How did Stephen Colbert's ratings compare to Jimmy Fallon's in 2024?

1. What claimants said — extracting the headline assertions that matter

The assembled analyses make two closely related claims: first, that Colbert was the highest-rated 11:35 pm host in 2024, averaging roughly 2.57 million viewers for the year; second, that Fallon trailed substantially, averaging about 1.32–1.37 million viewers across the same period ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Supporting items cite Q1 and Q4 2024 final ratings that place Colbert in the lead for each quarter, with Fallon consistently below both Colbert and, at times, Jimmy Kimmel in total viewers. These are presented as final, aggregated metrics rather than isolated weeks ^{[2] [3]}.

2. Cross-source evidence that backs Colbert’s 2024 advantage

Independent summaries and quarterly reports converge on the same pattern: final-year and quarter-by-quarter tabulations list Colbert around the mid-2-million mark and Fallon roughly at the low-1.3-million mark, with Q1 and Q4 2024 specifically cited ^{[2] [3]}. One compilation explicitly lists a 2024 average of 2.57 million for Colbert versus 1.37 million for Fallon, a difference large enough to be meaningful in late-night ratings terms. The agreement across multiple final-rating reports strengthens the claim that Colbert led Fallon in 2024 by a clear margin ^[1].

3. Contrasting snapshots and later data that nuance the headline

Week-level and quarterly snapshots from 2025 show variability that complicates a single-year narrative. For example, specific weeks in mid-2025 show Colbert dramatically ahead of Fallon (a July 2025 week where Colbert posted 3.016 million vs Fallon's 1.33 million), and Q2 2025 totals again put Colbert first with 2.42 million total viewers ^{[6] [4]}. These later figures confirm the persistence of Colbert’s lead in totals but also highlight week-to-week volatility and the possibility that particular weeks or guest lineups can produce outsize swings ^{[6] [5]}.

4. What the demographic picture and timeslot nuance reveal

Total-viewer supremacy does not automatically translate into dominance in advertiser-coveted demographics. Q2 2025 data show that while Colbert led in total viewers, Jimmy Kimmel edged him in the 18–49 demo by a hair (220,000 vs 219,000), underscoring an important caveat when comparing hosts for commercial impact ^[4]. Sources reporting on April 2024 give Colbert a strong total-viewer number with lower explicit P18-49 detail for competitors, which leaves demographic comparisons for 2024 less fully documented in the provided material ^[7].

5. Reconciling differences and spotting likely editorial agendas

The provided sources are consistent on the broad outcome but vary in emphasis: some are year-end compendia stressing winners/losers ^[1], while others highlight short-term swings and host comparisons tied to salary or cancellation narratives ^{[4] [6]}. Those framing pieces often use selective weeks or quarters to make a point—watch for pieces using single-week spikes or quarter-over-quarter changes to imply longer-term trends. The convergence of multiple final-rating reports, however, suggests the yearlong conclusion that Colbert led Fallon in 2024 is robust ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

6. Bottom line — what the data legitimately support and what remains uncertain

The data provided unequivocally support that Stephen Colbert averaged about 2.57 million viewers in 2024 while Jimmy Fallon averaged roughly 1.32–1.37 million, meaning Colbert outpaced Fallon in total viewers that year. Later 2025 snapshots reiterate Colbert’s lead in total audience but show demographic and week-to-week nuances that matter to advertisers and network executives ^{[1] [2] [3] [6] [4]}. Remaining uncertainties include precise 18–49 splits for all 2024 quarters in the supplied extracts and the influence of special events or guest lineups on short-term spikes, which would require the full Nielsen breakdowns for complete resolution ^[7].