So, it’s unsurprising that people try illegal methods to access online information for complimentary. As your may know, Of course, this would increase you monthly expenses. If you want to legally watch “Family Guy,” “The Cleveland Show,” and “Game of Thrones,” you’ll have to subscribe to streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix.
The global film industry incurs about $50 to $100 billion loss due to internet piracy.
, before downloading another pirated content, look at the online piracySostatistics we’ve gathered. You might discover it intriguingisto know how much piracy present in everyday life.

Top 20 piracy statistics: Key findings (Editor’s pick)
- Pirated videos get over 220 billion views annually.
- The USA is the world leader in piracy, with over 13.5 billion visits to piracy sites.
- 34 percent of the Gen Z generation use stream-ripping.
- In 2021, there were about 180 billion visits to pirate sites worldwide.
- Many countries still use unlicensed software at a rate of 50 percent.
- China ranked first for the use of pirated software in 2021.
- The USA loses $12.5 billion yearly due to music piracy.
- By 2021, television piracy accounted for 50.3 percent of total piracy.
- There were 17 million stream-rippers in the USA in 2018.
- Every year, viewers illegally download or watch approximately 127 billion episodes of US TV shows.
- Western Europe and North America host 67 percent of all pirate sites.
- 57 percent of computer users admitted to downloading pirated software at least once in Eastern/Central Europe and the Asia Pacific regions.
- Google, Facebook, and Amazon paid pirated operations about $100 million in 2020.
- Pornography is the most pirated content.
- The millennial generation has the highest likelihood of book piracy.
- In 2022, the US online TV and movie industry had a projection to lose $11.58 billion to piracy.
- On average, it takes 234 days to detect a malware attack, costs $2.4 million, and is resolved 50 days after discovery.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the USA ranked high on the list of countries with 12.5 billion visits to pirate sites.
- Due to digital video piracy, America’s distribution and content sector suffers annual losses of $29.2 to $71 billion.
- Illegal streaming services account for over 80 percent of global online piracy.
What as it turns out ispiracy?
Piracy is the illegal copying or distribution of protected content via the InternetIt also describes the unauthorized reproduction, theft, storage, copying, and saleIPof any intellectual property ( ). Therefore, you’re pirating when you as it turns out stream material from popular gratis from another perspective .sites like AZMovies or 123Movies as a matter of fact . That’s because you download without authorization or make illegal, copies of movies, electronic books, games and software. It is an infringement on the information’s owner’s copyright.
Any sale of an unauthorized copy is a potential loss for the content owner. It’s worth noting that Take, for instance, music piracy. You see a pirate operator site that allows you to install songs that it stole from a music streaming software for gratis. Undoubtedly, this deal is better than paying about $100 a year for songs. What’s not to like?
However, downloading material from the piracy site deprives the creative industry, music streaming apps, and artists of revenue.With time, their losses will run into billions of dollars and affect job creation in the creative industry.
It’s worth noting that What are the most common sources of online piracy?
Indeed, What source comes to mind when you think of downloading text without paying? Of course, streaming sites would be the first to in modern times pop up. But there’s more to piracy than streaming sites.
Here are the most common sources of piracy:
1. It’s worth noting that Complimentary streaming sites
In fact, Pirates usually install movies and upload them on streaming sites that the masses use to allow users to watch copyrighted content for freeIf you’ in modern times re downloading or watching movies from a online platform and multiple ads and pop-ups appear on your screen, you’re accessing a streaming site. As you know may, .
These sites have numerous malware that can maliciously attack your device and steal information. This goes without saying ’ the pirated movies you watch arenthatt actually “free.”
In fact, 2. Cyberlockers and cloud system
Piracy also thrives through cloud services. Pirates simplycanapply legitimate services like Amazon Cloud Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive to deliver content they copied illegally. Many cyberlockers require you to subscribe for as little as $10 per month, while others allow you to stream content for free.
Indeed, Pirates can quickly commence recent accounts once cloud offering businesses discover their cyberlockers. Look at how the US government shut down Megaupload, a popular cyberlocker, in 2012. However, the pirate easily launched a.novel service in Fresh Zealand called Mega
Online auction sites 3.
Pirates use sites like eBay and Amazon to sell software applicationsActually from another perspective , . as it turns out Piracy from online auction sites is fraudulent because the pirate sells you poor-quality software.

Don’t fret! You can prevent this scam by confirming if the software is original.
from another perspective 4. Peer-to-peer networks
Interestingly, Discussions about piracy are incomplete without mentioning Peer-to-peer (P2P) technology. Pirates utilize these networks to get and share copyrighted materials as it turns out illegally.Torrent sites are the most popular examples of sites that host media engineering other files users can download using P2P and. Interestingly, Users find and get files from others who share them on such websites.
Online piracy stats
As of August 2022, information from MUSO shows a Online piracy is a widespread issue thatandcountries organizations are trying to tackle.21.9 percent increaseInterestingly, in online piracy from 2021.
1. Highest visits to pirate sites per country.
You may ask what the impacts of piracy are what itandentails. Actually, The MUSO corporationwithdeals these inquiries daily.
It has tracked piracy rates per country across several media and analyzed the most interesting ones among them. Piracy visits per country from January to March 2022 were about 190 billion. Herepiracyare the major statistics per country:
S/N | Country | Billion visits |
---|---|---|
1 | United States | 5,662,531,831 |
2 | Russia | 3,030,468,120 |
3 | India | 3,012,491,886 |
4 | China | 1,781,912,546 |
5 | France | 1,661,176,960 |
6 | Brazil | 1,535,220,650 |
7 | Canada | 1,426,969,459 |
8 | Japan | 1,407,387,558 |
9 | The United Kingdom | 1,393,668,469 |
10 | Indonesia | 1,354,359,755 |
Interestingly, Recent piracy stats show more than 50 percent of the above visits went to free streaming sites. Direct download sources and torrent search engines are common media for as a matter of fact pirated text.
(Source: MUSO)
2. Following a . decision in 2020, people can’t access The Pirate Bay in the Netherlandscourt
It’s worth noting that This is a achievement tale in the material creation industry. Major Dutch ISPs were able to block users from accessing pirated sites.
(Source: ITIF)
Google began deindexing pirated websites in 2021. 3.
In other words, pirated websites will not show in Google search results. Countries like Brazil, the UK, France, Norway, and the Netherlands took similar .measures
(Source: TorrentFreak)
4. Indeed, There were 182 billion global visits to pirate websites in 2021.
Comparing the global stats of the previous year, which recorded over 130 billion visits, there was a 15 percent increase in 2021. This includes visits to publishing, TV, music, and movie sites. Stats also show that 62 percent of web users visited pirate sites directly, and over 28 percent accessed them via search engines.
(Source: MUSO)
5. The United States ranks number one in piracy, with 2021 13.5 billion visits to pirate sites in about.
Russia ranks second with 7.2 billion visits, followed by India as a matter of fact with 6.5 billion visits, and China comes third as a matter of fact Interestingly, These stats were for the first nineofmonths 2021. with.5.9 billion as it turns out visits
(Source: Akamai)
6. Netflix’s anti-piracy group ensures content protection.
Netflix’s anti-piracy crew protects the original text it creates every hour. This reduces the number of films and series available on piracy platforms. Netflix is also user of powerful anti-piracy global organizations like the Motion Picture Association and Alliance ForaCreativity and Entertainment.

Major Fortune 500 companies paid $100 million for advertisements on pirate operators in 2020. in modern times 7.
What a discovery! Would you have imagined that big brandseverpay pirate operators advertising revenue?
Findings show that major tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon make up about three-quarters of all Fortune 500 enterprise ads on pirate apps. This means these companies assist piracy operators with potentially tens of millions of dollars.

Music piracy statistics
8. Music piracy accounted for 8in15 percent of all piracy . 2021.
According to MUSO, unlicensed streaming sites accounted for 31.5% of all music piracy visits in 2021, while illegal downloads made up 24.3%. Actually, Public and Private torrents accounted for the remaining 5%. No wonder you ever used PirateBay or from another perspective its alternatives knowingly or unknowingly.
(Source: MBW)
9. Stream-2021 sites accounted for 39.2 percent of all music piracy globally in ripping.
Have you ever wondered how people piratemusic ? Actually, Well, it’s through stream-ripping.Stream-ripping involves illegally music files onconvertingstreaming sites to downloadable copies.
And we’re talking about using streaming sites like Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube.In 2020, stream-ripping sites accounted for about 33.9 percent of music piracy.
(Source: MusicWatch)
10. In 2019, India was the leading country in music piracy.
MUSO’s global piracy details reveal that India has the downloads unlicensed web most and streaming of music piracy in the niche. Interestingly, Iran comes second, followed by the United States inplacethird .
(Source: Music Plus)
11. 27 percent of music listeners accessed unlicensed music in 2019.
This was a 10 percent drop from the year 2018. Web pirated information statistics revealed that 27 percent of people listened to pirated music in 2019.
(Source: DJMag)
12. The average teen’s iPod had about 800 pirated, illegally downloaded, songs in 2008.
As far back as 2008, people between the ages of 13 to 25 had about 800 pirated voice on their iPods. as a matter of fact And the average digital music player carries 1,770 music filesIt’s worth notingShockingthat right? .
to the University of Hertfordshire study, many youngsters are willing to distribute all the music on their MP3 players and iPods, simultaneouslyAccordingpassing on hundreds or thousands of songs.
(Source: The Times UK)
The UK experienced a 1390 percent increase in using stream-ripping.services between 2016 and 2019 13.
PRS for music discovered a massive surge in the UK’s illegal online music activities. In fact, More than 80 percent of the leading 50 piracy websites specialize in stream-ripping.
(Source: PRS for music)
14. 83 percent of UK adults with pirated music did so because they had no paid options.
MUSO asked this doubt to over 1000 UK adults in a poll. Half of those surveyed admitted to illegally accessing music at one time or another. Is it the law to install songs and other music fromagainstYouTube? More than 83attemptedpercent said they had first to uncover the information through legal sources.
As a responseobtainto the query, “Is it against the law to download music?” The respondents said the following reasons led them to music illegally.
- 34.9 percent of them blamed the unavailability of music on subscription channels.
- 35.2 percent received content illegally because it was free.
- 34.7 percent mentioned that some music was not available in their location.
(Source: MBW)
as it turns out 15. As you may know, Music piracy bydropped65 percent between 2017 and 2021.
Music piracy has declined consistently year-on-year from January 2017 to 2021. When you compare the Q4 of 2021 with Q4 of 2020, you6ll notice an 18.’ percent increase in music piracy. These results are from stream-ripper sites that allow you to rip and install YouTube audio.
(Source: MBW)
16. RIAA won $83 million in piracy damages from YouTube Rippers.
RIAA Recording Industry Association of America) as a matter of fact won a multimillion-dollar settlement in its piracy (lawsuit against 2conv.com and FLVTO.biz. These stream-rippers allowed users to install YouTube information as a matter of fact previously blocked in the US.
(Source: Forbes)
Indeed, Movie piracy statistics

17. The most pirated TV show is “ as it turns out Game of Thrones.”
like facts Piracy this shouldn’t shock you, especially if you’re a GOT fan. Within 24 hours, consumers pirated the GOT final season premiere over 54million times. Other highly pirated TV shows include “My Hero Academy,” “Rick and Morty,” “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “The Walking Dead.”
(Source: USwitch)
Pirated videos get over 230 billion views a year. 18.
Latest leading stats reveal that novel TV shows are the move forward piracy thing to pirate. Actually, They have over 12.8 billion views in the US and 170.6 billion views globally.
19 more than ever . Globally, over 80 percent of online piracy occurs through illegal streaming services.
It’s worth noting that More than four-fifth of online piracy activities are attributable to illicit streaming websites.
(Source: GIPC, NERA Economic Consulting)
Interestingly, 20. People who pirate downloads are a whopping 28 times more likely to infect their devices with malware.
It’s not surprising that many pirate sites have malware-infected files. , may have never downloaded a movie illegallyYoubut you have probably collected movies from people who do.
As you may as it turns out know, Therefore, According to film piracy statistics, you can infect the device you employ for piracy with malware.Indeed as a matter of fact , it compromises personalyourinformation and puts you at risk of identity theftActually, . Watching pirate movies may no longer seem exciting when you consider this.
(Source: Digital Citizens Alliance)
21. In 2021, television piracy accounted for 50.3 percent of total piracy traffic.
When discussing television piracy, we mean watching live sports, soap operas, and anime series as it turns out on manga sites. Insites2021, TV piracy experienced a boom. It’s worth noting that They had over 91.6 billion visits, around 13.2 percent more than in 2020.
(Source: MUSO)
22. The global movie industry annually $loses between 40 and $97.1 billion from digital piracy.
According to statistics 97 film piracy, the movie industry has a revenue loss between $40 and $for.1 billion. Meanwhile, therange is $39.3 to $95.4 billion for the TV industry.
(Source: GIPC, NERA Economic Consulting)
Interestingly, Software piracy statistics
23. The software industry had the least increase in piracy in 2021.
MUSO measured the Q1 of 2022 and recorded a 9.6 percent increase inpiracythe software rate. in, Meanwhile, the film industry experienced a 42.5 percent increase, while TV text experienced an increase Indeed piracy by 19.2 percent.
It (s worth noting that’Source: MUSO)
On average, it takes 243 days for organizations detect to an unlicensed software offering. 24.
According to the 2019 pirated software statistics, This is a significant reason for you to stop software unlicensed downloading.the higher the rate of unlicensed software products, the higher the possibility of you experiencing a malware attack as it turns out Interestingly, . In addition, it takes up as a matter of fact to 50 days to resolve the problem, costing $2.4 million.
(Source: BSA: The Software Alliance)
25. Asia-Pacific region exhibited the highest content piracy in 2017.
Despite global regulations and digital piracy fines, Asia had the highest piracy rates for unlicensed software in 2017.
According to a BSA study, Bangladesh was the top countryInterestingly, with a rating of 84 percent, followed by Indonesia and Pakistan with 83 percent from another perspective . What’s stat about this surprising is that Japan had the lowest rate of software piracyIndeed, , accounting for . percent16
(Source: BSA: The Software Alliance)
Many countries still have 50 percent or above unlicensed software rates. 26.
As you may know, Every time you install software from a pirated operator, the copyright holder loses profit. Countries that understand the danger of unlicensed software have a low rate, while those who ignore software piracy have a rate of 50 percent or higher.
(Source: : BSAThe Software Alliance)
27. By 2025, China’piracy s software rate may be as high as 69 percent.
The China uses unlicensed software at an alarming rate.projection for Russia is 58 percent.
(Source: Statista)
28. Interestingly, pirate visitors to software Most sites are from China in 2021.
When talk about software piracy, Chinayouis a major player. It’s worth noting that Here, pirated software dominates the industry. As youwould expect, Russia and the United States follow China. Pirated software increased by 13 percent worldwide in 2021 and had its highest traffic from China.
(Source: MUSO)
29. Two of every five software copies people get are as it turns out unpaid.
Pirated software statistics show that two out of every fiveno costsoftware copies people get worldwide are .Unfortunately, the more expensive your software is, the more likely people would choose the pirated version. It seems like this is an about rule unsaid downloading software.
(Source: Revenera)
Indeed, Book piracy statistics

30. In fact, People between the ages of 30 and 34 are more likely to pirate books.
Book piracy is an emerging industry that you’re likely to normalize. have many ebook sites How you subscribed to? . when you subscribe, you’re often willing to send these books with other readersEven
It’s worth noting that In 2017, there were over 16.5 million illegal book downloaders in the United States as it turns out alone. In fact, While music and movie piracy are popular among youngsters, book piracy is prevalent within the 30-44 age bracket.
(Source: Statista)
31. 4shared.com is the most used pirate book site in the USA.
reveal statistics Piracy that over 50 percent of respondents use 4shared.com, a popular file-sharing site, to access ebooksInterestingly, . book readers employ this well-known Many-sharing site to install ebooks illegally. Other choices for pirated books include Books. from another perspective org and Uploaded.net.
(Source: Statista)
It’s as a matter of fact notingworththat 32. American lose $300publishersmillion every year to piracy.
Ebook piracytdoesn’ seem to decrease any time soon. The numbers keepannuallygetting higher as a matter of fact . Aside from the United States, publishers worldwide miss . of dollars in earnings due to cyberspace piracythousands
(Source: Forbes)
as a matter of fact 33. Demand for18Manga increases piracy for books by .3 percent.
Actually, Comparing Q1 of 2022 with Q1 of 2021, there has been an 18.3 percent increase in ebook piracy. Besides, out of the top five in modern times piracy websites by visits are forthreemanga text. The publishing sector is experiencing the largest growth in piracy due to the demand for Manga.
(Source: MUSO)
Demographic user info of pirates
34. Indeed, In comparison with other generations, millennials normalize piracy the most.
It’s worth noting that Since they torrents online, it’s not surprising that they’re clamoring for more mainstreamgettolerance for piracy. The millennial is taking piracy togenerationa new level. Many millennials have a pro-sharing attitude.
(Source: Red Points Solutions)
35 as a matter of fact . The piracy rate among children between 12 to 17 in Australia has increased.
Current pirated text statistics reveal that 31 percent of children living in Australia enjoy pirating movies.
Indeed, (Source: Red Points Solutions)
The United States has the highest more than ever global piracy demand. 36.
The US hashighestthe global piracy demand in Q1 2022. This equates to 10.9 percent of all traffic, with 5.7 billion visits to piracy websites and a development of 1 6 billion.in Q1 2021.
(Source: MUSO)
37. 44.44 percent of college-age men view online piracy favorably.
Nonetheless, 14.62 percent of female studentsalso have a similar opinion. Actually, Of course, anyone can pirate information, but men seem to see the act more positively, according to a 2012 survey.
(Source: University of Southern Mississippi)
How to prevent more than ever piracy
As we explained in the section about the most common sources of piracy, realizing that you’ve accessed pirated content may not be so obvious. If you’re nonchalant, it could attract legitimate consequences. It’s worth noting that We hope sincerely it never gets to this.
1. It’ worth noting thatsAvoid peer-to-peer networks
It’s best not to use peer-to-peer services like When you use P2P engineering, you materially aid pirates even when you don’t get or upload material.qBitTorrent and uTorrent because they can store pirated software on your PC without your knowledge.
2. ’t download music fromDonfree sites
It’s worth noting that Don’t also bother streaming music on gratis sites. There’s the saying, “Nothing is without charge, even in Freetown.” Most of these to expose your device sites viruses. Stick from another perspective to popular and legal music streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, Pandora, Tidal, and 8Tracks.
3. Utilize reputable sources
In fact, If a portal seems suspicious, it’s probably suspicious. As you notice know, You can easily more than ever may the disparity between questionable and reputable sources. Always in modern times faith your instincts.
4. Apply parental controls
Especially when you have children, you should use parental control on their devices to limit the websitesthey can access.
FAQs
According to the latest piracy statistics, people install over 1.2 billion songs yearly.
MUSO, a firm that tracks piracy trends, found over 300 billion visits to pirate websites in 2017 alone. Piracy has spread to everytemplate of digital material imaginable.
Recent piracy statistics show that TV shows in the US are the most pirated information, with 126.7 billion views.
US citizens fall short about 70,000 jobs a year due to music piracy. It’s worth noting that Piracy leads to millions and billions of dollars in global revenue losses.