Instagram insights for follower growth: which numbers to watch
In short: watch three numbers: net new followers each week, follows per post, and how many non-followers engaged. Together they show whether you are reaching new people and convincing them to stay.
Where to find insights
With a professional account, open your profile and tap Insights in the professional dashboard. Instagram shows total follower insights, such as growth and where followers are, once an account has at least 100 followers.
The numbers that matter
| Number | What it tells you | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Net new followers per week | Followers gained minus unfollows | Your real pace toward 1,000 |
| Follows per post | How many people followed after that post | Divide by accounts reached × 1,000 to compare posts fairly |
| Accounts engaged: followers vs non-followers | Who interacted | A rising share of non-followers means you are reaching new people |
| Saves and shares | How useful or worth passing on a post was | Explore weighs these, so make more of what gets saved |
Formulas
- Follower growth rate = net new followers in the period ÷ followers at the start × 100.
- Follows per 1,000 reached = follows from a post ÷ accounts reached × 1,000.
Worked example: you start the month with 400 followers and end with 460, so the growth rate is 60 ÷ 400 × 100 = 15%. A Reel that reached 2,400 accounts and brought 12 follows scores 5 per 1,000; a photo that reached 600 and brought 6 scores 10 per 1,000, so the photo convinced more of the people who saw it.
Sources
- Instagram Help: About Instagram insights
- Instagram Help: See insights for your Instagram account
- Instagram Help: About professional accounts
Checked November 15, 2026. Instagram changes how it ranks content over time, so treat older posts as a guide, not a rule.