Updated August 18, 2026
Instagram following statistics
Lurk’s anonymized Instagram Follow Index maps 2M+ follow relationships and shows that following is overwhelmingly one-directional: only 0.1% of tracked follow-activity events are unfollows, a 835:1 follow-to-unfollow ratio (as of August 18, 2026). Each statistic below has its own citable page with the exact current figure, a table, and a “cite this” block.
The statistics
Instagram statistics at a glance
How these are measured
Every figure is computed at render time from the same source-of-truth Follow Index RPC that powers the full dataset. Lurk records public Instagram follow and unfollow transitions as an anonymized aggregate — no individual account is exposed and no private data is used. Numbers refresh roughly every 6 hours; the “Updated” date reflects the snapshot shown.
Developers & researchers: pull the raw figures from the free Follow Index API — machine-readable JSON, CC BY 4.0.
Frequently asked
What is the Instagram unfollow rate?
In Lurk's anonymized dataset, 0.1% of tracked follow-activity events are unfollows, about one unfollow for every 835 new follows (updated August 18, 2026).
Do people follow more than they unfollow on Instagram?
Overwhelmingly. New follows outnumber unfollows by about 835 to one, a 835:1 follow-to-unfollow ratio across 1,095,456 tracked events.
Is Instagram following net-positive?
Yes, decisively. Lurk observed 1,088,053 net follow additions (new follows plus newly gained followers, minus unfollows) across the tracked events.
How often do Instagram accounts gain new followers?
Gaining a follower makes up 35.3% of all tracked follow-activity events, a large, steady share second only to new follows made.
How large is Lurk's Instagram follow dataset?
Lurk's Follow Index has analyzed 2M+ follow relationships across the network, refreshed roughly every 6 hours (updated August 18, 2026).
Cite these statistics
Permalink: https://getlurk.app/data
Lurk. “Instagram following statistics.” The Lurk Instagram Follow Index, 2026-08-18. https://getlurk.app/data
Free to cite and share under CC BY 4.0.
Part of The Lurk Instagram Follow Index — an anonymized aggregate dataset on Instagram following behavior.