WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion active users sending over 100 billion messages per day. But how did WhatsApp get to where it is today and what can we expect for the app in 2024? Here‘s a comprehensive look at the latest WhatsApp statistics and facts.
Contents
- Key WhatsApp Statistics
- Detailed WhatsApp User Statistics
- WhatsApp Business Usage Statistics
- WhatsApp Company History & Stats
- 9. WhatsApp was Founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum
- 10. WhatsApp Hit 1 Million Active Users by 2010
- 11. WhatsApp was Valued at $1.5 Billion in Late 2013
- 12. Facebook Acquired WhatsApp for $19 Billion in 2014
- 13. User Base Reaches 1 Billion Monthly Active Users in 2016
- 14. WhatsApp Hit 1.5 Billion Users in 2018
- WhatsApp Usage Statistics By Country
- 15. Almost 500 Million WhatsApp Users Are in India
- 16. 325 Million WhatsApp Users Are in Indonesia
- 17. 52 Million Weekly WhatsApp Users in the United States
- 18. Over 30 Million WhatsApp Users in the UK
- 19. 67 Million Monthly Active WhatsApp Users in Germany
- 20. WhatsApp is Restricted in China, North Korea & Iran
- WhatsApp Demographic Stats
- What‘s Next for WhatsApp?
- Sources
Key WhatsApp Statistics
- There are over 2 billion monthly active WhatsApp users worldwide as of 2024.
- WhatsApp is the #1 messaging app worldwide with a 65% market share.
- Over 100 billion messages are sent daily on WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp has over 50 million business users.
- 23% of US adults use WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp is restricted or banned in 6 countries.
- Almost 500 million WhatsApp users are in India.
Detailed WhatsApp User Statistics
WhatsApp has seen tremendous growth since its launch in 2009. Here are some of the key stats on WhatsApp‘s global user base.
1. There Are Over 2 Billion Monthly Active WhatsApp Users
As of 2024, WhatsApp has over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide. This is a huge increase from 900 million users in 2018 and 1.5 billion users in 2019. WhatsApp continues to be the most popular global messaging app as its active user base keeps expanding each year.
The growth can be attributed to WhatsApp‘s ease of use, reliability, group chat features, voice and video calling, and popularity across both Android and iOS devices. Emerging markets like India and Brazil have also been key to growth.
With over 2 billion active users, WhatsApp commands a 65% market share of the global messaging app market according to Statista. The next most popular messaging apps are Facebook Messenger at 15%, WeChat at 10% and Instagram messaging at 5%.
WhatsApp‘s broad adoption across age groups and regions cements its position as the top messaging app worldwide. Competitors have struggled to match WhatsApp‘s reach in crucial markets like India, Brazil, Russia and large parts of Europe.
3. WhatsApp Usage Surged 40% Due to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in WhatsApp usage as people relied on the app to stay connected while social distancing. According to Facebook, WhatsApp usage was up over 40% in many of the most impacted countries.
Voice and video calling on WhatsApp more than doubled during the pandemic as people used the app to communicate. WhatsApp became a lifeline for many families and friends separated by lockdowns and quarantines. Usage continues to remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels.
4. 100 Billion Messages Are Sent Daily on WhatsApp
WhatsApp users send an astounding 100 billion messages each day and 1.6 billion photos. For perspective, that‘s 41 million messages sent per minute.
The messaging volume reflects how integral WhatsApp is to daily communications around the world. WhatsApp is where people share life updates, make plans, coordinate on work projects and stay entertained through messages and group chats. Businesses also rely on WhatsApp to communicate with customers.
5. WhatsApp Supports 60 Languages
A key part of WhatsApp‘s global popularity is its support for 60 languages, making the app accessible to billions of people. Major languages supported include Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Indonesian, French, German and many more.
Support for native languages enables WhatsApp to be the primary messaging app in countries like India, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Germany. Combined with automatic translation in the app, WhatsApp manages to bridge communication gaps worldwide.
WhatsApp Business Usage Statistics
In addition to consumers, over 50 million businesses use WhatsApp to communicate with customers. Here are some key WhatsApp business stats.
6. Over 50 Million Businesses Use WhatsApp
WhatsApp launched a separate WhatsApp Business app and WhatsApp Business API in 2018 to enable businesses to communicate with customers on WhatsApp. There are now over 50 million WhatsApp Business app users according to Facebook.
The WhatsApp Business app lets businesses manage communications by enabling automated quick replies, away messages, business profiles, and messaging analytics. The WhatsApp Business API allows larger companies to connect WhatsApp to their existing CRM and support systems.
7. 8 Million Business Catalogs Are on WhatsApp
A popular WhatsApp Business feature is the business catalog, which is used by over 8 million businesses. Business catalogs on WhatsApp allow customers to browse products and services offered by a business. Customers can also use the catalog to quickly place orders.
The catalog feature has proven especially popular for small businesses in emerging markets to highlight their product inventory using photos, descriptions and prices. Customers appreciate the convenience of browsing and ordering right inside WhatsApp.
8. WhatsApp is Testing In-App Purchases in Some Markets
WhatsApp has been testing payments and in-app purchases in its biggest market, India. The WhatsApp Payments feature allows Indian users to send and receive money using India‘s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) standard.
Expanding payments could open up ecommerce opportunities for WhatsApp, especially in emerging markets where its user base lacks credit cards and bank accounts. Enabling in-app transactions could position WhatsApp as a platform for small businesses to sell products directly to customers.
WhatsApp Company History & Stats
WhatsApp has grown rapidly since it was founded in 2009. Here are some key milestones in WhatsApp‘s company history.
9. WhatsApp was Founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum
WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by former Yahoo employees Brian Acton and Jan Koum. The app was initially launched for iOS in November 2009, before expanding to Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry.
The founders came up with the name WhatsApp by combining "What‘s up?" and "app". The inuitive UI and always-on connectivity helped WhatsApp stand out from SMS and surpass early messaging rivals.
10. WhatsApp Hit 1 Million Active Users by 2010
Within the first year of launch, WhatsApp gained traction to reach 1 million active users by December 2010. The user base expanded rapidly as WhatsApp built momentum on iPhone before capturing Android market share.
Positive word of mouth and a lack of advertising expenses allowed WhatsApp to focus on enhancing the product through additions like photo sharing, group chat and voice messages.
11. WhatsApp was Valued at $1.5 Billion in Late 2013
On the heels of crossing 300 million active users, Sequoia Capital led a $50 million round in WhatsApp in February 2013 that valued the company at $1.5 billion. Sequoia acquired an approximate 15% stake in the company.
The investment proved prescient as WhatsApp‘s growth was accelerating quickly. The founders also expressed a commitment to remain independent to realize their vision for the company.
12. Facebook Acquired WhatsApp for $19 Billion in 2014
In February 2014, Facebook announced it was acquiring WhatsApp for approximately $19 billion – $4 billion in cash plus over $12 billion in Facebook shares.
It was Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg‘s largest acquisition to date, dwarfing the $1 billion paid for Instagram. The deal valued WhatsApp at $42 per user. Facebook was drawn to WhatsApp for its massive user base and engagement.
13. User Base Reaches 1 Billion Monthly Active Users in 2016
In February 2016, WhatsApp announced it had exceeded 1 billion monthly active users – up from 900 million users at the time of the Facebook acquisition in 2014.
The growth to 1 billion users affirmed WhatsApp‘s popularity across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. WhatsApp was adding more than 100 million new users every year in the lead up to reaching this milestone.
14. WhatsApp Hit 1.5 Billion Users in 2018
WhatsApp hit another major milestone in 2018, announcing 1.5 billion monthly users in January 2018. Added features like video calling and WhatsApp Status helped drive increased engagement.
Growth remained especially strong in India, which has become WhatsApp‘s biggest market with over 400 million users. WhatsApp‘s unrivaled popularity turned India into a primarily mobile messaging-first country.
WhatsApp Usage Statistics By Country
WhatsApp usage varies widely across different countries and demographics. Here‘s a breakdown of WhatsApp usage stats by country.
15. Almost 500 Million WhatsApp Users Are in India
India is WhatsApp‘s largest market with close to 500 million users. WhatsApp has over 85% market penetration across India‘s smartphone user base. It‘s the primary messaging app across all demographics thanks to support for over a dozen Indian languages.
WhatsApp is crucial for communications in India. Small businesses heavily utilize WhatsApp for lead generation and sales. The Indian government also runs public health and education campaigns over WhatsApp.
16. 325 Million WhatsApp Users Are in Indonesia
Indonesia has the second most number of WhatsApp users globally with close to 325 million users. WhatsApp dominates the messaging market in Indonesia with a 97% penetration of smartphone owners.
Indonesians spend nearly 3 hours a day on WhatsApp chatting to family, friends and businesses. Messaging happens through chats, groups, and the WhatsApp Status feature. Many Indonesians also use the app to get news updates.
17. 52 Million Weekly WhatsApp Users in the United States
WhatsApp has gained steady popularity in the United States, especially following Facebook‘s acquisition in 2014. Around 52 million Americans use WhatsApp on a weekly basis.
Adoption is particularly high among Hispanic Americans with 56% using the app. Around 42% of Black Americans also use WhatsApp weekly. But overall WhatsApp engagement in the US still trails leading apps like Facebook Messenger and iMessage.
18. Over 30 Million WhatsApp Users in the UK
WhatsApp is the leading messaging app in the UK with an estimated user base over 30 million. Based on Ofcom data, 90% of UK smartphone owners regularly use WhatsApp, edging out the popularity of Facebook‘s apps in the country.
WhatsApp is popular across all age groups in the UK. Most people use it daily to chat to friends and family as well as in group chats. It‘s common for small businesses to engage customers on WhatsApp.
19. 67 Million Monthly Active WhatsApp Users in Germany
Germany has over 67 million active WhatsApp users monthly, making it the most popular messaging app in the country. WhatsApp is installed on 95% of German smartphones.
Usage is higher among younger demographics in Germany. However, WhatsApp still maintains high engagement across age groups relative to other messaging apps in the country. Germans rely on it daily to stay in touch with contacts.
20. WhatsApp is Restricted in China, North Korea & Iran
WhatsApp is blocked or restricted for use in China, North Korea and Iran among other countries. The restrictions are due to government policies on VPNs and encryption. Residents in these countries cannot directly download WhatsApp.
However, tech-savvy users in some restricted countries still manage to use WhatsApp with VPN workarounds that bypass network blocks. There are an estimated tens of millions of Chinese WhatsApp users routing connections via VPNs.
WhatsApp Demographic Stats
Here‘s a breakdown of WhatsApp usage by age, gender and other demographic factors.
21. Most Popular Among Those Aged 18 to 29
Based on surveys, WhatsApp is most popular among younger demographics, especially those aged 18 to 29. This group uses WhatsApp to stay connected with friends, dating interests, and peers.
Messaging apps like WhatsApp are less preferred among older users. But WhatsApp still maintains high overall usage across ages relative to other social and messaging apps.
22. More Popular with Women Than Men
Studies of various countries show WhatsApp enjoys marginally higher usage among women. In the UK for example, 93% of female smartphone users use WhatsApp compared to 86% for males.
The gender gap is not huge but highlights that instant messaging is integral to how women keep in touch with personal networks across age groups.
23. Most Popular Among Affluent Urban Users
WhatsApp over-indexes in popularity with affluent, college educated users in urban areas, especially in emerging markets. These users rely heavily on WhatsApp for daily communication and tend to use more of the app‘s features.
By contrast, lower income users with more basic smartphones have lower WhatsApp usage on average. But users across income segments continue to embrace WhatsApp in most countries.
What‘s Next for WhatsApp?
As WhatsApp rolls into its second decade, what does the future hold in store for the messaging leader?
Expanding Business Offerings
Look for WhatsApp to expand features that help businesses connect with customers. WhatsApp is already testing payments and in-app shopping experiences in markets like India and Indonesia where it has enormous reach.
Integrating commerce and enabling businesses to leverage WhatsApp‘s over 2 billion users could unlock major new revenue streams beyond the current $1 charge for some business accounts.
Local Market Expansion
WhatsApp will continue growing engagement in crucial markets like India, Brazil and Indonesia where the app has become integral for daily communications. There are hundreds of millions of feature phone users that will upgrade to WhatsApp-enabled smartphones in these regions over the coming years.
Localizing experiences by integrating top regional apps into WhatsApp via official partnerships could further boost relevance and dominance. Tactics could include integrations with popular apps like PayTM, Gojek, PayPal, and MercadoLibre.
Video Chat Innovation
WhatsApp launched video calling back in 2016 but lags behind apps like FaceTime and Google Meet in call quality and group video features.
With users embracing video calling during the pandemic, enhancing the WhatsApp video experience with better codecs, quality and group support will help the platform compete as video becomes permanent. Shared video could also enhance engagement with Status posts.
Leveraging AI
As AI becomes more advanced, WhatsApp has an opportunity to bake in features that boost convenience and utility. For example, using natural language processing to enable smarter auto-replies for businesses.
AI could also power faster translations within chats and enable text expansions to save typing. Providing AI photo enhancements and effects could make the experience more fun and engaging for users.
Dark Mode Arrives
WhatsApp rolled out its long-awaited dark mode in 2020. Look for dark mode to become more refined and allow greater customization in the future.
Dark mode cuts glare and may help save battery life on mobile. Expanding dark mode support to WhatsApp desktop and web will deliver a more cohesive experience across platforms.
The messaging landscape will continue evolving but WhatsApp‘s user base and product velocity should keep it on top. With over 2 billion people relying on WhatsApp daily, the app looks poised to maintain its position as the global communication hub.
