WhatsApp statistics 2025: Market analysis & global usage data

Explore the most updated WhatsApp statistics, covering global usage, engagement, demographics, and business adoption trends for 2025. 

Sandra Posavac Content Marketing Specialist
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WhatsApp has established itself as the world’s dominant messaging platform. As of May 2025, WhatsApp has 3 billion monthly users and handles over 150 billion messages every day. 

In this blog, we bring you the latest statistics and trends, including 2025 WhatsApp Business adoption insights that reveal how massive WhatsApp’s impact has become. 

Global user base & growth 

  • Current global users: WhatsApp has more than 3 billion monthly active users worldwide as of March 2025 (Source: Statista
  • Projected users 2025: WhatsApp is expected to reach 3.14-3.2 billion users by the end of 2025 (Source: Sociallyin
  • Daily active users: Approximately 2.3 billion daily active WhatsApp users, representing roughly 83% of monthly active users (Source: Resourcera

WhatsApp’s user growth shows no sign of slowing, confirming its position as the world’s leading messaging platform. 

Usage & engagement metrics 

Messaging volume

  • Messages sent daily: Over 150 billion messages are exchanged daily on WhatsApp as of June 2024, representing a 150% increase from 100 billion messages in 2020 (Source: SQ Magazine)
  • Message content: Users send over 7 billion voice messages daily, plus 19 billion daily media transfers including 6.5 billion videos (Source: TechCrunch

Historical message growth

Date  Daily messages sent 
October 2011  1 billion
January 2015  30 billion
February 2016 42 billion
July 2017 55 billion 
May 2018  65 billion 
October 2020 100 billion
July 2023  140 billion
June 2024 150 billion

(Source: Statista)

User engagement patterns 

  • Average time spent: Users spend approximately 38 minutes daily on WhatsApp, totaling 17-20 hours per month per user 
  • Daily active usage: 80%+ of users check WhatsApp daily, making it one of the most frequently accessed applications 
  • Message read rate: 88% of messages are read within 5 minutes, and 98-99% open rate for all messages, significantly exceeding email’s 20-21% open rate 
  • Group chat dominance: 41-57.5% of total message volume originates from group chats, with the average group containing 27 members 

(Source: SQ Magazine)

  • WhatsApp Channels record growth: WhatsApp Channels achieved 500 million monthly active users by June 2024, just one year after launch (Source: Ayo News

Regional analysis 

We compiled data from multiple sources to create what we believe is the most accurate list of the top messaging apps across 30 countries and here is where WhatsApp is the leading platform:

  • Brazil: One of the markets where WhatsApp dominates with an 85% penetration rate 
  • Indonesia: WhatsApp leads messaging apps with 65% penetration among phone users globally 
  • India: 70% of the population uses the app 
  • United Kingdom: WhatsApp penetration in the UK is about 65% of the population 
  • Argentina: WhatsApp reaches 80% penetration across the population
  • Colombia: Usage of WhatsApp stands at 75% nationwide 
  • Italy: WhatsApp adoption is strong, with a 75% penetration rate
  • Mexico: Around 75% of people in the country use WhatsApp
  • Spain: WhatsApp has one of its highest adoption levels here, at 85%
  • Ireland: WhatsApp is widely used, reaching 75% penetration
  • Israel: The app sees exceptionally high usage, with a 90% penetration rate
  • Kuwait: WhatsApp is used by 90% of the population
  • Malaysia: Adoption of WhatsApp is high, reaching 90%
  • Singapore: About 90% of residents use WhatsApp 
  • South Africa: WhatsApp usage reaches 70% penetration
  • Switzerland: The app is popular, with 85% penetration 
  • UAE: WhatsApp sees very high adoption, reaching 90% 
  • Hong Kong: WhatsApp is the clear leader with 90% penetration

Engagement by age group (Global) 

  • Most active age group: Users aged 26-35 represent the most active demographic globally, followed by those aged 36-45 
  • Gen Z adoption: 50% of Generation Z globally cite WhatsApp as their favorite messaging app, though Snapchat and Instagram DMs compete for preference in the US market 
  • Older adults: Users aged 50 and above show significant engagement, particularly for family group chats and community organizing 

(Source: Thunderbit)

Voice & video communication 

  • Voice and video calls: WhatsApp enables over 5.5 billion voice calls and 2.4 billion video calls per month as of Q2 2025, totaling over 2 billion minutes of calls daily 
  • Daily engagement: 100 million+ voice calls are made daily, with an average call duration of 9.7 minutes 
  • Video call growth: Video calling usage increased 20% year-over-year, driven by remote work adoption and virtual family gatherings 
  • Global adoption: In the United States alone, 34% of users mention WhatsApp as their primary video calling platform 

(Source: SQ Magazine)

High engagement and massive message volumes reveal how deeply WhatsApp is embedded in daily communication habits worldwide. 

WhatsApp business statistics 

Business adoption 

A visual showing a chat conversation with Glow Luxe. The user asks for help choosing a moisturizer. Glow Luxe replies, "Absolutely! Can I ask a couple of quick questions to recommend the best one for you? What’s your skin type? (e.g., oily, dry, combination, sensitive)" The user responds with "Combination." Glow Luxe then suggests their HydraBalance Daily Moisturizer, explaining it hydrates dry areas without making the T-zone oily, and asks if the user wants to see similar options or check availability at the nearest store.
An example of automated WhatsApp eCommerce messaging, showcasing how retailers are increasingly turning to automated, conversational customer journeys.
  • Daily business interactions175 million people message a business account daily, demonstrating significant B2C engagement 
  • Catalog views: Over 40 million customers view business catalogs on WhatsApp monthly 

Business engagement metrics 

  • Message open rate98% open rate for WhatsApp Business messages, vastly exceeding email’s ~20% open rate (Source: WhatsApp
  • Click-through rates: 45-60% CTR for promotional content (Source: Thunderbit

Customer outcomes

Unilever used an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot to engage customers with product care tips, rich media, and promotions, resulting in 138% higher sales. 

Nivea used a WhatsApp chatbot campaign for automated, personalized interactions with consumers, achieving 207% of campaign reach target. 

An example from a Nivea WhatsApp chatbot campaign to support a skincare product launch.
Second example from a Nivea WhatsApp chatbot campaign to support a skincare product launch.
  • Customer satisfaction: 70% of businesses report improved customer satisfaction after WhatsApp adoption (Source: Thunderbit

Customer outcomes

Raiffeisenbank integrated WhatsApp Business into their contact center through Infobip and achieved a 10× cost reduction and 19% NPS growth.

  • Conversion rates: 40-45% of businesses use WhatsApp for customer support, with businesses experiencing 120-127% improvement in conversation and conversion rates (Source: Business Dasher

Customer outcomes

Vai de Bus integrated PIX payments on WhatsApp using Infobip’s APIs – 98% of passengers opted in and the channel achieved an 85% conversion rate on payments. 

WhatsApp has grown into a leading business tool, driving high engagement, strong conversions, and enterprise-level adoption. These trends show the WhatsApp is the central communication hub for billions of people every single day. 

WhatsApp milestone moments

2013
Hit 200 million active users with 50-person team
2014
Acquired by Facebook for $19 billion
2015
Became world’s most popular messaging app with 900 million users
2016
Completed end-to-end encryption across all communication types
2018
Launched WhatsApp Business platform
2020
Crossed 2 billion monthly active users
2025
Reached more than 3 billion monthly active users

Each milestone highlights WhatsApp’s rapid grow from a simple messaging app to a global communication and commerce ecosystem. 

Global market impact

  • Global reach: Available in 180 countries and supports 60+ languages (Source: Priori Data
  • Regional leadership: WhatsApp is the #1 messaging app in at least 169 countries and the most popular in 63 of 100 countries examined (Source: Thunderbit
  • Internet user penetration: Approximately 69% of global internet users (excluding China) use WhatsApp regularly (Source: Thunderbit
  • Population coverage: Around 38% of the global population uses WhatsApp, demonstrating unprecedented reach (Source: WA-CRM

In short, with reach across countries and demographics, WhatsApp continues to dominate the global messaging. 

Consumer behavior & preferences

Business communication preferences 

  • Consumer preference for WhatsApp: 54% of users prefer receiving marketing messages via WhatsApp over email or SMS (Source: Electroiq
  • Business interaction benefits (Top reasons):
  • 33% value immediate responses without waiting 
  • 28% appreciate interaction outside business hours 
  • 20% value media file sharing capabilities 
  • 20% benefit from cost-free communication 
  • 8% enjoy personalized conversations 
  • 6% receive individual attention

(Source: SQ Magazine

  • Purchase intent66% of consumers make purchases after interacting with brands on WhatsApp, and 40% of users report shopping through the platform
  • SMS + WhatsApp: Over the past two years the top omni-channel combinations across many countries (Source: Infobip)
  • Customer inquiry resolution: 77% of customers find chatbots helpful for resolving simple issues, and 71% say chatbots allow them to receive faster replies. Trust in automated support is also rising, with 67% of customers believing that chatbots often provide accurate information based on their query. (Source: WhatsApp)  

Customer outcomes

Bolt: Optimized driver registration via Infobip’s WhatsApp chatbot platform, cloud contact center, and omnichannel tools, achieving a 40% conversion rate increase. 

Nissan: Fully verified WhatsApp Business channel with CRM integration and AI chatbot, delivering 138% increase in leads and 71% increase in unique users. 

Mukuru reduced customer-service-related costs by 15% after integrating WhatsApp Business automation through Infobip, by reducing the process for customer transactions and communication. 

Overall, consumers increasingly prefer WhatsApp for brand interactions, valuing its speed, convenience, and personalized communication. 

What these 2025 WhatsApp statistics mean for the future 

WhatsApp stands as the most widely used platform for conversational marketing, AI-driven interactions, and customer support messaging. Infobip have seen a 30% YoY increase in the number of brands orchestrating conversational marketing interactions with their customers on our platform. 

WhatsApp’s continued growth and global reach underscore its position as a core digital communication infrastructure. Its widespread adoption across regions, from India to Latin America, Africa, and Europe, shows how deeply integrated it has become in both personal and business communication.

The platform now goes far beyond a simple messaging app, serving as a key channel for eCommerce, customer engagement, and real-time support. 

With ongoing expansion in emerging markets, rising business adoption, and continuous innovation across messaging, AI, and commerce, WhatsApp is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in the global messaging landscape for years to come. 

Use WhatsApp through Infobip to reach millions 

Discover the latest WhatsApp statistics and see how it is shaping global communication 

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