40+ Upwork Statistics for 2025: Users, Revenue & Growth
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Upwork has had the title of one of the most popular freelancing platforms for years, and for good reason. Brands use it to outsource work, and sometimes even hire new candidates for full-time roles in the process. I’ve worked extensively on Upwork over the past few years, and I’ve collated 40+ Upwork statistics that tell you everything you need to know about it. They cover its user base, revenue, and the most popular job categories on the platform.
Upwork stats (top picks)
As of 2024, Upwork had about 855 thousand clients on its platform, a 2% increase year-over-year from the number in 2023.
According to Crunchbase, Upwork holds the #1 spot in the freelance marketplace, with a share of 61.25%.
Upwork generated almost $87 million in revenue from freelancers in the US alone in 2022.
As of Upwork’s results for the third quarter of 2024, revenue from Freelance Plus subscriptions increased 48% year-over-year.
The US, India, and the Philippines contribute the most to Upwork in terms of freelancer revenue. The US’ revenue increased from $21.45 million in 2016 to $95.83 million in 2023.
Overview of Upwork’s impact on the freelance market
Upwork has been one of the leading freelancer platforms for years. It hosts hundreds of thousands of clients who find the best talent worldwide. In fact, as of 2024, Upwork had about 855 thousand active clients on its platform, an increase of 2% year over year from 2023. Its active client base has increased by 57.59% since 2019, up from 311 thousand active clients. This shows the platform's immense popularity and clients' success in finding talent on it.
Sources: Upwork
Why Upwork remains a key player in freelancing
Upwork is a key player in the freelancing market because it dominates the space and has the biggest market share. Here are a few key details you must know.
Upwork holds the #1 spot in the freelance talent marketplace, with a share of 61.25%.
In comparison, its competitors, Eightfold.ai and Instahyre, have market shares of 18.15% and 3.21%, respectively. Another notable competitor is Fiverr, with a market share of 14.85%.
According to Crunchbase, Upwork’s valuation is $1.6 billion. Over the years, it has received 13 rounds of funding.
Sources: 6Sense, 6Sense, Crunchbase
Growth trends in remote work and freelancing
A few key trends in remote work have fuelled Upwork’s growth over the years. This section offers some key insights.
64 million Americans freelanced in 2023, accounting for 38% of the American workforce.
Additionally, 53% of Gen Z workers who freelance are moving away from the traditional 9-to-5 model.
Freelancers are also well-qualified. Nearly 80% have either a bachelor’s or a postgraduate degree.
In terms of freelancer earnings, North America tops the charts with an average rate of $44 per hour. Western Europe comes second with an average rate of $31 per hour, followed by South America at $24.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic led to many people working remotely globally and even turning to freelancing as a result of layoffs due to economic troubles. All these factors have directly and indirectly contributed to Upwork’s growth over time.
Sources: Upwork
Upwork user statistics
The data in the three sections below tells you everything you need to know about Upwork’s user base, including its size, demographics, and client base.
Upwork’s active user base
How big is Upwork’s active user base, and what are their demographic variations like? Here are a few helpful insights.
There are a total of 18 million freelancers on Upwork. They represent 180 countries worldwide.
All the freelancers on the platform combined represent a total of 8,000 skills.
Sources: DemandSage, Upwork, Upwork
Freelancer demographics on Upwork
What are Upwork's freelancers' demographics? In 2022, Upwork generated almost $87 million in revenue from freelancers in the US alone.
Sources: Statista
Client demographics on Upwork
The US also tops the charts in terms of the revenue Upwork generated from its clients. In 2022, Upwork generated $211 million in revenue from US-based clients.
Sources: Statista
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Upwork’s revenue and growth statistics
Understanding the growth in Upwork’s revenue is key to gaining a fuller picture of this platform and its scale in 2025. The next two sections break down all the key information you need.
Annual and quarterly revenue growth
Here are a few statistics that give you an idea of Upwork's revenue growth over the years.
Upwork's annual revenue has continued to grow since 2016. In 2021, for instance, Upwork recorded an increase in its turnover of approximately $125 million.
Upwork's annual revenue increased to $689.14 in 2023, which is higher than the previous years.
With its headquarters in the United States, Upwork’s total assets amounted to $1 billion in 2023.
According to Upwork’s financial results for Q3 in 2024, its revenue increased 10% year over year to $193.8 million.
Upwork’s net income also reached an all-time high of $27.8 million in the third quarter of 2024, a 70% increase compared to the income it recorded in the third quarter of 2023.
Sources: Statista, Statista, Statista, Upwork
Revenue sources and service categories
Which different sources does Upwork earn its revenue from? The statistics below highlight its different revenue streams.
Upwork earns revenue from various sources, including Enterprise, Ads and Monetization, and Managed Services.
Upwork’s Managed Services revenue grew 5% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2024.
Its revenue from ads and monetization increased 35% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2024.
Active freelancers often purchase a Freelancer Plus subscription. As of Upwork’s results for the third quarter of 2024, revenue from Freelance Plus subscriptions increased 48% year-over-year.
Some of Upwork’s other revenue sources include service charges, withdrawal fees, membership charges, and from the connects freelancers who need to apply for jobs.
Sources: Upwork
Upwork’s global reach and geographic distribution
How widespread is Upwork’s global reach, and which regions are seeing steady growth on the platform? The two sections below list some essential data points you should know.
Top countries using Upwork
Which countries have the biggest user bases on Upwork, and how much does Upwork earn from these regions? Here are a few numbers.
Out of the $369.93 million Upwork earned from freelancers in 2023, freelancers with billing addresses in the United States contributed about $95.83 million in revenue, an increase of 27.96% from 2021.
The next biggest share of freelancers in terms of revenue for the company is India. In 2023, Upwork generated a revenue of $49.49 million, which accounted for a 13.38% share of the total freelancer revenue for the year.
The third biggest share comes from the Philippines, with freelancers in the country generating $45.91 million in 2023. This is an increase of 14.92% in revenue from the previous year.
The US, India, and the Philippines are Upwork’s core markets, and these three countries alone contributed 51.69% of the company’s total freelancer revenue for 2023.
Sources: Upwork
Popular languages and regional growth
Which languages are most popular among clients and freelancers on Upwork, and which are the fastest-growing regions? Here’s all you need to know.
According to Upwork’s community, job postings are available in regional languages other than English. These include German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Russian.
As the previous sections mentioned, the US, India, and the Philippines contribute the most freelancer revenue to Upwork. The US’ revenue increased from $21.45 million in 2016 to $95.83 million in 2023.
India also witnessed immense growth in revenue, with a contribution of $20 million in 2016 and $49.49 million in 2023.
The Philippines, on the other hand, contributed about $13.39 million in 2016, and this number increased to $45.91 million in 2023.
Sources: Upwork community, Upwork
Popular industries and job categories on Upwork
The statistics mentioned in the two sections below highlight the most popular industries and job categories on Upwork and those that have witnessed the biggest increase in demand.
In-demand job categories and skills
This guide mentioned that Upwork’s freelancer community offers more than 8,000 skills. Here are a few key insights into those that are in the highest demand.
According to Upwork, some of the most in-demand job categories in Upwork include data science and analytics, coding and web development, project management and administrative support, sales and marketing, and accounting, among others.
There are also a few popular skills among these categories. Some popular skills in the data science category include data analysis, machine learning, and generative AI modeling.
In the coding and web development category, a few skills of note include AI-assisted web and software development, scripting and automation, and database development.
In the sales and marketing category, a few in-demand skills are business development, AI-assisted copywriting, and email marketing.
In total, however, there are about 125 categories on Upwork.
High-growth sectors on Upwork
Besides the roles with high demand, there are those that have witnessed high growth over the years. I’ve provided a few key insights on these below.
The sectors mentioned above have all seen high growth in recent years. Those with a special emphasis on the use of AI in particular are incredibly popular, and the number of clients looking to work with freelancers that can leverage AI for different roles is on the rise.
Besides these, a few other high-growth sectors include consulting, design, and creative.
Also key to note here are some of the highest-paying freelance jobs on the platform. These include tech jobs such as cybersecurity developers and blockchain developers, marketing jobs that include media buyers and SEO specialists, and creative jobs that include videographers, photographers, and technical writers.
Usage and engagement metrics on Upwork
Last but not least, it’s essential that you understand how users make use of all of Upwork’s features, and what their engagement levels are like. The two sections below offer some key insights.
Average project length and completion rates
There is no official data on how long projects last on average. According to chatter on Upwork’s community and its website, the length of the project depends on multiple factors. Some projects could be single tasks that take two to three days to complete, whereas others could be long-term projects of between three to six months.
This depends entirely on the client’s requirements and willingness to continue working with a freelancer should they perform well. Other factors include the freelancer’s rates and the industry in which they work.
Sources: Upwork community, Upwork
Messaging and response time statistics
Just like the average length of a project varies on different factors, so does the time it takes for clients to respond to proposals or to hire a freelancer. Some clients hire within 10-20 minutes of posting a gig, whereas others may take a few hours or even a few days to respond.
For those wondering if they should wait for a client’s response after sending a proposal, many seasoned freelancers suggest not to. They say that once a proposal has been submitted, it’s best to forget about it until the client decides to reach out to you for more information or an interview, for instance.
Sources: Upwork community
The bottom line
Upwork is the biggest player in the freelancing market today and for several good reasons. I’ve listed over 40+ Upwork statistics you should know about Upwork for 2025 for your reference. As a client or a freelancer, documenting meetings and interviews is crucial, and this is where an AI notetaker like Notta can help. Try it out for free today!
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