YouTube hits billion monthly users

YouTube, the world's largest online video-sharing platform, on Thursday said it now has more than a billion unique users every single month, or nearly one out of every two people on the Internet visits the Google-owned site.

"If YouTube were a country, we'd be the third largest in the world after China and India. Nearly one out of every two people on the Internet visits YouTube," the YouTube Team said in a blog post.

"PSY (the South Korean rapper) and Madonna would have to repeat their Madison Square Garden performance in front of a packed house 200,000 more times. That's a lot of Gangnam Style!" said the fast-growing video website.

From the aspiring filmmaker in his basement and the next great pop musician, to the fans all around the world who tune in, subscribe and share their favourite videos with the planet, thank you for making YouTube what it is today. You have truly created something special, said the YouTube Team.

Founded in 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. In 2006, Google bought the website for USD 1.65 billion.