Are you a firm believer that the way the stars and planets are aligned determines your whole life? Is it impossible for you to skip your horoscope in the morning every day? Even in 2024, the number of people believing in astrology is astounding. For thousands of years (and that, way before our present era), human beings have been turning to the sky and space to read the past, present, and future or predict behavioral models.
Astrology determines an individual’s zodiac sign based on the alignment of the stars and planets on the day they were born (day, month, and birth time). There are 12 zodiac signs, each associated with an element of nature (water, fire, earth, and air) and certain traits are used to describe people born under a specific zodiac sign. Astrology is a worldwide belief that takes different shapes but always includes the same messages and meaning (e.g., Chinese astrology uses different signs based on Buddhist lore, numerology uses numbers, etc.).
Astrology key stats
As said before, astrology is far from being an isolated phenomenon. It is everywhere: in magazines, newspapers, websites, forums, YouTube, TikTok, etc. Back in the 80s-90s, hotlines allowed you to have a professional personally engaging with you for an expensive fee per minute. And if you think it is different today, try again: costly hotlines are still around and booming. Astrology has experienced quite a surge in the last few years, even amongst young crowds.
1. In 2019, the top 10 astrology apps generated $39.7 million in user spending, a 64.7% increase compared to 2018.
(Source: Sensortower)
In 2019, the top ten astrology apps in the United States raked in nearly $40 million in revenue, up from $24.1 million in 2018 and just $7.7 million in 2017. The most successful astrological application, Astrology & Palmistry Coach, earned approximately $14 million in revenue during the year.
Nowadays, astrology apps can often be found at the Top 10 of the most popular lifestyle apps. The revenues generated are not overwhelming, but they are pretty decent considering the niche nature of the topic.
3. As many as 70 million Americans, or 23 percent of the population, check their horoscopes everyday.
(Source: American Federation of Astrologers)
Astrology has seen a revival since 2020 and, true to our era, it was reflected with apps and Internet traffic on websites. This ease of access to astrology readings has allowed more people to explore this interest and, as a result, there has been an increase in searches related to the topic.
4. 34% of Americans believe that astrology was “very” or “sort of scientific”.
(Source: General Social Survey)
There is no scientific evidence that astrology can be used to predict the future or describe anything about a person’s personality. Astrology is not recognized as a science by the scientific community. This high number from a 2012 survey may be attributed due to a confusion with astronomy, which is the scientific study of the stars and planets.
5. 36% of teenagers in the United States believe in astrology.
(Source: Statista)
Astrology is quite balanced when it comes to the number of teenagers believing it is real science or a concept that can indeed guide our lives. The study was conducted in 2014 and if what we see on platforms such as TikTok or Tumblr is a great indicator of what is up right now, astrology should score a way higher place in 2022.
7. Before getting a new job, 36% women read their horoscopes; 35% check them before starting a new relationship; and 34% before buying a lottery ticket.
(Source: iVillage)
Before taking a major life step or trying their luck, many women turn to their horoscopes for guidance. Why do women place so much faith in astrology though? One possibility is that we live in an unpredictable world, and horoscopes offer a way to make sense of the chaos. In an increasingly uncertain world, it’s no wonder that people are drawn to anything that promises to provide a glimpse into the future.
To sum up
Astrology has always been a part of society on a worldwide scale. It took different shapes through the ages and changed depending on the country. It is possible to find around 80 different branches of astrology. People relying on this system to go through life do so to make decisions, to dictate how they act in general, or even to choose their friends or romantic partner. It is not a rare occurrence to see a comment going “I’m not surprised he did that since he’s a Capricorn”.
The resurgence of astrology over those last 2 to 3 years is often explained as the consequence of the unstable world we all live in. With the present time being so shaky, it is easy to understand why people rely on anything that could bring them peace of mind. However, astrology has never really left the scene. Even for people actively rejecting the idea, we all, at one point, checked our horoscope, gleefully accepting it when it is positive and spitting “well, it’s not like it’s real anyway” when the outcome is not what we wished for.