The maximum number of friends a personal Facebook profile can have is capped at 5,000. Once this threshold is reached, the user cannot add any more friends unless existing connections are removed. This limit applies solely to friend connections on personal profiles; it does not affect the number of followers a profile can accumulate, nor does it apply to Facebook Pages.
This constraint plays a significant role in how users manage their online social network. It encourages selectivity in friend requests, potentially leading to a more meaningful and engaged network. Historically, this restriction was implemented to manage server load and maintain platform stability, preventing profiles from becoming excessively large and resource-intensive.