LinkedIn, the leading professional network, has 50 million users worldwide and growing that figure at roughly one new member per second. When LinkedIn launched in 2003, it took 477 days (16 months) to reach their 1st million members. This last million reaching 50 Million took only 12 days.
Where are these 50 million users?
LinkedIn has been global since inception — about half of our total membership is international. There are now 11 million users in Europe alone. India is currently the fastest-growing country with almost 3 million users, while the Netherlands has the highest rate of adoption per capita outside the U.S., at 30%. The Middle East remains un-significant to be revealed by Linkedin.
While 50 million is an important milestone, it’s far beyond Facebook and Twitter significant growth. Yet, this platform is unique on its members are using the site, professionally. Around the globe, people turn to LinkedIn to create and manage their professional identities online. They reconnect with former colleagues and develop new relationships, enabling them to create and collaborate with a network of trusted individuals. Every day professionals use LinkedIn to define themselves —and their businesses — to the world.