The global economic impact of Facebook

Facebook enables global economic activity by helping to unlock new opportunities through connecting people and businesses, lowering barriers to marketing, and stimulating innovation.

Facebook has commissioned Deloitte to estimate the economic impact it enabled in 2014 around the world. We analysed the contribution Facebook supports as a catalyst for economic activity in ecosystems composed of marketers, app developers, and providers of connectivity.

We estimate that through the channels of marketers, app developers and providers of connectivity, Facebook enabled $227bn of economic impact and 4.5m jobs globally in 2014. These effects accrue to third parties that operate in Facebook’s ecosystem, and exclude the operations of the company itself.

Key findings in the report include:

·         The United States is estimated to capture the largest share of economic impact enabled, $100bn;

·         High rates of engagement enabled $21bn of economic impact in Central and South America;

·         The thriving app economy in EMEA has helped to generate $13bn of economic impact for the region through the platform effects; and

·         In APAC internet uptake and purchases of devices motivated by Facebook have contributed to $13bn of economic impact.