly 240 million units of Minecraft have been sold since 2011
● The Minecraft Pocket Edition sold 93 million units in 2021
● In 2020, there were 5.43 million Minecraft units sold on Xbox One
● Minecraft has 174 million active monthly users as of 2024
● The Minecraft player base grew by 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic
● With over 3,000 servers, the US ranks first in number of Minecraft servers
● 54% of Minecraft players between ages 3-12 are boys
● The average age of a Minecraft player is 24 years old
● The longest time spent playing Minecraft was over 38 hours by Alexandre Jouniaux from France
● Minecraft accumulated 1 trillion YouTube views
in 2021
Minecraft Sales and Revenue
Despite being over a decade old, Minecraft continues to thrive. It’s on pace to become one of the best-selling video games ever, with no signs of slowing down.
Minecraft Sales Milestones
● 238 million units sold since launch in 2011
● 93 million copies of Pocket Edition for mobile devices sold in 2021
● 5.43 million copies sold on Xbox One in 2020, with over half sold in the US
Minecraft Revenue
● $380 million in total revenue in 2021
● Mobile revenue hit $110 million (41% of total)
● Minecraft mobile brought in $99.62 million
in 2022 so far
Minecraft Player Statistics
While Minecraft enjoys broad popularity across demographics, the player base does skew slightly male among younger gamers. The average player age might surprise you!
Who is Playing
● 174 million monthly active users globally
● Grew 25% during COVID-19 pandemic
● Over half of players ages 3-12 are boys
● Average player age is 15-21 years old
Gameplay Records
● Longest Minecraft marathon: 38 hours by Alexandre Jouniaux
● The US has the most Minecraft servers globally at 3,653
Interesting Minecraft Facts
Beyond the numbers, Minecraft has woven itself into pop culture and education in surprising ways.
Origin Story
● Initial release in May 2009 by creator Markus "Notch" Persson
● Officially launched at MineCon event in November 2011
Minecraft in Schools
● Age rating of 10+ for fantasy violence
● Adopted for classrooms in 116 countries via Minecraft: Education Edition
● A Swedish school added compulsory Minecraft lessons in 2013
Pop Culture Phenomenon
● Microsoft acquired Minecraft for $2.5 billion in 2014
● Videos have amassed 1 trillion YouTube views
● Won Game of the Year award in 2012, beating Skyrim
The Future of Minecraft
Over a decade since its full release, Minecraft shows no signs of decline. Major content updates like the Caves & Cliffs Update and brand collaborations continue to delight fans.
With steady growth in active players and sales, Minecraft is poised to keep building on its status as one of the most important video games in history for years to come.
FAQ
How much does Minecraft cost?
Minecraft costs $26.95 in the US. Educational pricing is available.
Who owns Minecraft?
Microsoft, after acquiring it for $2.5 billion in 2014.
How many people play Minecraft in 2024?
Over 174 million monthly active users.
How many copies of Minecraft have been sold total?
Approximately 238 million copies sold since launch in 2011.
Is Fortnite more popular than Minecraft?
By most metrics, Fortnite is currently more popular (users, revenue, viewership) but Minecraft remains massively influential and shows steady growth.