WhatsApp Statistics 2025: 50+ Facts Every Business Should Know

The WhatsApp platform remains the world’s most used messaging app, with billions of people using it daily to connect, shop, and engage with brands. For businesses, it’s become a key customer communication tool — not just for marketing, but for service, authentication, and support.

To help you understand its scale and business impact, here are the latest WhatsApp user statistics for 2025, including how most WhatsApp users use the app and where it’s growing fastest.

Key WhatsApp Statistics (2025)

Statistic	Source
Over 3 billion active WhatsApp users worldwide	Backlinko
WhatsApp added one billion new users in the last five years alone (2020-2025)	Backlinko
More than 100 billion messages are sent each day via WhatsApp (increased 53.84% from 65 billion in 2018)	Backlinko
WhatsApp was the fourth most popular platform in Australia: Facebook (77.7%), Messenger (68.9%), Instagram (65.2%), and WhatsApp (48.3%)	Meltwater
Over 13 million active Australian users (as of July 2025)	Social Media News

Growth Over Time

Since launching in 2009, WhatsApp’s growth has been remarkably consistent. Within just five years, it surpassed 500 million active users — a milestone that helped attract Facebook’s acquisition in 2014 for US $21.8 billion.

Key milestones include: 

• 2011 – Received US $8 million from Sequoia Capital.

• 2013 – Crossed 400 million active users.
• 2014 – Facebook acquired WhatsApp.

• 2016 – Introduced end-to-end encryption and video calls.

• 2018 – Launched WhatsApp Business, marking a significant step into brand communications.

• 2023 – Rolled out Channels for one-to-many updates and private broadcasting.

Each new feature has expanded its appeal — from a simple chat app to a global platform used for messaging, calls, and commerce.

WhatsApp Users by Country

WhatsApp now operates in over 180 countries and is banned in only a handful (China, North Korea, Syria, and Iran).

• In Q4 2024, WhatsApp downloads from the Google Play Store increased the most in Vietnam, followed by Italy (36%) and Switzerland (32%).

• The top three countries relying on WhatsApp include Brazil, where it has a 98.9% penetration rate, followed by India (97.1%) and Italy (97%).

User Demographics

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of global internet users aged 16–64 use WhatsApp on a monthly basis. Other demographics include: 

• WhatsApp gender demographics: Over half (52.5%) of global WhatsApp users in 2024 were male, and 47.7% female.
• Minimum age: Users need to be aged 13 or over to access WhatsApp.
• Age groups: The largest user group is millennials (born between 1981 and 1996), where 54% use WhatsApp.

WhatsApp’s broad reach spans across generations, with younger audiences driving growth in voice messages, group chats, and new features like Channels.

WhatsApp Usage by Device

WhatsApp has surpassed 10 billion Android downloads in 2025, cementing its status as one of the few apps globally to hit that milestone. It’s also the third most downloaded social networking app on the Apple App Store.

These figures reflect both installations and updates rather than active users, but they illustrate the sheer global reach across operating systems.

WhatsApp Business Adoption

The WhatsApp Business app launched in 2018, offering companies verified profiles, messaging automation, and analytics. As of mid-2025, it had more than 200 million active WhatsApp Business users globally, and WhatsApp Business API usage doubled from 2023 to 2025, mainly driven by automation and AI. 

According to recent statistics, $45 billion in annual sales are predicted to flow through WhatsApp in 2025, and 67% of global users have said they feel more confident shopping with a brand if they can reach the business via WhatsApp. 

WhatsApp Business vs Consumer User Base (2025 estimate)

User type	Monthly active users	Source
Consumer app	3 billion+	Backlinko
Business app	200 million+	The Bot Mode

The Business API enables larger organisations to integrate WhatsApp with CRMs, chatbots, and marketing automation, allowing for conversational campaigns at scale.

Number of Messages Sent

WhatsApp sends more than 100 billion messages each day (increased 53.84% from 65 billion in 2018) with an approximate 90% read rate within 15 minutes, making WhatsApp one of the fastest-response apps available. 

It also send an average of seven billion voice messages daily. 

WhatsApp users on the Android app spent an average of one hour and one minute on WhatsApp daily. 

What is WhatsApp Used For

WhatsApp has evolved far beyond personal messaging.

Personal Use

Consumers use WhatsApp to chat, share media, and coordinate with family and friends. Nearly 60% of all messages are sent in group chats, highlighting its role as a social hub.

The platform also supports over 5.5 billion voice calls and 2.4 billion video calls every day, underscoring its dominance over traditional calls. Over 700 million users make at least one video call per week, indicating a strong engagement trend. 

Business Use

Around 200 million businesses use WhatsApp for marketing, notifications, and customer support:

• 68% of WhatsApp users say that the platform is actually the easiest way of contacting a business they need to reach.

• 28% preferred WhatsApp for after-hours support as they didn’t need to wait until the next morning to get a response from businesses. 

Marketing Use

Businesses are increasingly using WhatsApp as a direct channel for conversation and commerce: 

• 66% of users have made a purchase after communicating with a brand on WhatsApp.

• 69% are more likely to buy from a brand that has a WhatsApp presence.
  

These figures show WhatsApp’s growing role not just in customer service, but in marketing — driving engagement, lead-generation and conversion through a platform people already trust.

The Future of WhatsApp

WhatsApp’s growth shows no signs of slowing. Forecasts suggest that an additional 76 million people will download the app by 2029, with particularly strong adoption in the Asia-Pacific and African regions.

As markets mature, expect to see:

• Wider use of WhatsApp Business API for large enterprises.
• More multi-channel journeys combining SMS, email, and WhatsApp.
• Expansion of in-app shopping and verified brand Channels.

WhatsApp remains not just a communication app, but a core driver of customer experience and loyalty.

FAQs

How many WhatsApp users are there? 

There are over three billion active users as of 2025, and over 200 million WhatsApp Business users. 

How many WhatsApp downloads have there been in 2025? 

WhatsApp globally had around 267 million downloads in the first half of 2025 across Android and iOS. During the third quarter of 2025, there were over 77.2 million app downloads on Android devices and nearly 2.03 million on iOS devices.

How many messages are sent via WhatsApp daily? 

WhatsApp sends over 100 billion messages daily, including texts, photos, and videos. There are also seven billion voice messages and two billion voice/video calls daily.

How does WhatsApp compare to Facebook Messenger? 

WhatsApp has a much larger global reach than Facebook Messenger, with around three billion monthly active users compared to Messenger’s 1 billion. While Messenger is more common in North America and Australia, WhatsApp dominates in regions like India, Brazil, and Europe, making it the world’s leading mobile messenger app for business and personal communication.

What is a WhatsApp API? 

The WhatsApp Business API lets organisations connect WhatsApp to their existing systems — such as CRMs, chatbots, and customer platforms. It’s designed for scaling personalised conversations, automating replies, and managing high message volumes securely.

How do I create a WhatsApp account for my business?

To set up a WhatsApp account, download WhatsApp Business from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Once verified, you can add your business details, logo, and contact options. Larger organisations can integrate through the WhatsApp Business API for advanced automation and analytics.

Is WhatsApp a mobile messenger app or a social network?

WhatsApp is first and foremost a mobile messenger app. While owned by Meta (which also operates Facebook and Instagram), WhatsApp focuses on private, encrypted messaging and calls — not public social sharing.

What’s the difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business?

The standard app is built for personal use, while the WhatsApp Business app and API provide tools for verified business profiles, quick replies, and message templates. Both share the same secure messaging foundation.

Wrapping Up

WhatsApp has evolved from a simple chat app into one of the world’s most powerful communication platforms. With over three billion monthly active users, it connects people and businesses across nearly every country — and it’s changing how brands deliver customer experience.

For Australian businesses, the message is clear: customers expect to chat, not chase. Whether it’s for marketing, support, or secure notifications, WhatsApp gives brands a direct, trusted way to start real conversations and build lasting loyalty.

As the platform continues to grow, so does its potential for smarter, more personalised engagement. Businesses that embrace WhatsApp now will be well-placed to meet customers where they already are — on the world’s most popular messaging app.

Learn more about how WhatsApp can support your business.