What Topics Are People Writing About on Medium?

Medium is a website where writers can create content and get paid based on the popularity of their stories. I was an active writer last year and published one hundred pieces on data and programming. I've made $4,053.95, which roughly translates to a standard monthly salary in Sweden, where I'm from. That's good but not enough to make a living.

I don't write much on Medium today because the content that made me money wasn't inspiring enough. My highest-grossing pieces were about trends and salaries for different programming languages. I still find that interesting, but it was demotivating to see how the stories I truly enjoyed writing reached only a handful of people, even though I have 6,000 subscribers.

To better understand what other areas I could write about, I did a thorough analysis of the most popular medium topics.

About the data collection

If you look at Medium's list, you will see around 500 common topics, but some are significantly more popular than others. When you look at a specific tag, there are two essential attributes:

1. The number of followers
2. The number of stories

I gathered data at the beginning of this year (2024-02-20) and again in November (2024-11-07) to see how the number of followers and stories changed over time.

Here are the results

1. Technology
   1. 12,600,000 followers (+50.0%)
   2. 2,500,000 stories (+220.1%)
   3. 5.0 followers per story (-53.1%)
2. Programming
   1. 9,600,000 followers (+68.4%)
   2. 441,000 stories (+18.5%)
   3. 21.8 followers per story (+42.1%)
3. Self Improvement
   1. 8,700,000 followers (+74.0%)
   2. 867,000 stories (+24.7%)
   3. 10.0 followers per story (+39.5%)
4. Data Science
   1. 7,600,000 followers (+68.9%)
   2. 342,000 stories (+14.4%)
   3. 22.2 followers per story (+47.7%)
5. Writing
   1. 7,300,000 followers (+69.8%)
   2. 871,000 stories (+27.0%)
   3. 8.4 followers per story (+33.7%)
6. Money
   1. 7,100,000 followers (+77.5%)
   2. 1,200,000 stories (+267.0%)
   3. 5.9 followers per story (-51.6%)
7. Business
   1. 7,100,000 followers (+54.3%)
   2. 799,000 stories (+20.7%)
   3. 8.9 followers per story (+27.9%)
8. Psychology
   1. 6,900,000 followers (+56.8%)
   2. 378,000 stories (+26.4%)
   3. 18.3 followers per story (+24.0%)
9. Mental Health
   1. 6,400,000 followers (+64.1%)
   2. 582,000 stories (+26.0%)
   3. 11.0 followers per story (+30.3%)
10. Relationships
    1. 6,400,000 followers (+73.0%)
    2. 565,000 stories (+26.7%)
    3. 11.3 followers per story (+36.5%)
11. Health
    1. 6,200,000 followers (+59.0%)
    2. 799,000 stories (+15.8%)
    3. 7.8 followers per story (+37.3%)
12. Science
    1. 6,100,000 followers (+48.8%)
    2. 217,000 stories (+16.7%)
    3. 28.1 followers per story (+27.5%)
13. Design
    1. 6,100,000 followers (+48.8%)
    2. 396,000 stories (+9.4%)
    3. 15.4 followers per story (+36.0%)
14. Artificial Intelligence
    1. 6,000,000 followers (+57.9%)
    2. 449,000 stories (+19.7%)
    3. 13.4 followers per story (+31.9%)
15. Productivity
    1. 5,900,000 followers (+59.5%)
    2. 387,000 stories (+18.3%)
    3. 15.2 followers per story (+34.7%)
16. Life
    1. 5,800,000 followers (+75.8%)
    2. 1,100,000 stories (+16.6%)
    3. 5.3 followers per story (+50.7%)
17. Machine Learning
    1. 4,800,000 followers (+65.5%)
    2. 350,000 stories (+11.1%)
    3. 13.7 followers per story (+49.0%)
18. Culture
    1. 4,600,000 followers (+64.3%)
    2. 287,000 stories (+16.7%)
    3. 16.0 followers per story (+40.8%)
19. Cryptocurrency
    1. 4,300,000 followers (+59.3%)
    2. 952,000 stories (+26.3%)
    3. 4.5 followers per story (+26.1%)
20. Startup
    1. 4,000,000 followers (+53.8%)
    2. 641,000 stories (+5.6%)
    3. 6.2 followers per story (+45.7%)
21. Books
    1. 3,900,000 followers (+44.4%)
    2. 500,000 stories (+72.4%)
    3. 7.8 followers per story (-16.2%)
22. Politics
    1. 3,900,000 followers (+50.0%)
    2. 574,000 stories (+8.7%)
    3. 6.8 followers per story (+38.0%)
23. Software Development
    1. 3,800,000 followers (+81.0%)
    2. 320,000 stories (+22.6%)
    3. 11.9 followers per story (+47.6%)
24. Humor
    1. 3,800,000 followers (+35.7%)
    2. 258,000 stories (+11.7%)
    3. 14.7 followers per story (+21.5%)
25. Education
    1. 3,700,000 followers (+48.0%)
    2. 586,000 stories (+12.0%)
    3. 6.3 followers per story (+32.1%)
26. History
    1. 3,400,000 followers (+47.8%)
    2. 228,000 stories (+16.9%)
    3. 14.9 followers per story (+26.4%)
27. Leadership
    1. 3,300,000 followers (+37.5%)
    2. 290,000 stories (+12.8%)
    3. 11.4 followers per story (+21.9%)
28. Python
    1. 3,200,000 followers (+77.8%)
    2. 255,000 stories (+25.0%)
    3. 12.5 followers per story (+42.2%)
29. Entrepreneurship
    1. 3,200,000 followers (+45.5%)
    2. 501,000 stories (+8.9%)
    3. 6.4 followers per story (+33.6%)
30. Art
    1. 3,200,000 followers (+23.1%)
    2. 287,000 stories (+13.4%)
    3. 11.1 followers per story (+8.5%)
31. Travel
    1. 3,100,000 followers (+19.2%)
    2. 549,000 stories (+13.4%)
    3. 5.6 followers per story (+5.1%)
32. Mindfulness
    1. 2,900,000 followers (+61.1%)
    2. 234,000 stories (+25.8%)
    3. 12.4 followers per story (+28.1%)
33. Software Engineering
    1. 2,900,000 followers (+50.3%)
    2. 113,000 stories (+25.6%)
    3. 25.7 followers per story (+19.7%)
34. Music
    1. 2,700,000 followers (+39.2%)
    2. 360,000 stories (+11.1%)
    3. 7.5 followers per story (+25.3%)
35. Photography
    1. 2,600,000 followers (+23.8%)
    2. 201,000 stories (+10.4%)
    3. 12.9 followers per story (+12.1%)
36. Marketing
    1. 2,600,000 followers (+62.5%)
    2. 520,000 stories (+12.1%)
    3. 5.0 followers per story (+45.0%)
37. Deep Learning
    1. 2,600,000 followers (+85.7%)
    2. 99,000 stories (+4.2%)
    3. 26.3 followers per story (+78.2%)
38. JavaScript
    1. 2,500,000 followers (+66.7%)
    2. 283,000 stories (+11.4%)
    3. 8.8 followers per story (+49.6%)
39. Food
    1. 2,400,000 followers (+33.3%)
    2. 283,000 stories (+12.7%)
    3. 8.5 followers per story (+18.3%)
40. Coding
    1. 2,300,000 followers (+64.3%)
    2. 144,000 stories (+20.0%)
    3. 16.0 followers per story (+36.9%)
41. Web Development
    1. 2,200,000 followers (+69.2%)
    2. 305,000 stories (+16.4%)
    3. 7.2 followers per story (+45.4%)
42. Blockchain
    1. 2,100,000 followers (+40.0%)
    2. 1,910,000 stories (+131.2%)
    3. 1.1 followers per story (-39.5%)
43. Society
    1. 2,100,000 followers (+75.0%)
    2. 130,000 stories (+28.7%)
    3. 16.2 followers per story (+36.0%)
44. Work
    1. 2,000,000 followers (+53.8%)
    2. 162,000 stories (+14.9%)
    3. 12.3 followers per story (+33.9%)
45. Sexuality
    1. 2,000,000 followers (+66.7%)
    2. 79,000 stories (+25.4%)
    3. 25.3 followers per story (+32.9%)
46. Film
    1. 1,960,000 followers (+50.8%)
    2. 152,000 stories (+16.0%)
    3. 12.9 followers per story (+29.9%)
47. Poetry
    1. 1,800,000 followers (+38.5%)
    2. 835,000 stories (+13.0%)
    3. 2.2 followers per story (+22.5%)
48. Gaming
    1. 1,800,000 followers (+20.0%)
    2. 196,000 stories (+14.6%)
    3. 9.2 followers per story (+4.7%)
49. Philosophy
    1. 1,700,000 followers (+54.5%)
    2. 218,000 stories (+20.4%)
    3. 7.8 followers per story (+28.3%)
50. Sports
    1. 1,700,000 followers (+30.8%)
    2. 317,000 stories (+9.7%)
    3. 5.4 followers per story (+19.2%)
51. Fiction
    1. 1,700,000 followers (+30.8%)
    2. 294,000 stories (+15.7%)
    3. 5.8 followers per story (+13.0%)
52. Space
    1. 1,600,000 followers (+23.1%)
    2. 58,000 stories (+18.4%)
    3. 27.6 followers per story (+4.0%)
53. Economics
    1. 1,500,000 followers (+25.0%)
    2. 120,000 stories (+12.1%)
    3. 12.5 followers per story (+11.5%)
54. Spirituality
    1. 1,500,000 followers (+50.0%)
    2. 248,000 stories (+21.0%)
    3. 6.0 followers per story (+24.0%)
55. Feminism
    1. 1,500,000 followers (+25.0%)
    2. 108,000 stories (+8.0%)
    3. 13.9 followers per story (+15.7%)
56. Fitness
    1. 1,500,000 followers (+50.0%)
    2. 193,000 stories (+15.6%)
    3. 7.8 followers per story (+29.8%)
57. Climate Change
    1. 1,400,000 followers (+27.3%)
    2. 135,000 stories (+8.9%)
    3. 10.4 followers per story (+16.9%)
58. Family
    1. 1,400,000 followers (+40.0%)
    2. 207,000 stories (+18.3%)
    3. 6.8 followers per story (+18.4%)
59. Apple
    1. 1,300,000 followers (+75.0%)
    2. 108,000 stories (+13.7%)
    3. 12.0 followers per story (+53.9%)
60. Android
    1. 1,300,000 followers (+77.6%)
    2. 142,000 stories (+10.9%)
    3. 9.2 followers per story (+60.1%)
61. Language
    1. 1,300,000 followers (+54.0%)
    2. 61,000 stories (+22.0%)
    3. 21.3 followers per story (+26.3%)
62. React
    1. 1,200,000 followers (+61.3%)
    2. 108,000 stories (+16.1%)
    3. 11.1 followers per story (+38.9%)
63. Innovation
    1. 1,200,000 followers (+0.0%)
    2. 170,000 stories (+10.4%)
    3. 7.1 followers per story (-9.4%)
64. Parenting
    1. 1,200,000 followers (+24.0%)
    2. 171,000 stories (+12.5%)
    3. 7.0 followers per story (+10.2%)
65. World
    1. 1,200,000 followers (+35.4%)
    2. 70,000 stories (+27.3%)
    3. 17.1 followers per story (+6.4%)
66. Freelancing
    1. 1,000,000 followers (+32.5%)
    2. 87,000 stories (+17.6%)
    3. 11.5 followers per story (+12.7%)
67. Movies
    1. 1,000,000 followers (+0.0%)
    2. 238,000 stories (+9.2%)
    3. 4.2 followers per story (-8.4%)
68. Life Lessons
    1. 1,000,000 followers (+0.0%)
    2. 751,000 stories (+8.2%)
    3. 1.3 followers per story (-7.6%)
69. Cybersecurity
    1. 1,000,000 followers (+39.9%)
    2. 199,100 stories (+43.2%)
    3. 5.0 followers per story (-2.4%)
70. Product Management
    1. 996,000 followers (+39.7%)
    2. 107,000 stories (+13.8%)
    3. 9.3 followers per story (+22.7%)
71. This Happened To Me
    1. 993,000 followers (+58.1%)
    2. 102,000 stories (+41.7%)
    3. 9.7 followers per story (+11.6%)
72. Equality
    1. 985,000 followers (+52.2%)
    2. 46,000 stories (+12.2%)
    3. 21.4 followers per story (+35.7%)
73. Bitcoin
    1. 966,000 followers (+36.4%)
    2. 1,400,000 stories (+227.1%)
    3. 0.7 followers per story (-58.3%)
74. Internet of Things
    1. 954,000 followers (+0.0%)
    2. 32,000 stories (+3.2%)
    3. 29.8 followers per story (-3.1%)
75. Venture Capital
    1. 940,000 followers (+18.8%)
    2. 88,000 stories (+7.3%)
    3. 10.7 followers per story (+10.7%)
76. True Crime
    1. 933,000 followers (+44.7%)
    2. 30,000 stories (+30.4%)
    3. 31.1 followers per story (+10.9%)
77. Religion
    1. 906,000 followers (+52.3%)
    2. 111,000 stories (+20.7%)
    3. 8.2 followers per story (+26.2%)
78. Data Engineering
    1. 771,000 followers (+68.7%)
    2. 37,000 stories (+48.0%)
    3. 20.8 followers per story (+14.0%)
79. Data Visualization
    1. 749,000 followers (+66.1%)
    2. 66,000 stories (+17.9%)
    3. 11.3 followers per story (+40.9%)
80. Privacy
    1. 744,000 followers (-0.1%)
    2. 74,000 stories (+27.6%)
    3. 10.1 followers per story (-21.7%)
81. Government
    1. 724,000 followers (+0.1%)
    2. 75,000 stories (-2.6%)
    3. 9.7 followers per story (+2.8%)
82. UX Design
    1. 709,000 followers (+62.6%)
    2. 111,000 stories (+12.1%)
    3. 6.4 followers per story (+45.0%)
83. Cooking
    1. 699,000 followers (+0.0%)
    2. 49,000 stories (+14.0%)
    3. 14.3 followers per story (-12.2%)
84. Finance
    1. 697,000 followers (+0.6%)
    2. 305,000 stories (+15.5%)
    3. 2.3 followers per story (-12.9%)
85. Nonfiction
    1. 666,000 followers (+53.5%)
    2. 52,000 stories (+26.8%)
    3. 12.8 followers per story (+21.0%)
86. Investing
    1. 656,000 followers (+0.5%)
    2. 222,000 stories (+13.8%)
    3. 3.0 followers per story (-11.8%)
87. Race
    1. 646,000 followers (+35.4%)
    2. 38,000 stories (+15.2%)
    3. 17.0 followers per story (+17.6%)
88. NFT
    1. 635,000 followers (+79.9%)
    2. 1,200,000 stories (+327.0%)
    3. 0.5 followers per story (-57.9%)
89. Short Story
    1. 618,000 followers (+0.3%)
    2. 242,000 stories (+8.5%)
    3. 2.6 followers per story (-7.6%)
90. Self-Driving Cars
    1. 598,000 followers (-0.3%)
    2. 20,000 stories (+0.0%)
    3. 29.9 followers per story (-0.3%)
91. IOS
    1. 575,000 followers (+70.1%)
    2. 88,000 stories (+10.0%)
    3. 6.5 followers per story (+54.7%)
92. Comics
    1. 570,000 followers (-0.3%)
    2. 42,000 stories (+5.0%)
    3. 13.6 followers per story (-5.1%)
93. Architecture
    1. 551,000 followers (+0.2%)
    2. 58,000 stories (+11.5%)
    3. 9.5 followers per story (-10.2%)
94. DevOps
    1. 545,000 followers (+65.7%)
    2. 100,000 stories (+23.5%)
    3. 5.5 followers per story (+34.2%)
95. Web3
    1. 526,000 followers (+62.8%)
    2. 1,000,000 stories (+517.3%)
    3. 0.5 followers per story (-73.6%)
96. Sustainability
    1. 525,000 followers (+0.2%)
    2. 95,000 stories (+13.1%)
    3. 5.5 followers per story (-11.4%)
97. Satire
    1. 519,000 followers (+0.0%)
    2. 81,000 stories (+9.5%)
    3. 6.4 followers per story (-8.6%)
98. Style
    1. 515,000 followers (-0.6%)
    2. 25,000 stories (+13.6%)
    3. 20.6 followers per story (-12.5%)
99. Love
    1. 511,000 followers (+3.4%)
    2. 662,000 stories (+16.3%)
    3. 0.8 followers per story (-11.1%)
100. AWS
     1. 509,000 followers (+69.1%)
     2. 115,000 stories (+21.1%)
     3. 4.4 followers per story (+39.7%)

Conclusion

It's clear that some topics like technology and money are heavily inflated, with a significant decrease in followers per story, and that's exactly what I experienced with their platform.

Thank you

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