The BBC has added a further 20 million adults to its global audience in the past year, taking its average weekly global audience to over 489 million.
This includes audiences for World Service languages, World Service English, World News TV, BBC.com and BBC Media Action.
The corporation said it is now on track to reach half a billion adults by the time it celebrates its centenary in 2022.
The figures, from the Global Audience Measure (GAM), reveal the BBC’s audience has more than doubled in the past decade.
India is at the top of the countries where the BBC’s News reaches its biggest audience, with 65 million adults, followed by the United States at 48 million and Nigeria at 34 million.
Tim Davie, BBC director general, said: “I am delighted that the BBC now informs, educates and entertains more people around the world than ever before. Our global reach continues to grow and we are well on target to hit half a billion people by our centenary next year.
“The fact that our audience has more than doubled in the last decade shows how trusted and increasingly valued BBC services are right around the world. It also highlights the important role we play for Britain on the global stage in carrying the UK’s voice, democratic values and influence.”
