During the first half of 2024, WhatsApp social in-app feature Channels had almost 40 million monthly active receivers, or users, in the European Union. This represents an increase from the second half of 2023, when the feature saw 31 million users. WhatsApp Channels was launched globally on September 2023.

Introduction

WhatsApp Statistics: WhatsApp is an integral part of our daily lives, connecting us with friends, family, and businesses. The app boasts billions of users and offers features such as text, voice, and video messaging, as well as voice and video calling. Additionally, users can share various forms of content including images, documents, and user locations.

This report contains current trends and analyses from various insights. It aims to provide statistical analyses to effectively guide you. Let's explore some intriguing statistics to understand the widespread use of WhatsApp.

In 2020, more companies than in the previous year added messaging channels to their customer service in an effort to maintain the communication channels open after the coronavirus global outbreak. During this time, social messaging channels became one of the favorite communication outlets for customers and companies alike. In 2020, 62 percent more companies compared to the previous year used WhatsApp for their customer service communication, while companies using Facebook Messenger increased by 51 percent.

In 2020, social messaging became increasingly popular among customers to reach a business, with 110 percent more customers compared to 2019 reportedly using channels like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger for this purpose. SMS and texting experienced a 75 percent year-over-year increase in popularity among customers, while in-app messaging was used by 36 percent more of customers in need to contact a business in the examined period.

The global encrypted messaging apps market, valued at $357 million in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is fueled by several key factors. Increasing concerns about data privacy and security in the digital age are leading consumers and businesses to adopt end-to-end encrypted communication platforms. The rise of remote work and collaboration tools further accelerates this demand, as organizations prioritize secure communication channels for sensitive information. The proliferation of smartphones and readily available high-speed internet access also contributes significantly to market growth, making encrypted messaging apps easily accessible globally. Furthermore, the continuous evolution of encryption technologies and the incorporation of new features, such as self-destructing messages and enhanced security protocols, are attracting a broader user base. Competition among established players like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, alongside the emergence of niche players focusing on specific security needs, fuels innovation and further enhances market dynamism. Segment-wise, the enterprise application segment is expected to demonstrate faster growth compared to the individual segment, driven by the increasing adoption of secure communication solutions within corporate environments. While Android currently holds a larger market share than iOS due to its wider global reach, both platforms are experiencing parallel growth, reflecting the ubiquitous nature of smartphones. Geographically, North America and Europe currently represent significant market shares, owing to high internet penetration and strong awareness of data security issues. However, rapid growth is anticipated in regions like Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa, fueled by increasing smartphone adoption and rising digital literacy. Regulatory changes promoting data privacy and stringent security standards in various regions further bolster the market's growth trajectory. Despite the challenges associated with maintaining the balance between user-friendliness and robust security, the market is poised for substantial expansion in the coming years.

The global text message marketing system market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing adoption of mobile devices and the need for businesses to engage with customers in real-time. While precise market size data for 2025 is not provided, considering the typical market size for similar technologies and a plausible CAGR (let's assume a conservative 15% CAGR based on industry trends), we can estimate the 2025 market size to be around $5 billion. This represents a significant increase from the past few years, fueled by advancements in SMS technology, improved analytics capabilities, and the rising popularity of omnichannel marketing strategies. Key drivers include the high open rates of SMS messages compared to email, the cost-effectiveness of SMS campaigns, and the ability to target specific demographics through precise segmentation. Emerging trends like conversational SMS, AI-powered chatbots integrated with SMS platforms, and the increasing use of SMS for customer support and two-way communication further propel market growth. However, challenges remain. Data privacy concerns and regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, require businesses to implement stringent data protection measures. Furthermore, the increasing saturation of the SMS market and the rise of alternative communication channels, such as WhatsApp and other messaging apps, present competitive pressures. Despite these restraints, the text message marketing system market is expected to continue its upward trajectory. This growth will be fueled by the continuous innovation within the technology, the expanding application of SMS for marketing beyond simple promotional messages, and the ever-increasing reliance on mobile devices globally. The forecast period (2025-2033) promises further expansion, with the market poised for substantial growth driven by these factors. Our projections suggest a considerable expansion of the market in the coming years, indicating a strong potential for investment and innovation.

As of March 2025, WhatsApp had three billion monthly active users, up from over 2 billion MAU in March 2020. The service is one of the most popular mobile messaging apps worldwide and was acquired by social network Facebook for 19 billion U.S. dollars in February 2014. WhatsAppWhatsApp is a cross-platform instant messaging service for smartphones that relies on the internet for the transmission of messages. Based on a low-cost subscription model, WhatsApp is a cheap alternative to carrier-billed text messaging via SMS, especially for international or group messaging. The mobile messaging app enables users to share text, image and video messages. In the United States, the WhatsApp audience amounted to 68.1 million users in 2019 and is set to grow to 85.8 million users in 2023. WhatsApp is especially popular in markets outside the United States while facing strong competition from Asia-based social messenger apps such as WeChat, LINE or Kakaotalk. WhatsApp’s popularity in emerging mobile markets is not only based on their low-cost business model but on many of its features.

The global texting software market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing adoption of smartphones, the rising need for efficient business communication, and the expanding use of SMS for marketing and customer engagement. The market size in 2025 is estimated at $15 billion, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is fueled by several key trends, including the integration of texting software with CRM systems for improved customer relationship management, the increasing demand for secure and reliable messaging solutions, particularly in enterprise settings, and the development of sophisticated features like automated messaging and analytics dashboards. The cloud-based segment is expected to dominate the market due to its scalability, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility. While on-premises solutions still hold a share, especially among businesses with stringent data security requirements, the cloud's flexibility is driving a significant shift. The enterprise application segment is showing particularly strong growth due to its utility in streamlining workflows, enhancing customer service, and driving sales conversions. However, regulatory hurdles regarding data privacy and security, as well as concerns surrounding the potential for misuse (e.g., spam messaging), present challenges to market expansion. Competition is intense, with established players like Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook competing with specialized providers offering tailored solutions for businesses. The market's regional distribution is geographically diverse, with North America and Europe currently leading, although rapid growth is anticipated in the Asia-Pacific region due to increasing smartphone penetration and digitalization. The forecast period (2025-2033) indicates sustained growth, with the market size projected to exceed $45 billion by 2033. This expansion will be influenced by ongoing technological advancements, such as the rise of AI-powered chatbots integrated with texting platforms, the increasing adoption of omnichannel communication strategies that incorporate SMS alongside other channels, and the expansion of the market into new sectors, including healthcare and education. Challenges remain, including the need for continuous innovation to stay ahead of evolving consumer preferences and technological disruptions, the imperative for ensuring robust data security and privacy measures, and the ongoing need to address potential misuse of texting technology for malicious purposes. The continued focus on enhancing user experience, integrating advanced features, and providing tailored solutions for diverse industry verticals will be crucial to the sustained growth of the texting software market.

As of the latest reported period, WhatsApp had more than half a billion daily active Status users worldwide, up from 450 million global DAU in the second quarter of 2018. WhatsApp Status is similar to the Stories feature of other social apps such as Snapchat and Instagram, allowing users to share photos, videos and text that disappear after 24 hours. WhatsApp usage in the United States With over 1.5 billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is the most popular mobile messenger app worldwide. As of 2019, the chat app had an estimated 68 million users in the United States, with forecasts projecting an audience size of almost 86 million users in 2023. Despite a sizable app audience, WhatsApp still lags behind competitors Facebook Messenger and Snapchat in terms of U.S. mobile reach and brand awareness. However, according to recent industry data, user engagement with WhatsApp grew 44 percent year-over-year, putting it ahead of other social networks including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. WhatsApp and Facebook In February 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for a then unheard-of figure for such a purchase – 19 billion U.S. dollars. The mobile messenger is one of Facebook’s four billion-user properties, along with the core Facebook platform, Facebook Messenger and Instagram. During the first quarter of 2019, Facebook stated that 2.7 billion people were using at least one of the company's core products (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram or Messenger) each month.

According to a survey on the usage of WhatsApp across India in 2018, almost half of the respondents aged between 18 and 25 years were active WhatsApp users. The share of active users of the app declined with an increase in the age group.

The number of WhatsApp users in Mexico was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 8.1 million users (+8.84 percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the WhatsApp user base is estimated to reach 99.71 million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of WhatsApp users of was continuously increasing over the past years.User figures, shown here regarding the platform whatsapp, have been estimated by taking into account company filings or press material, secondary research, app downloads and traffic data. They refer to the average monthly active users over the period.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of WhatsApp users in countries like United States and Canada.

According to a survey of smartphone users in ten global markets conducted between December 2020 and January 2021, approximately three in ten Android users reported receiving business messages via WhatsApp. By comparison, the share iOS users indicating they received business messages from companies via mobile on WhatsApp were 13 percent of the total. The Japanese communication platform Line saw 13 percent of iOS responders indicating it as their most common business mobile messaging channel used to receive messages from companies.

Market leader Facebook was the first social network to surpass one billion registered accounts and currently sits at more than three billion monthly active users. Meta Platforms owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with more than one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. In the third quarter of 2023, Facebook reported around four billion monthly core Family product users. The United States and China account for the most high-profile social platforms Most top ranked social networks with more than 100 million users originated in the United States, but services like Chinese social networks WeChat, QQ or video sharing app Douyin have also garnered mainstream appeal in their respective regions due to local context and content. Douyin’s popularity has led to the platform releasing an international version of its network: a little app called TikTok. How many people use social media? The leading social networks are usually available in multiple languages and enable users to connect with friends or people across geographical, political, or economic borders. In 2025, social networking sites are estimated to reach 5.42 billion users and these figures are still expected to grow as mobile device usage and mobile social networks increasingly gain traction in previously underserved markets.

As of August 2020, approximately 41 percent of small and medium-sized businesses that used WhatsApp as a sales channel in Brazil belonged to the clothing and accessories category. Meanwhile, around 29 percent of the small and medium-sized enterprises were using Facebook, Inc.'s instant messaging mobile app to sell furniture. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of Whatsapp users in Brazil had an estimated growth of 13 percent.

Meta's family of apps continues to dominate the global social media landscape, with 3.43 billion daily active users across its core products in the first quarter of 2025. This represents a slight increase from the previous quarter and underscores the company's enduring influence in connecting people worldwide. Instagram's global reach and demographics Among Meta's portfolio, Instagram stands out with its impressive user base in key markets. India leads with 362 million users, followed by the United States with 169 million and Brazil with 134 million. Messenger and WhatsApp usage trends Meta's messaging apps continue to see robust engagement. Facebook Messenger averaged 394 million daily active users on Android devices between October 2023 and October 2024, with iOS users adding another 175 million on average. Meanwhile, WhatsApp has solidified its position as the leading communication channel for global smartphone users, reaching an estimated three billion unique active users worldwide in June 2024.

Instagram’s most popular post

              As of April 2024, the most popular post on Instagram was Lionel Messi and his teammates after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, posted by the account @leomessi. Messi's post, which racked up over 61 million likes within a day, knocked off the reigning post, which was 'Photo of an Egg'. Originally posted in January 2021, 'Photo of an Egg' surpassed the world’s most popular Instagram post at that time, which was a photo by Kylie Jenner’s daughter totaling 18 million likes.
              After several cryptic posts published by the account, World Record Egg revealed itself to be a part of a mental health campaign aimed at the pressures of social media use.

              Instagram’s most popular accounts

              As of April 2024, the official Instagram account @instagram had the most followers of any account on the platform, with 672 million followers. Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) was the most followed individual with 628 million followers, while Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) was the most followed woman on the platform with 429 million. Additionally, Inter Miami CF striker Lionel Messi (@leomessi) had a total of 502 million. Celebrities such as The Rock, Kylie Jenner, and Ariana Grande all had over 380 million followers each.

              Instagram influencers

              In the United States, the leading content category of Instagram influencers was lifestyle, with 15.25 percent of influencers creating lifestyle content in 2021. Music ranked in second place with 10.96 percent, followed by family with 8.24 percent. Having a large audience can be very lucrative: Instagram influencers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom with over 90,000 followers made around 1,221 US dollars per post.

              Instagram around the globe

              Instagram’s worldwide popularity continues to grow, and India is the leading country in terms of number of users, with over 362.9 million users as of January 2024. The United States had 169.65 million Instagram users and Brazil had 134.6 million users. The social media platform was also very popular in Indonesia and Turkey, with 100.9 and 57.1, respectively. As of January 2024, Instagram was the fourth most popular social network in the world, behind Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.

As of January 2025, ** percent of social media users in the United States aged 40 to 49 years were users of Facebook, as were ** percent of ** to ** year olds in the country. Overall, ** percent of those aged 18 to 29 years were using Instagram in the U.S. The social media market in the United States The number of social media users in the United States has shown continuous growth in the past years, and it is forecast to continue increasing to reach *** million users in 2029. As of 2023, the social network user penetration in the United States amounted to an impressive ***** percent, meaning that more than nine in ten people in the country engaged with online platforms. Furthermore, Facebook was by far the most popular social media platform in the United States, accounting for ** percent of all social media visits in 2023, followed by Pinterest with **** percent of visits. The global social media landscape As of April 2024, **** billion people were social media users, accounting for **** percent of the world’s population. Northern Europe was the region with the highest social media penetration rate with a reach of **** percent, followed by Western Europe with **** percent and Eastern Asia **** percent. In contrast, less than one in ten people in Middle Africa used social networks. Facebook’s popularity is not limited to the United States: this network leads the market on a global scale, and it accumulated more than three billion monthly active users (MAU) as of 2024, which is far more any other social media platform. YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp followed, all with *** billion or more MAU.

In 2021, WhatsApp's user base in India amounts to approximately 493.31 million users. The number of WhatsApp users in India is projected to reach 795.67 million users by 2025. User figures have been estimated by taking into account company filings or press material, secondary research, app downloads and traffic data. They refer to the average monthly active users over the period.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

The number of WhatsApp users in South Africa was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 3.6 million users (+19.63 percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the WhatsApp user base is estimated to reach 21.92 million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of WhatsApp users of was continuously increasing over the past years.User figures, shown here regarding the platform whatsapp, have been estimated by taking into account company filings or press material, secondary research, app downloads and traffic data. They refer to the average monthly active users over the period.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

In 2023, the Netherlands counted over 13.3 million WhatsApp users, an increase of approximately 6.4 percent compared to the previous year. In recent years, the number of WhatsApp users in the country has experienced slow but steady growth.

Messaging and communication platforms in the Netherlands

As of 2022, instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger were the go-to platforms for social interaction, with 64 percent of Dutch respondents reporting using them regularly. Meta-owned messaging platforms WhatsApp and Messenger were the leading communication platforms for Dutch users in 2022. According to a 2022 survey of Dutch users, almost nine out of every 10 respondents reported using WhatsApp. Facebook Messenger ranked second, with approximately half of the Netherlands digital population reporting using this platform.

Social media use in the Netherlands

Internet users in the Netherlands were also frequent users of social networks, with 64 percent of respondents reporting using social media on a daily basis in 2022. In 2022, among the most common social media activities in the Netherlands was sending private messages, with 48 percent of respondents reporting engaging in this online activity. Social media activities such as following people and liking other users' pictures ranked second, with 40 percent of respondents engaging in each of them.