From the 7.8 billion Tweets sent globally in 2021, the Philippines ranked second in countries that tweeted the most about K-pop. Twitter broke the previous record of 6.7 billion Tweets in 2020. Registering a 16% increase in Tweet volume globally, #KpopTwitter conversations became more diverse and vibrant in 2021, according to the social media platform’s advisory.

Twitter’s analysis reveals the Top 20 countries Tweeting most about K-pop, the Top 20 countries with the most K-pop fans, as well as rankings of the most Tweeted about K-pop artists and rising K-pop artists.

Indonesia tops the list for the most number of K-pop Tweets for the second consecutive year. The Philippines, Korea, Thailand, the United States, Mexico, Malaysia, Brazil, India, and Japan made it into the top 10.

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While the list of countries with the most number of fans (analyzed by unique authors) looks similar to the list for the most number of Tweets, with Indonesia coming in first and the others like Japan and the Philippines close behind; countries like Peru, Colombia, Singapore, and Ecuador were featured among the top 20 this year.

K-pop royalties, who are now conquering the world stage, BTS takes the top spot as the most Tweeted about K-pop artist globally, with the band’s on-site concert “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – LA” alone contributing more than 68 million Tweets from all over the world. For the second year in a row, NCT (@NCTsmtown) comes in second.

K-pop sensation BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK) and EXO (@weareoneEXO) being featured on the top 20 list, younger groups also cemented their positions with TOMORROW X TOGETHER (@TXT_members) rising from 8th place in 2020 to 6th in 2021, ATEEZ (@ATEEZofficial) climbing one spot to 9th, and Stray Kids (@Stray_Kids) at 10th.

2021 also proved to be a breakthrough year for the 4th generation of K-pop idols. ENHYPEN (@ENHYPEN_members) who were 5th on the 2020 list of rising K-pop artists impressively came in as the 3rd most Tweeted about band in 2021 (just after BTS and NCT). Within a year of their debut, the group celebrated a huge achievement with their first studio album “DIMENSION:DILEMMA” becoming a ‘million-seller’ and placing 11th on the Billboard 200 chart. Fellow 4th generation idols aespa (@aespa_official) and ITZY (@ITZYofficial) also hit significant milestones as they first entered the top 20 list, at 14th and 16th respectively.

Other K-pop idols on the top 20 list include TREASURE (@treasuremembers), SEVENTEEN (@pledis_17), TWICE (@JYPETWICE), GOT7 (@GOT7Official), The Boyz (@IST_THEBOYZ), iKON (@YG_iKONIC), ASTRO (@offclASTRO), MonstaX (@OfficialMonstaX), Red Velvet (@RVsmtown), and SHINee (@SHINee).

BTS (@BTS_twt) also shows dominance in the Philippines, ranking 1st as the most Tweeted about K-pop artist in the country, followed by junior label mates ENHYPEN (@ENHYPEN_members). BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK) Rose and Lisa’s solo releases were the buzz among BLINKs, while NCT (@NCTsmtown)’s 2021 album, which introduced a new NCT U line up, hyped up NCTzens on Twitter in December.

Unsurprisingly, ENHYPEN (@ENHYPEN_members) is first on the list of the Top 10 rising Artists, followed by TOMORROW X TOGETHER (@TXT_members), TREASURE (@treasuremembers), aespa (@aespa_official), and ITZY (@ITZYofficial). Newer generation groups like IVE (@IVEstarship), CRAVITY (@CRAVITYstarship), WEi (@WEi__Official), ONEUS (@official_ONEUS), and CIX (@CIX_twt) are also featured on the Top 10.