YouTube RPM by Country: Complete 2025-2026 Analysis
Understanding YouTube RPM (Revenue Per Mille) by country is crucial for creators who want to optimize their earnings. RPM rates vary dramatically based on location, with some countries paying 20x more than others per 1,000 views.
In this comprehensive analysis, we'll break down YouTube RPM rates by country, explain why they vary, and provide actionable insights for creators looking to maximize their revenue.
What is YouTube RPM?
RPM (Revenue Per Mille) is the amount of money a YouTube creator earns per 1,000 views after YouTube takes their 45% share. This is different from CPM (what advertisers pay), as RPM reflects what creators actually receive.
RPM is the most important metric for understanding earnings, as it directly determines how much you make from your content.
YouTube RPM by Country (2025-2026 Data)
Tier 1: Highest RPM Countries ($4.00 - $12.00+ per 1,000 views)
These countries have the highest advertising budgets and viewer purchasing power:
| Country | Average RPM Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $4.00 - $12.00 | Highest RPM globally. Finance/Tech content can exceed $15 RPM |
| Switzerland | $4.50 - $11.00 | Small market but high purchasing power |
| Norway | $4.00 - $10.00 | Strong economy, premium advertisers |
| Luxembourg | $4.00 - $9.50 | Small but wealthy market |
| Canada | $3.50 - $9.00 | Similar to US market, strong RPM rates |
Tier 2: High RPM Countries ($2.50 - $7.00 per 1,000 views)
| Country | Average RPM Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $3.00 - $7.50 | Strong advertising market, English-language premium |
| Australia | $2.80 - $7.00 | High purchasing power, strong ad market |
| Germany | $2.50 - $6.50 | Largest European market, strong economy |
| Netherlands | $2.60 - $6.00 | Tech-savvy population, good ad rates |
| Sweden | $2.70 - $6.50 | High income, premium content performs well |
| Denmark | $2.60 - $6.00 | Small but wealthy market |
| Finland | $2.50 - $5.80 | Strong tech industry, good RPM |
| New Zealand | $2.60 - $6.00 | Similar to Australia |
| Austria | $2.40 - $5.50 | Stable economy, good rates |
| Belgium | $2.30 - $5.20 | Multilingual market, decent RPM |
Tier 3: Moderate RPM Countries ($1.00 - $4.00 per 1,000 views)
| Country | Average RPM Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| France | $1.80 - $4.50 | Large market but lower than UK/Germany |
| Italy | $1.50 - $3.50 | Moderate advertising budgets |
| Spain | $1.40 - $3.20 | Growing market, improving rates |
| Japan | $1.60 - $4.00 | Large market, unique advertising culture |
| South Korea | $1.70 - $3.80 | Tech-forward, decent RPM |
| Ireland | $2.00 - $4.50 | English language advantage |
| Portugal | $1.20 - $2.80 | Smaller market, moderate rates |
| Poland | $1.00 - $2.50 | Growing economy, improving rates |
Tier 4: Lower RPM Countries ($0.20 - $1.50 per 1,000 views)
| Country | Average RPM Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India | $0.30 - $1.50 | Huge viewership but low RPM due to purchasing power |
| Brazil | $0.40 - $1.20 | Large market, improving economy |
| Mexico | $0.50 - $1.40 | Growing market, moderate rates |
| Russia | $0.30 - $1.00 | Economic challenges affect RPM |
| Indonesia | $0.25 - $0.90 | Large population, low purchasing power |
| Philippines | $0.30 - $1.00 | Growing creator economy |
| Thailand | $0.40 - $1.10 | Moderate rates |
| Vietnam | $0.25 - $0.85 | Fast-growing market |
| Turkey | $0.35 - $1.00 | Moderate RPM |
| Argentina | $0.30 - $0.90 | Economic volatility affects rates |
Why Do RPM Rates Vary by Country?
1. Purchasing Power and GDP
Countries with higher GDP per capita and stronger purchasing power attract premium advertisers willing to pay more for ad space. Advertisers pay based on their target audience's ability to purchase their products or services.
2. Advertiser Demand
Markets with more competition among advertisers drive up CPM rates. The US, UK, and Canada have highly competitive advertising markets, resulting in higher RPM for creators.
3. Language and Market Size
English-language content typically earns more due to global advertiser reach. Larger markets (US, India, Brazil) have more advertisers, but purchasing power determines RPM more than market size alone.
4. Content Category Performance
Certain content categories perform better in specific countries. For example, finance content earns higher RPM in the US and UK, while gaming might perform better in countries with younger demographics.
5. Economic Conditions
Economic stability and growth affect advertising budgets. Countries experiencing economic growth see increasing RPM rates, while struggling economies may see declines.
How Content Category Affects RPM by Country
RPM rates also vary significantly by content category within each country:
High-RPM Categories (across most countries):
- Finance & Investing: $5-20 RPM (highest globally)
- Technology: $3-10 RPM
- Education: $2-8 RPM
- Business: $4-12 RPM
- Real Estate: $3-9 RPM
Moderate-RPM Categories:
- Entertainment: $1.50-5 RPM
- Lifestyle: $2-6 RPM
- Health & Fitness: $2-7 RPM
- Travel: $1.50-5 RPM
Lower-RPM Categories:
- Gaming: $1-4 RPM
- Music: $0.50-3 RPM (lower due to licensing)
- Kids Content: $0.10-2 RPM (heavily restricted)
- Vlogs: $1.50-4 RPM
Regional RPM Averages (2025-2026)
North America
- United States: $4.00 - $12.00 (highest globally)
- Canada: $3.50 - $9.00
- Mexico: $0.50 - $1.40
Europe
- Nordic Countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland): $2.50 - $10.00
- UK & Ireland: $3.00 - $7.50
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland: $2.40 - $11.00
- Western Europe (France, Netherlands, Belgium): $1.80 - $6.00
- Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal): $1.20 - $3.50
- Eastern Europe: $0.80 - $2.50
Asia-Pacific
- Australia & New Zealand: $2.60 - $7.00
- Japan: $1.60 - $4.00
- South Korea: $1.70 - $3.80
- India: $0.30 - $1.50 (huge viewership, lower RPM)
- Southeast Asia: $0.25 - $1.20
Latin America
- Brazil: $0.40 - $1.20
- Argentina: $0.30 - $0.90
- Chile: $0.50 - $1.30
- Colombia: $0.40 - $1.10
Strategies to Maximize RPM
1. Understand Your Audience Demographics
Use YouTube Analytics to see where your viewers are located. If you have a large audience in lower-RPM countries, consider:
- Creating content that appeals to higher-RPM markets
- Focusing on high-RPM content categories
- Diversifying revenue beyond AdSense
2. Optimize for High-RPM Content Categories
While you shouldn't completely change your niche, you can:
- Create content within high-RPM categories
- Add educational or informational elements to entertainment content
- Focus on topics that attract premium advertisers
3. Target Multiple Markets
Diversifying your audience across multiple high-RPM countries can stabilize your earnings and reduce dependency on any single market.
4. Use Our RPM Calculator
Our free YouTube Earnings Calculator allows you to see how different country RPM rates affect earnings. Simply select different countries to see how your estimated earnings change!
RPM Trends and Changes (2020-2026)
Trends Observed:
- US & Canada: RPM has remained stable or slightly increased
- Europe: Mixed results, UK/Germany stable, others varying
- India: RPM slowly improving as economy grows
- Latin America: Gradual improvements in major markets
- Asia-Pacific: Steady growth in developed markets
Common Questions About RPM by Country
Q: Why does the US have the highest RPM?
A: The US has the highest advertising budgets, strongest purchasing power, and most competitive advertising market. Advertisers pay premium rates to reach US consumers, resulting in higher RPM for creators.
Q: Can I change my audience's country to increase RPM?
A: Not directly. Your audience's location is determined by where people watch your content. However, you can create content that appeals to high-RPM markets, use English language (global reach), and focus on topics that attract international audiences.
Q: How accurate are these RPM ranges?
A: RPM ranges are based on industry data and averages. Individual channels vary significantly based on content category, audience demographics, video length, and other factors. Use our calculator to get estimates for specific channels.
Q: Do VPN viewers affect my RPM?
A: VPN usage can affect analytics but typically represents a small percentage of views. YouTube's advertising system is sophisticated and can often detect and adjust for VPN usage.
Q: Should I focus only on high-RPM countries?
A: Not necessarily. Large audiences in lower-RPM countries can still generate significant revenue. Also, focusing solely on high-RPM markets might limit your growth potential. Balance is key - create great content that appeals to your target audience while understanding how geography affects earnings.
Conclusion
YouTube RPM rates vary dramatically by country, with the US and other developed nations offering rates 10-20x higher than developing markets. Understanding these differences is crucial for setting realistic earnings expectations and optimizing your content strategy.
Remember: While geography affects RPM, content quality, engagement, and consistency matter more for long-term success. Focus on creating valuable content for your audience, and use geographic insights to inform your strategy rather than limit it.
Want to see how different countries affect earnings for any channel? Try our free YouTube Earnings Calculator - select different countries to see how RPM rates impact estimated revenue!