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WhatsApp Statistics for 2024 – All You Need to Know

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WhatsApp Statistics for 2024 – All You Need to Know

WhatsApp is undoubtedly one of the most popular messaging apps. By understanding who’s using it and how businesses can strategise better. 

As an internet user, it is unlikely that you haven’t heard of WhatsApp in your life. Yes, that’s how popular this messaging app is! 

There are multiple reasons for its popularity, and we’ve listed some of them below!

  1. WhatsApp was the only free messaging app, creating a bridge between Android and iPhone users. 
  2. It provides instant messaging with on-screen notifications.
  3. WhatsApp’s user interface is simple and intuitive.
  4. One can share files in different formats like images, videos, documents, etc, instantly.
  5. WhatsApp users can utilise the app to purchase products they desire and seamlessly complete the payment process within the same application, courtesy of WhatsApp payments.

In 2018, WhatsApp launched, “WhatsApp Business”, to help smaller businesses reach out to their customers more efficiently. WhatsApp’s availability in more than 180 countries expands its potential to reach over 2.7 billion users. Since then, WhatsApp business has also grown into a popular business solution. Over 50 million companies utilise WhatsApp for marketing endeavours.

WhatsApp Business is rapidly becoming a necessity, particularly for e-commerce companies. It is listed as the 1st most popular messaging app on the App Store as of February 2024. 

WhatsApp User Statistics 2024

Following WhatsApp statistics would shed light on how WhatsApp has become a must-have app for all businesses that want to survive in the future. Eighty per cent of small and medium businesses in India consider WhatsApp to be an essential channel for expanding their business operations.

  1. Number of WhatsApp Users Worldwide
  2. WhatsApp’s Popularity
  3. WhatsApp App Downloads
  4. Time Spent on WhatsApp
  5. WhatsApp Usage by Country
  6. WhatsApp Penetration Level by Country
  7. Messages sent via WhatsApp Daily
  8. WhatsApp Users’ Age
  9. WhatsApp Gender Demographics
  10. WhatsApp Business Statistics

1. Number of WhatsApp Users Worldwide

As of 2024, WhatsApp has already reached over 2.78 billion users worldwide and it is predicted to cross 3.14 billion by 2025.

Source: Statista

Whenever someone joins WhatsApp, anyone wishing to message them also joins this increases the value of being on WhatsApp. Due to its enormous user base, WhatsApp has ingrained itself into the daily lives of everyone and is frequently used for personal and business communication. It would be detrimental for businesses not to be on an app commanding such a massive base of smartphone users.

2. WhatsApp’s Popularity

WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app out there, with around 3031.23 million active monthly users in the data published by Bankmycell. This is just a little less than the first most popular app, which also belongs to its parent firm, Facebook Messenger (1.04 billion).

The popularity of WhatsApp can be ascribed to its ease of use and simplicity. The app’s intuitive user interface is a hit among users of various ages and backgrounds.

Even while banned in China, the most populous country, it achieved such a huge feat. Before it was banned in 2017, there were around 2 million WhatsApp users in China.

A study showed that WhatsApp users texted the most, followed by sending pictures, videos, gifs and links. Users don’t have to switch channels to send different message types. This allows businesses to use these features in their communication with customers.

3. WhatsApp App Downloads

Till now, WhatsApp amassed almost 5 billion downloads from the Google Play Store, alone, making it the most popular chat and messaging app globally.

Another indication of how popular WhatsApp is is present in the following figure. Around 11 million people downloaded the WhatsApp Messenger app for iOS in August of 2022. Facebook Messenger and Telegram, which each had 7 million downloads in the same month, are among WhatsApp’s main competitors in terms of the volume of app downloads (Oberlo).

Overall, WhatsApp is the most downloaded messaging app in the world.

4. Time Spent on WhatsApp

Time spent on WhatsApp has decreased in recent times post COVID-19 pandemic. Global users of the well-known app were logging in for more than 17.3 hours a month in 2024. In contrast, on average, each user spent 18.6 hours per month using WhatsApp in 2021.

Voice calls through WhatsApp are also becoming increasingly popular. On average, users make 2 billion voice and video calls on WhatsApp daily.

5. WhatsApp Usage by Country

India has the most WhatsApp users at 535.8 million (Statista) in 2024. The number is rising at a rate of 16.6% every year. The second contender, Brazil, is much behind at 118.5 million users in the race.

The reason for India’s high numbers is its significant population. For Brazil, WhatsApp’s greater penetration is also working in its favour.

While Indonesia was lagging behind the USA previously, the number of WhatsApp users in the country now stands at a robust 94 million.

While the USA was WhatsApp’s third largest market, it has toppled to fourth position behind Indonesia, with 112 million active users.

6. Messages Sent via WhatsApp Daily

Half of WhatsApp users in the USA utilise the app daily. It reached 55 billion messages as of July 2017, and then in  May 2018, it clocked at 65 billion messages daily. And as of 2021, the mark stands at 100 billion messages daily. Since 2023, there has been a 9% increase in user numbers.

These messages include texts, images, videos, links, contacts, etc. The significant support from users for different formats has been one of the reasons for WhatsApp’s steady growth since it was founded.

A study showed that, on average, WhatsApp users reply in less than a minute. And the overall open rate of WhatsApp campaigns and messages is over 90%, which is much more than email. This study also found insights into the distribution of messages per time of the day. Most users are active post noon until midnight.

8. WhatsApp Users’ Age

People of all ages are using WhatsApp.

WhatsApp continues to be the most popular communication app in Germany. WhatsApp is used by 81% of Germans, many of them regularly. Users between the ages of 26-35 have a platform penetration rate of 27%, while users over 56 have a penetration rate of 13%.

In the US, close to 1 in every 4 US adults uses WhatsApp. An online poll in the United States in May 2022 revealed that almost three out of ten participants between 18 and 34 have a WhatsApp account. The famous mobile texting app was also registered by 27% of respondents between the ages of 35 and 44. With just 20% of respondents between the ages of 45 and 64 and 11% of respondents 65 and above reporting having a WhatsApp account, registered users looked to be declining among older age groups.

This shows that WhatsApp has significant users among all age groups. So, be it any age group you intend to serve, you are sure to find lots and lots of them on WhatsApp.

9. WhatsApp Gender Demographics

We have discussed how WhatsApp looks for different age groups, and now we’ll dive deeper into gender demographics. While WhatsApp seems to be almost used equally by men and women alike, 53.9% of WhatsApp users are male. On the other hand, WhatsApp is used by 46.1% of female users. 

Moreover, an exploratory study also suggests that WhatsApp’s female users are more active on the platform and use its features more extensively than its male users. This includes time spent on changing profile pictures, putting up statuses, being active in groups etc. 

10. WhatsApp Business Statistics

As of 2024, Indian users were the ones who downloaded WhatsApp Business the most.

Around 316 million WhatsApp Business downloads were made by users worldwide in 2023, up by 9% from the prior year. It is hardly shocking that downloads only rose in 2022.

The app is available for both Android and iPhone devices. It enabled businesses to reach where their customers are. Various businesses have also started Live Chat support services on WhatsApp, enhancing customer experience and, thus, engagement.

According to WhatsApp, around 175 million people send messages to WhatsApp business accounts daily. This shows how people are already responding positively to this new initiative.

They can resolve their queries and browse through products and services offered by a Business. WhatsApp Business Catalogue allows businesses to showcase such details.

40 million users view a business catalogue on WhatsApp every month, as per a Facebook report.

How Can WhatsApp Help Your Business?

These statistics paint a fair picture and highlight how important WhatsApp has become in people’s everyday lives. 

With so many people already on WhatsApp, the app is on its way to becoming a game-changer for businesses today. They have plenty of chances to interact with customers on the platform, and using the same platform to sell your goods and services makes it likelier for users to make quick purchases with less effort. 

Verloop.io can be your trusted link to forge more extraordinary bonding experiences with your customers on WhatsApp. Schedule a free demo to see the impact for yourself.

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