Lurk Follow Index · Updated August 17, 2026
What is the Instagram follow-back rate?
The short answer
Across Lurk's anonymized Instagram follow graph, new followers gained equaled 54.5% of new follows made (379,175 new followers versus 695,760 new follows, as of August 17, 2026). This is an aggregate follow-back ratio comparing total inbound and outbound follow volume across the network — it is not a per-account reciprocity measurement.
Inbound vs outbound follow activity (August 17, 2026)
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| New follows made (outbound) | 695,760 |
| New followers gained (inbound) | 379,175 |
| Follow-back ratio (inbound ÷ outbound) | 54.5% |
How this is measured
The follow-back ratio divides total new followers gained by total new follows made across every tracked account in Lurk's follow-edge store over the observation window. Because it compares aggregate volumes, not paired follow/follow-back events, it does not tell you whether any specific follow was reciprocated — it describes the network's inbound-versus-outbound follow balance. Data is anonymized and aggregate, refreshed from the live get_follow_index RPC.
Cite this
“What is the Instagram follow-back rate?”, The Lurk Instagram Follow Index, August 17, 2026. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with attribution to getlurk.app/data/instagram-follow-back-rate.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of Instagram follows get followed back?
In Lurk's anonymized aggregate, new followers gained equaled 54.5% of new follows made (379,175 vs 695,760, updated August 17, 2026). This is a network-level ratio, not a guarantee that any individual follow is reciprocated.
Is this a true per-account reciprocity rate?
No. It compares total inbound-follower volume to total outbound-follow volume across the network. It does not measure whether specific accounts you followed followed you back.
How can I see who doesn't follow me back on Instagram?
Lurk compares an account's following and followers lists to show who isn't following back. See the who-doesn't-follow-back tool.
Related
- The Lurk Instagram Follow Index (full dataset)
- Instagram following-to-followers ratio
- See who doesn't follow back
- Best Instagram follow trackers (2026)
See who anyone really follows on Instagram
Lurk tracks public Instagram accounts and shows who they recently followed — anonymously, with no login.
Instagram never tells them their following list was viewed.