BTS ARMY CENSUS
2022 RESULTS
The 2022 ARMY Census is the largest fan-driven demographic analysis ever conducted to-date. Between April 1 to May 31, 2022, more than 500,000 BTS fans from around the world responded to the global survey, which aims to continue telling the story of the ever-growing ARMY. This project provides a snapshot of the BTS fandom, while also helping to showcase how fans are far Beyond The Stereotypes placed upon them.
ARMY CENSUS TEAM:
>> Read our team bios <<
VIDEO: 2022 ARMY Census Results
Produced by: @seeokiy
Watch and share the video featuring key highlights from our team's 2022 ARMY Census. View detailed results below.
#ARMYCensus
562,280
People responded to the 2022 ARMY Census
100+
Countries and territories represented
36
Languages were made available for the survey
#ARMYCensus
Trended WW on Twitter and Weverse on launch day
BRIEF NOTES
INITIAL REFLECTIONS
"ARMY is just a bunch of teenagers."
During the 2020 ARMY Census, roughly 50% of the fandom was below the age of 18 and 50% of the fandom was above the age of 18. In the 2022 Census, we found that nearly 70% of respondents* were over the age of 18 with the largest age cohort being 18-29 year olds. This could mean either that a majority of the new fans since 2020 are older, or it could mean that over the past two years, a large portion of the fandom became legal adults and aged into the 18-29 classification. Either way, the stereotype that ARMY is primarily teenagers is categorically false (according to all of our data). *Edited for clarity.
"ARMY is made up of a bunch of girls."
It is no secret that a majority of BTS ARMY are women (97% of our data). The stereotype that BTS fans are women implies that a) BTS fans must be relatively vapid and b) the women who love them must be fanatical people. With ARMY’s participation in UNICEF, Black Lives Matter and other massive international philanthropic efforts (see One In An ARMY's tracking of these efforts), media outlets globally have come to realize that ARMY are powerful, intelligent, and savvy. Therefore, by extension, it is WOMEN who are the driving force behind these undertakings, and they are the driving force of positive change and social good. This is not acknowledged enough. On top of their ability to mobilize in support of BTS and their music, they have used their influence to make a difference in the world. The ability to do this effectively and on a large scale is what makes ARMY different from other fandoms, and if the gender identity of the people doing this is “female,” that should be celebrated, not ridiculed. Female fans are often undermined and underestimated, but it is clear that they deserve respect and credit for leading the way.
CHALLENGES & LIMITATIONS
IMPROVEMENT POINTS
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
SPECIAL THANKS
* TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAMWORK *
When our team started working on this project in the spring of 2020, we had no idea the type of response we would get through the ARMY Census. To the over 500,000 ARMYs around the world who took the census survey: we are so grateful for your participation.
This project also would not have been possible without the help of 35+ wonderful translators who volunteered and dedicated their time and effort to ensure that as many people as possible can be included in the survey.
Future ARMY Census
Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@ARMYCensus) so you can stay up-to-date with our team and look out for announcements to participate in the Future ARMY Census.