Instagram continues its reign as one of the world’s most popular social media platforms with over 1 billion monthly active users. 

The question is: what are those users doing on the platform, and more specifically, who are they choosing to follow?

In this post, we’ve rounded up the top 51 most-followed Instagram accounts to find out who has the most Instagram followers in 2019.

Let’s dive right in!

Top 51 Most Followed Instagram Accounts of 2019

1. Instagram

Account owner: Instagram

Username: @instagram

Follower count: 311 million

Profession: Social media platform

Country: USA

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

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Happy Sunday With Family 😀❤️

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Account owner: Cristiano Ronaldo

Username: @cristiano

Follower count: 181 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Portugal

3. Ariana Grande

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jus wanna sing. all i ever cared ab.

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Account owner: Ariana Grande

Username: @arianagrande

Follower count: 163 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

4. Selena Gomez

Account owner: Selena Gomez

Username: @selenagomez

Follower count: 156 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

5. Dwayne Johnson 

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Lil’ kooky things these days in my life that makes this moment wildly surreal. Been decades (literally since the late 90’s 🤦🏽‍♂️) I was able to sit in the middle of a restaurant undisturbed, eat, have drinks, watch TV’s above the bar and just relax and enjoy company. Hell, I was even able to look down on the roads below and people watch as they walked thru town, in a non creepy, but sorta creepy way of course 🤣 Grateful mahalo to our friends at #HanaleiNorthsideGrill for quietly shutting down their spot so I could have some honeymoon time with @laurenhashianofficial. I’ll never complain about fame, because the alternative is going back to those $7bucks days, but every once in a blue moon it’s really nice steal a moment in public like this. #tequila #soosh #noncreepy #supergrateful

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Account owner: Dwayne Johnson

Username: @therock

Follower count: 155 million

Profession: Actor and professional wrestler

Country: USA

6. Kim Kardashian

Account owner: Kim Kardashian

Username: @kimkardashian

Follower count: 147 million

Profession: Reality TV personality

Country: USA

7. Kylie Jenner 

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a love without limits ✨

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Account owner: Kylie Jenner

Username: @kyliejenner

Follower count: 145 million

Profession: Reality TV personality

Country: USA

8. Beyoncé

Account owner: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Username: @beyonce

Follower count: 132 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

9. Lionel Messi 

Account owner: Lionel Messi

Username: @leomessi

Follower count: 129 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Argentina

10. Neymar

Account owner: Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior

Username: @neymarjr

Follower count: 125 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Brazil

11. Taylor Swift

Account owner: Taylor Swift

Username: @taylorswift

Follower count: 121 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

12. National Geographic

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Photo by Ami Vitale @amivitale | A wild elephant herd passes through an area called Loijuk, near Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (@r.e.s.c.u.e) in northern Kenya. Before @r.e.s.c.ue was founded, orphaned elephants had to be transported 240 miles away, and they would be reintroduced in Tsavo National Park, in Kenya’s south. There was no chance they would ever encounter their kin again. One of the great benefits @r.e.s.c.u.e offers is that now these elephant calves are raised near where they were rescued and may be able to return to the same herds they were originally separated from. Learn how to get involved by following @amivitale and @r.e.s.c.u.e. @conservationorg @thephotosociety @natgeoimagecollection #protectelephants #elephants #stoppoaching #kenya #worthmorealive

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Account owner: National Geographic 

Username: @natgeo

Follower count: 120 million

Profession: Magazine

Country: USA

13. Justin Bieber

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Thanks @shane_bieber for the jersey.

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Account owner: Justin Bieber

Username: @justinbieber

Follower count: 118 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Canada

14. Kendall Jenner

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🙂

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Account owner: Kendall Jenner

Username: @kendalljenner

Follower count: 115 million

Profession: Model

Country: USA

15. Nicki Minaj 

Account owner: Nicki Minaj

Username: @nickiminaj

Follower count: 106 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Trinidad and Tobago

16. Jennifer Lopez 

Account owner: Jennifer Lopez

Username: @jlo

Follower count: 99 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

17. Miley Cyrus

Account owner: Miley Cyrus

Username: @mileycyrus

Follower count: 98 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

18. Khloé Kardashian

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Back to the routine in my @goodamerican

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Account owner: Khloé Kardashian

Username: @khloekardashian

Follower count: 98 million

Profession: Reality TV personality 

Country: USA

19. Nike

Account owner: Nike

Username: @nike

Follower count: 92 million

Profession: Sportswear multinational 

Country: USA

20. Katy Perry

Account owner: Katy Perry

Username: @katyperry

Follower count: 84 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

21. Kourtney Kardashian

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I love seeing the outfits he picks out.

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Account owner: Kourtney Kardashian

Username: @kourtneykardash

Follower count: 81 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

22. Kevin Hart

Account owner: Kevin Hart

Username: @kevinhart4real

Follower count: 78 million

Profession: Comedian and actor

Country: USA

23. Real Madrid C.F.

Account owner: Real Madrid C.F.

Username: @realmadrid

Follower count: 77 million

Profession: Football club

Country: Spain

24. Ellen DeGeneres

Account owner: Ellen DeGeneres

Username: @theellenshow

Follower count: 76 million

Profession: Comedian

Country: USA

25. FC Barcelona

Account owner: FC Barcelona

Username: @fcbarcelona

Follower count: 76 million

Profession: Football club

Country: Spain

26. Rihanna

Account owner: Rihanna

Username: @badgalriri

Follower count: 74 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Barbados

27. Demi Lovato

Account owner: Demi Lovato

Username: @ddlovato

Follower count: 73 million

Profession: Musician and actress

Country: USA

28. Victoria’s Secret

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All-over lace, all-over comfort.​

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Account owner: Victoria’s Secret

Username: @victoriassecret

Follower count: 68 million

Profession: Lingerie brand

Country: USA

29. Zendaya

Account owner: Zendaya

Username: @zendaya

Follower count: 61 million

Profession: Actress and musician

Country: USA

30. Drake

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Almost that time!!! TOP BOY 🇬🇧 🇯🇲

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Account owner: Drake

Username: @champagnepapi

Follower count: 59 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Canada

31. Shakira

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My beloved Brazil! Speak up and stop the deforestation of the Amazon which is 20 per cent of the air we breathe. The home of our people and our fauna should be protected. The Amazon is ours, is everyone’s! Shak #Repost @leonardodicaprio ・・・ #Regram #RG @rainforestalliance: The lungs of the Earth are in flames. 🔥 The Brazilian Amazon—home to 1 million Indigenous people and 3 million species—has been burning for more than two weeks straight. There have been 74,000 fires in the Brazilian Amazon since the beginning of this year—a staggering 84% increase over the same period last year (National Institute for Space Research, Brazil). Scientists and conservationists attribute the accelerating deforestation to President Jair Bolsonaro, who issued an open invitation to loggers and farmers to clear the land after taking office in January.⁣ ⁣ The largest rainforest in the world is a critical piece of the global climate solution. Without the Amazon, we cannot keep the Earth’s warming in check. ⁣ ⁣ The Amazon needs more than our prayers. So what can YOU do?⁣ ⁣ ✔ As an emergency response, donate to frontline Amazon groups working to defend the forest. ⁣ ✔ Consider becoming a regular supporter of the Rainforest Alliance’s community forestry initiatives across the world’s most vulnerable tropical forests, including the Amazon; this approach is by far the most effective defense against deforestation and natural forest fires, but it requires deep, long-term collaboration between the communities and the public and private sectors. Link in bio.⁣ ✔ Stay on top of this story and keep sharing posts, tagging news agencies and influencers. ⁣ ✔ Be a conscious consumer, taking care to support companies committed to responsible supply chains.⁣ Eliminate or reduce consumption of beef; cattle ranching is one of the primary drivers of Amazon deforestation. ✔ When election time comes, VOTE for leaders who understand the urgency of our climate crisis and are willing to take bold action—including strong governance and forward-thinking policy.⁣ ⁣ #RainforestAlliance #SaveTheAmazon #PrayForAmazonia #AmazonRainforest #ActOnClimate #ForestsResist #ClimateCrisis 📸: @mohsinkazmitakespictures / Win

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Account owner: Shakira

Username: @shakira

Follower count: 58 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Colombia

32. David Beckham

Account owner: David Beckham

Username: @davidbeckham

Follower count: 58 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Great Britain

33. Vin Diesel

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Always…

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Account owner: Vin Diesel

Username: @vindiesel

Follower count: 56 million

Profession: Actor

Country: USA

34. Chris Brown

Account owner: Chris Brown

Username: @chrisbrownofficial

Follower count: 56 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

35. Justin Timberlake

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Lotta Kings At BB King’s. M-Town nights…

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Account owner: Justin Timberlake

Username: @justintimberlake

Follower count: 56 million

Profession: Musician and actor

Country: USA

36. Emma Watson

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I’m hopeful we’ll hear some concrete, bold commitments from @G7 states, especially @10DowningStreet 🇬🇧 at #G7Biarritz. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🌎 One of the basic things we’re asking states to do is ratify all relevant gender equality standards: http://bit.ly/GEACfrance 🌍 There are some incredible global treaties and conventions that set minimum standards for women’s and girls’ rights 🥀 but some G7 states haven’t yet stepped up and made them a reality. #BeBraveG7 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💔🇬🇧 On a personal note, the fact that the UK has still not ratified the Istanbul Convention, despite signing it in 2012, is really disappointing to me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⚖️ For those who haven’t heard of it before, the Istanbul Convention is an agreement that makes governments responsible for combating violence against women and domestic violence. It’s focussed on preventing violence, protecting survivors and prosecuting accused offenders. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🌹I’ll be proud to say my country is committed to preventing violence against women when the UK government ratifies the Istanbul Convention and fully complies with its requirements. Every week, two women in England and Wales are killed by their current or former partner. Violence against women and girls is one of the most serious human rights issues in the UK. To date, 34 states in the Council of Europe have ratified the Istanbul Convention. 📝❤️ Let’s not drag our feet on this any longer, @10DowningStreet! Let’s be number 35!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Account owner: Emma Watson 

Username: @emmawatson

Follower count: 51 million

Profession: Actress

Country: Great Britain

37. Lebron James

Account owner: Lebron James

Username: @kingjames

Follower count: 51 million

Profession: Basketball player

Country: USA

38. Shawn Mendes

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🥑

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Account owner: Shawn Mendes

Username: @shawnmendes

Follower count: 51 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Canada

39. 9GAG

Account owner: 9GAG

Username: @9gag

Follower count: 50 million

Profession: Social media platform

Country: Hong Kong

40. Cardi B

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Me and mine💗

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Account owner: Cardi B

Username: @iamcardib

Follower count: 50 million

Profession: Musician

Country: USA

41. Gigi Hadid

Account owner: Gigi Hadid

Username: @gigihadid

Follower count: 49 million

Profession: Model

Country: USA

42. Ronaldinho

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Esse é o meu Brasil 🤙🏾🇧🇷

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Account owner: Ronaldinho

Username: @ronaldinho

Follower count: 48 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Brazil

43. NASA

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What remains after a star explodes 💥 ? A brightly glowing field of debris, expanding outward into space.⁣ ⁣ This supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A or Cas A, was imaged by our Chandra X-ray Observatory (@nasachandraxray). It’s located about 11,000 light years from Earth and was also featured in Chandra’s “first light” image at the start of the mission in 1999. This recent study of Cas A adds to a long collection of Chandra discoveries over the course of the telescope’s 20 years. In addition to finding the central neutron star, Chandra data have revealed the distribution of elements essential for life ejected by the explosion, clues about the details of how the star exploded, and much more.⁣ ⁣ Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/RIKEN/T. Sato et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI⁣ ⁣ #supernova #universe #cassiopeia #nebula

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Account owner: NASA

Username: @nasa

Follower count: 48 million

Profession: Space agency

Country: USA

44. UEFA Champions League

Account owner: UEFA Champions League

Username: @championsleague

Follower count: 46 million

Profession: Club football competition

Country: Europe

45. Maluma

Account owner: Maluma

Username: @maluma

Follower count: 45 million

Profession: Musician

Country: Colombia

46. Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Account owner: Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Username: @priyankachopra

Follower count: 43 million

Profession: Actress and musician

Country: India

47. Robert Downey Jr. 

Account owner: Robert Downey Jr. 

Username: @robertdowneyjr

Follower count: 43 million

Profession: Actor

Country: USA

48. Cara Delevingne 

Account owner: Cara Delevingne 

Username: @caradelevingne

Follower count: 43 million

Profession: Actress and model

Country: Great Britain

49. James Rodríguez

Account owner: James Rodríguez 

Username: @jamesrodriguez10

Follower count: 43 million

Profession: Footballer

Country: Colombia

50. Marvel Entertainment

Account owner: Marvel Entertainment  

Username: @marvel

Follower count: 42 million

Profession: Entertainment company

Country: Colombia

51. Nike Football

Account owner: Nike Football

Username: @nikefootball

Follower count: 41 million

Profession: Sportswear multinational 

Country: USA

The Takeaway

There are three main trends we spotted when analyzing the list of the top 51 most-followed Instagram accounts of 2019:

  1. USA leads the way when it comes to the most popular Instagram accounts. This is not surprising – after all, the country’s robust pop culture and entertainment industry have created some of the world’s biggest celebrities who use their popularity to build massive Instagram communities. 
  2. There are very few brands on the list. In fact, out of the 51 most-followed Instagram accounts we presented, only five belong to brands – a sign that companies might need to step up their game on Instagram.
  3. Aside from Instagram, there are no other social media platforms that made it to the list. Even Facebook, Instagram’s sister company, has only 3 million followers. Pinterest, a visual platform whose content seems to be a perfect fit for Instagram, has an audience of only 1 million. Could it be a result of competition between social media platforms? 

So, those are our three key takeaways from analyzing the most followed Instagram accounts. Are there any other trends you’ve noticed? Let us know in the comments!

See also: Top 21 Most Popular Social Networking Sites

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