Justin Bieber amasses 16 million followers on Twitter

Justin Bieber has started the New Year on a good note as he now has 16 million followers on Twitter, after his performance in Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Bieber has the second most followed account on the micro-blogging website, behind fellow New Year reveler Lady Gaga, who tops the Twitter list with 17.5 million followers.

Pop star Katy Perry is in third place with 13.4 million Twitter fans, reality TV queen Kim Kardashian comes in fourth with 12.2 million and in the fifth spot is singer Britney Spears with 12.1 million followers.

"NEVER SAY NEVER!! ... thank you and all 16 MILLION BELIEBERS! LOVE U!" the Daily Telegraph quoted the pop star as tweeting.

Scores of Bieber's adoring fans, known as 'Beliebers', passed on their congrats and '16millionbeliebers' soon became a top trending item on Twitter.