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2024 State of the Union Address Draws Over 32 Million Viewers

4 minute read | March 2024

NEW YORK March 8, 2024 An estimated 32.2 million people watched President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7, according to Nielsen. 

Of the 32.2 million viewers that watched the 2024 State of the Union address: 

  • 5% of viewers were aged 18-34.
  • 19% of viewers were aged 35-54.
  • 74% of viewers were aged 55 and older. 
  • 56% watched broadcast network coverage.
  • 44% watched coverage on cable networks.

Viewership of the 2024 State of the Union address was 18% higher than last year’s 27.3 million viewers. It stands as the second-largest audience since President Biden gave his first address to a Joint Session of Congress in 2021, behind the 38.2 million viewers that watched in 2022

The 2024 State of the Union address aired live on 14 television networks reported by Nielsen, from approximately 9:26 p.m. to 10:33 p.m. EDT. 

Below is a summary of average viewership aggregated across indicated networks. The data is inclusive of U.S. audiences only.

2024 State of the Union Address Viewership Across Networks
Live plus same day, U.S. audience estimates
Number of Viewers Average Audience Rating
Persons 2+ 32,232,000 10.2
Households 23,153,000 18.5
Persons 18-34 1,619,000 2.3
Persons 35-54 6,129,000 7.6
Persons 55+ 23,708,000 23.4

Source: Nielsen. NNTV, Live+Same-Day.

Data in this table is inclusive of broadcast and cable networks that aired the event, in addition to PBS. 
2024 reported networks include: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FOX Business, FOX News Channel, MSNBC, NewsMax, NewsNation

Total summary projections are expressed in units, rounded to the nearest thousand (000).

NOTE: Audience estimates are inclusive of out-of-home viewing, with the exception of PBS which does not include out-of-home contributions.


Historical Viewership: State of the Union Address
Date Combined No. of Viewers Combined HHLD Rating Included Networks President
3/7/2024 32,232,000 18.5 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TEL, UNI, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, NewsMax, NewsNation,  Biden
2/7/2023 27,312,000 16.1 ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, TEL, UNI, NBCLX, PBS,  CNBC, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, NewsMax, NewsNation Biden
3/1/2022 38,197,000 22.4 ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, TEL, UNI, NBCLX, PBS, Black News Channel, CNBC, CNN, CNNe, FOXNC, MSNBC, Newsmax, NewsNation Biden
4/28/2021* 26,936,000 16.5 ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, TEL, UNI, PBS, CNBC, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, Newsmax, NewsNation and Newsy Biden
2/4/2020 37,173,000 22.7 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC and MSNBC Trump
2/5/2019 46,789,000 28.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC and MSNBC Trump
1/30/2018 45,551,000 26.9 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Estrella, Telemundo, Univision, CNN, FBN, FOX News, MSNBC and PBS Trump
2/28/2017* 47,741,000 28.7 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, UNI, PBS, CNN, FBN Net, FOXNC, MSNBC, and NBC Universo Trump
1/12/2016 31,334,349 19.6 ABC, Al Jazeera America, Azteca, CBS, CNN, FOX, FBN, FOXNC, Galavision, MSNBC, NBC, NBC Universo, Univision^ Obama
1/20/2015 31,710,349 19.9 ABC, Al Jazeera America, Azteca, CBS, CNN, FOX, FBN, FOXNC, Galavision, MSNBC, MundoFOX, NBC, Univision^ Obama
1/18/2014 33,299,172 20.7 CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, Azteca, FBN, FOXNC, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera America, Galavision, Mun2, UNI^ Obama
2/12/2013 33,497,607 21.8 FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Azteca, UNI, MFX, CNBC, CNN, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, Current, Centric, GALA Obama
1/24/2012 37,752,613 24.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TEL, TF, UNI, CNBC, CNN, FBN, FOXNC, GALA, MSNBC and MUN2 Obama
1/25/2011 42,789,947 26.6 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TEL, UNI, CNN, Centric, CNBC, FOXNC, and MSNBC Obama
1/27/2010 48,009,595 29.8 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TEL, UNI, CNN, BET, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC Obama
2/24/2009* 52,373,000 32.5 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, TELEMUNDO, UNIVISION Obama
1/28/2008 37,515,000 24.7 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, TELEMUNDO^, UNIVISION G.W Bush
1/23/2007 45,486,000 29.6 ABC, CBS, FOX**, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, TELEMUNDO**, UNIVISION ** G.W. Bush
1/31/2006 43,179,000 35.3 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, AZTECA AMERICA, TELEFUTURA, TELEMUNDO G.W. Bush
2/2/2005 39,432,000 31.2 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, TELEFUTURA, TELEMUNDO G.W. Bush
1/20/2004 43,411,000 28.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC G.W. Bush
1/28/2003 62,061,000 38.8 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC G.W. Bush
1/29/2002 51,773,000 33.6 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC G.W. Bush
2/27/2001* 39,793,000 27.6 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC G.W. Bush
1/27/2000 31,478,000 22.4 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC Clinton
1/19/1999 43,500,000 31.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC Clinton
1/27/1998 53,077,000 37.2 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC Clinton
2/4/1997 41,100,000 28.4 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN Clinton
1/23/1996 40,900,000 29.6 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN Clinton
1/24/1995 42,200,000 29.5 ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN Clinton
1/25/1994 45,800,000 32.9 ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN Clinton
2/17/1993* 66,900,000 44.3 ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN Clinton

Source: Nielsen

Time-shifted viewing (Live+Same-Day, 3am-3am) is included in audience estimates in this table for years 2006 and later. Estimates prior to 2006 include live viewing only. 

* Single asterisks denote addresses that were officially “Addresses to Joint Sessions of Congress.” 

^ Denotes tape-delayed coverage by a particular network. 

** 1/23/07: coverage of asterisked (**) networks went beyond a common end time. Measurement of these networks included SOTU address and commentary. Does not include Democratic Response.

Press Contact

Lauren Pabst 
lauren.pabst@nielsen.com