In 2026, YouTube creators continue to see massive variation in earnings depending on where their viewers are located. The platform's monetization hinges on CPM (Cost Per Mille: what advertisers pay for 1,000 ad impressions) and RPM (Revenue Per Mille: what creators actually pocket per 1,000 views after YouTube's ~45% cut and accounting for non-monetized views). High-value audiences come from wealthy nations with robust advertiser demand, high purchasing power, and strong engagement—primarily affluent English-speaking countries and select Northern European markets.
Data aggregated from creator reports, analytics platforms like MilX (based on thousands of users), and industry benchmarks (e.g., My Kitchen Income's 2026 top-22 list) consistently show Oceania and North America leading the pack. Australia often edges out the United States as the single highest-paying country for average CPM, thanks to its concentrated affluent, English-speaking population that draws intense ad bidding. The US follows closely, benefiting from sheer market scale and advertiser budgets, while Canada and New Zealand round out the top tier.
2026's Top Countries for Highest YouTube CPM and RPM
Here are the leading performers based on the latest cross-verified figures:
- Australia — Tops many 2026 rankings with average CPM around $36.21 and estimated RPM ~$11.95. Its viewers' high disposable income and engagement make advertisers compete fiercely, delivering premium payouts even in mid-tier niches.
- United States — A perennial powerhouse at CPM ~$32.75 and RPM ~$10.81 (with peaks much higher in finance or tech). Massive audience size plus strong ad demand keep it dominant for creators targeting English content.
- Canada — Solid third place, CPM ~$29.15, RPM ~$9.62. Similar to the US in language and buying power but slightly lower volume.
- New Zealand — Close behind at CPM ~$28.15, RPM ~$9.29. Benefits from the same Oceania advantages: wealth, English fluency, and high viewer quality.
- Switzerland — Europe's standout, CPM ~$23.13, RPM ~$7.63. High wealth concentration drives excellent per-view earnings.
- United Kingdom — Reliable high earner with CPM ~$21.59, RPM ~$7.12. Strong advertiser interest in English-speaking markets.
- Norway — Frequently in the top 10, CPM ~$20.17 (some reports push it higher), RPM ~$6.66. Northern Europe's wealth and engagement shine here.
Other strong contenders rounding out the top 10–15 include Germany (~$18.79 CPM), Ireland , Netherlands , Denmark , and Singapore . These nations offer solid payouts due to economic strength and digital ad maturity.
Why These Countries Pay So Much More
Advertisers prioritize audiences likely to convert—people with money to spend. English-speaking, high-GDP countries (especially in Oceania and North America) attract the biggest budgets because viewers there respond well to premium ads in finance, tech, insurance, and luxury. Northern European countries punch above their weight per view thanks to exceptional wealth and retention rates. In contrast, views from lower-GDP regions (e.g., parts of Asia or Africa) often yield CPMs under $2–$5.
Practical Tips to Maximize Earnings in 2026
To capture these high-value views:
- Produce content in English (or with strong subtitles) to appeal to these markets.
- Optimize for niches like personal finance, investing, tech reviews, or business advice—these can double or triple baseline rates.
- Aim for longer videos (8+ minutes) to unlock mid-roll ads and boost overall RPM.
- Use SEO, thumbnails, and titles that attract viewers from Tier-1 countries (analytics tools help track this).
- Build evergreen content that ranks globally but performs best in high-CPM regions.
