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Facebook Ads CTR Benchmarks for Media in South Africa

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CTR (Click Through Rate) for Media in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads click-through-rate benchmarks: Media in South Africa vs global

This analysis looks at click-through-rate trends for industry Media and target country South Africa compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Key takeaways

  • On average, South Africa’s Media click-through-rate (CTR) is slightly above market: 1.98% vs the global 1.81% (+0.17 pp, +9% relative).
  • Performance is highly volatile locally, with large spikes and dips; the global trend is steady and rising into late Q3.
  • Notable seasonal patterns in South Africa include a December and February lift and a pronounced July peak; May shows the lowest engagement.
  • Across the period, South Africa ends 9.6% lower than it started, while the global baseline rises 20.1%.

What’s in the data

  • Metric: click-through-rate (CTR), monthly medians.
  • Selected scope: Media industry in South Africa.
  • Baseline: global benchmark across all industries/countries.

South Africa, Media: trend highlights

  • Average CTR: 1.98% across 11 observed months.
  • High: 7.32% in Jul 2025.
  • Low: 0.10% in May 2025.
  • Median month: 1.03%, indicating typical months sit closer to 1% rather than the multi-point spikes.
  • Volatility: average month-to-month swing of 2.93 percentage points, driven by:
  • Spikes: Dec 2024 (3.97%), Feb 2025 (4.51%), and a peak in Jul 2025 (7.32%).
  • Dips: Mar 2025 (0.22%) and especially May 2025 (0.10%).
  • First-to-last change: from 0.81% (Oct 2024) to 0.73% (Sep 2025), a 9.6% decline.

Global baseline: context

  • Average CTR: 1.81% (Oct 2024–Sep 2025).
  • High: 2.12% in Sep 2025; Low: 1.67% in Feb 2025.
  • Volatility: very stable, with an average monthly change of just 0.05 pp.
  • First-to-last change: +20.1% (1.76% to 2.12%), showing a steady climb through Q2–Q3.

Comparative view

  • Relative positioning:
  • Above market on average (+9%), but that average is skewed by a few outsized months.
  • In most months, South Africa is below the global median (8 of 11 months).
  • Notable divergences:
  • Jul 2025: 7.32% in South Africa vs 1.90% globally (~3.8x the global median).
  • May 2025: 0.10% in South Africa vs 1.79% globally (~95% below the global median).
  • Seasonality:
  • South Africa shows a Q4 holiday lift (December) and another lift in February, followed by a mid-year surge in July.
  • The global CTR trend is more gradual, easing slightly in early Q1 and rising steadily into late Q3, peaking in September.

Understanding click-through-rate benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media and South Africa helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Click-Through Rate (CTR) is the percentage of impressions that resulted in a click on the Facebook ad. In the Media industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting South Africa, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. Why we use median instead of average We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

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The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

South Africa Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 21Human Rights Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Family Day
Apr 27Freedom Day
May 1Workers' Day
Jun 16Youth Day
Aug 9National Women's Day
Sep 24Heritage Day
Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Day of Goodwill

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas & Day of Goodwill), Mid-year retail (June Youth Day promotions)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during long weekends like Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and Heritage Day as leisure and travel-related media consumption increases. Retail CPMs may spike in late November–December for holiday shopping. Youth Day and National Women's Day might drive regional campaigns. Weekend extensions across public holidays may benefit weekend campaigns.

What is CTR and why does it matter for Facebook ads?

CTR (Click-Through Rate) is the percentage of people who click your ad after seeing it. It's calculated by dividing total clicks by total impressions, then multiplying by 100. A high CTR indicates your ad resonates with your audience and helps improve your relevance score, which can lower your overall costs.

What's the average CTR for Facebook ads in 2025?

The average Facebook ad CTR across industries sits around 0.90-1.10%. But there's significant variation. Your specific industry, audience targeting, and campaign objectives should determine your benchmark.

Why is my Facebook ad CTR consistently low?

Low CTR usually stems from poor audience targeting, weak creative, or a disconnect between your ad content and audience needs. Your ad might simply not be standingo out enough. Check if your visuals grab attention, your copy addresses clear pain points, and your audience targeting aligns with people genuinely interested in your offer.

Is CTR still a reliable metric for ad performance in 2025?

Yes—but only in context. High CTR is a signal that your creative works, but it doesn't guarantee conversions. Use it alongside other metrics like conversion rate to get the full picture.