The Top 20 Most Followed Instagram Accounts

With over 3 billion monthly active users, Instagram remains one of the world’s most influential social platforms.

Fuelled by the rise of influencers, the explosive popularity of Reels, and an audience that increasingly favors short-form video over static posts, Instagram's a go-to for connecting with both friends and celebs. We’ve already explored the most liked posts on Instagram, but what about the accounts commanding the biggest audiences?

Below, we break down the top 20 most-followed Instagram accounts, from global football icons to chart-topping artists to world-famous brands. Scroll on to see who tops the list.

20. Miley Cyrus (211m followers)

We start the list with Miley Cyrus – the first of many musicians on this list. Ever since her breakout role as Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel, Miley has lived her life in the public eye. 

Now in her early 30s and more than a decade on from "Wrecking Ball", Miley is attracting new audience as Gen Alpha start to join Instagram.

Her account features plenty of short clips from her music videos, photos promoting her extensive brand collaborations, and quite a few magazine covers and associated photoshoots.

19. Kourtney Kardashian (216m followers)

Next up is Kourtney Kardashian, our first member of the Kardashian-Jenner family. Her account is filled with selfies, advertisements promoting her vitamin and supplements brand Lemme, and glimpses into her private life. 

Like the rest of the Kardashian clan, she’s well-versed in business with behind-the-scenes content, so followers never get bored.

18. Neymar (231m followers)

In at 18th, we have Brazilian footballer Neymar. Once considered the wonderkid of world football, he’s now in the latter stages of his career and captains Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal.

On his account, Neymar posts about his professional career, pictures of his family, and collaborations with brands.

17. Jennifer Lopez (247m followers)

Jennifer Lopez’s music career peaked in the 2000s but her reputation as a musician and actor means Instagram users still enjoy keeping up with her life. “Jenny from the Block” puts a fair bit of effort into her Instagram account. 

With the usual fare of behind-the-scenes photos, music promotion, and videos, JLo also features a range of Story Highlights from events she attends and hashtags she’s created.

16. Virat Kohli (274m followers)

Next, we have Indian cricketing superstar Virat Kohli. He’s the third-most-followed athlete on our list, and the most-followed cricket player on this platform.

He is one of the greatest cricket players of all time and captained India – a cricket-mad nation – between 2013 and 2022, when the country enjoyed a social media boom. 

These days, he uses his account to post about his matches, behind-the-scenes content, and his collaborations with brands.

15. National Geographic (276m followers)

We have our first brand on the list at 15 – National Geographic.

With Instagram being a visual platform, National Geographic has taken full advantage by posting up photos from its slew of photographers.

In more recent years, National Geographic has used Reels to advertise their longer-form video content on YouTube, all while keeping the grid regularly updated. Stunning images and videos from around the world have unsurprisingly been popular with users.

14. Taylor Swift (281m followers)

Next, we have Taylor Swift, who unsurprisingly appears in a lot of most-followed lists across different social media platforms.

On Instagram, her account mostly shares shots from performances as well as promoting her latest work and activities (along with the occasional selfie or personal life post).

13. Kendall Jenner (285m followers)

Here’s another member of the Kardashian-Jenner family, Kendall Jenner.

Her account mostly features the promotion of her photoshoots and fashion work, selfies, and pictures of her (not very) private life.

12. Justin Bieber (293m followers)

Here’s the Biebs. Being one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, it’s no surprise he made the list – with over 293 million followers. 

His account is a bit goofier than those of your average pop stars, including photos of him hanging out with celebrity mates in between cute family updates.

But goofing around is what makes Justin Bieber’s Instagram account so successful. This is his place to be have fewer barriers between himself and his fans.

11. Nike (298m followers)

Our second brand on the list, Nike, has realized how valuable a big social media presence is. The account is by no means just ticking a box – instead, it’s a masterclass in running a successful brand account.

Nike’s centralized account fits and changes with the brand, and there’s a good mix of video and photos. It also regularly collaborates with its sub-accounts – such as Nike Running and Nike Football – to spread brand awareness.

With a strong theme and high-quality posts, it’s no surprise Nike is one of the few brands to break into the top 20.

10. Khloé Kardashian (300m followers)

Next, we have another member of the Kardashian and Jenner family (and it’s not the last entry on this list). She and her family have found great success on the platform, using it to post about their lives, businesses, and activities.

9. Beyoncé (308m followers)

Next, we have Queen Bey herself. Along with ranking high on the list, her pregnancy announcement in 2017 was once the most-liked post on Instagram.

Her account itself is mostly made up of shots from her performances and professional work, with a few more personal posts among them.

8. Kim Kardashian (354m followers)

The second-to-last Kardashian or Jenner on the list and, arguably, the most famous.

Kim Kardashian's account is similar to those of her family members and features photoshoot content, pictures of her attending events, and little snapshots of her personal life, including old family photos.

Kim primarily publishes carousels on her grid and can sometimes drop three or four posts in a day – which all generate millions of likes.

7. Ariana Grande (372m followers)

Another musician on the list is global superstar Ariana Grande.

One of the most famous and popular singers on the planet, it’s natural she’d be so popular on Instagram — the third-most-followed woman on the platform. Ariana has a large Gen Z fan base, which has helped her Instagram profile grow as new fans grow up to become social media users.

Her feed is full of pictures of her performing, meeting other celebrities, and your general depictions of living the life of a pop star.

6. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (391m followers)

Star of the WWE and now world-famous actor, Dwayne Johnson takes the 6th spot.

Still pushing the bounds of entertainment into his 50s, Johnson’s fanbase spans generations. Mid-aged Instagram users know him as ‘The People’s Champion’ from WWE, while younger audiences will no doubt have watched his action blockbusters.

Not many surprises on his account – there are lots of shots from filming, pictures of him in the gym, and posts about his family.

5. Kylie Jenner (392m followers)

Another Kardashian and Jenner entry. Kylie Jenner once held the top spot for most-liked Instagram post, and she’s still in the Top 20.

Her account focuses on her work and personal life, and she breaks up promo-heavy content with lots of photos of her friends and family.

4. Selena Gomez (417m followers)

A past regular feature in the most-liked Instagram posts list is musician and actor Selena Gomez.

Her account is the usual pop star fare of selfies, herself at events, and pictures of her friends, but it also includes a few political and societal posts around subjects close to her heart.

3. Lionel Messi (507m followers)

In third is soccer player Lionel Messi, the forward and captain for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentinian national football team.

Messi is one of the world’s most famous players and has been named the world’s best footballer on eight occasions. His 2022 World Cup triumph with Argentina produced the most-liked picture on Instagram ever.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (667m followers)

We now reach our most followed human on Instagram: Cristiano Ronaldo.

Forward and captain of the Portuguese national team as well as the Saudi Professional League club Al Nassr, he’s one of the best footballers the world has known, and his following is not slowing.

Cristiano Ronaldo was also the first to reach 200 million followers on Instagram.

1. Instagram (696m followers)

Finally, Instagram's official account is way out in front, with over 969m followers. 

The feed has a clear purpose – to show off the best and the most interesting people and trends on Instagram. Will anyone ever top Instagram for followers?

Well, if an egg can stay at the top of most liked posts on Instagram for a long time, anything is possible.

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