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Today with the plethora of social media apps available to network, it is not at all difficult to stay connected. But when it comes to being connected every day, via messages or video calls, the most popular social networking app is WhatsApp. WhatsApp is the most downloaded mobile messenger app worldwide, with over 5 billion downloads. 

WhatApp is a free app for users, but it bolstered Meta’s revenue in 2024, through its monetization strategies. Let’s dive into WhatsApp’s revenue sources, user statistics, and its impact on Meta’s overall profitability.

History of WhatsApp

WhatsApp was created in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, who were former Yahoo employees. The app was initially designed as an app for sharing statuses but soon transitioned into a simple and secure messaging service. By 2011, it was a success as it was handling one billion messages daily. In 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion. Since its inception, the app has evolved into a global communication tool for over 2.7 billion people, with expanded functionalities like voice/video calls, file sharing, and business messaging.

WhatsApp: Key Facts & User Statistics

WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in over 100 countries. The user base of WhatsApp is one of its greatest assets, allowing Meta to explore diverse revenue streams by tapping into different markets and demographics. Let us learn some facts about the WhatsApp user base.

WhatsApp Most Popular Messenger App

WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging app with over 51.2 million monthly downloads. It also ranks 4th as the most popular social network worldwide. Its dominance can be attributed to its simplicity, security, and end-to-end encryption, making it the go-to choice for users worldwide.

WhatsApp Users

WhatsApp is the leading communication channel for global smartphone users in 2024. By the end of 2023, the platforms had a user base of over 2.7 billion. WhatsApp is projected to reach almost 3 billion unique active users worldwide by June 2024, which is 7% higher compared to the corresponding month in 2023.

WhatsApp holds the highest daily open rate among social media apps, with 83% of users accessing the app daily, significantly ahead of Facebook.

WhatsApp Users By Country

WhatsApp is spread in over 180 countries and the platform is particularly popular in countries like India, Brazil, and the United States. This widespread use of WhatsApp has opened doors for e-commerce businesses globally. 

In India alone, there are over 500 million active users.

The countries with the largest number of WhatsApp users are:

WhatsApp Users Demographics

Here are the key facts related to the WhatsApp demographics:

• The gender distribution on WhatsApp shows that 52.4% of its users are male, while 47.5% are female.
• In terms of daily usage, 54% of millennials and over one-third of baby boomers use WhatsApp every day.
• The distribution of WhatsApp users with WhatsApp accounts in the US, based on gender is as given below :

• 31% of users are aged between 18-34.
• 27% of users are aged between 35 and 44.
• 20% of users are aged between 45 and 64.
• 11% of users are aged 65 and older.

WhatsApp Revenue Statistics

Now let us understand how WhatsApp makes money and how much is the annual revenue of Whatsapp.

WhatsApp Revenue Source

While WhatsApp is free for users, it earns revenue through several strategic channels. WhatsApp Business API enables large businesses to automate customer service and interactions. Click-to-WhatsApp Ads allow businesses to connect directly with users via ads that lead to WhatsApp chats.  While in-app advertising was previously discussed, it has not been implemented. These revenue streams help sustain WhatsApp and support its future growth and innovation.

WhatsApp Annual Revenue

Even though WhatsApp is continuously expanding, its contribution to the overall revenue of Meta (Facebook) is small. The majority of contribution within WhatsApp is from WhatsApp Business, which was launched in 2018. 

Over the years, WhatsApp's revenue has grown steadily, from $443 million in 2018 to $1.279 billion in 2023. This growth highlights WhatsApp's expanding role in Meta's portfolio, despite being a modest part of its overall revenue.

The annual revenue of WhatsApp from 2018 to 2023 is as given below:

WhatsApp Business Revenue

WhatsApp Business was launched in 2018 and has become a key revenue stream for Meta, providing businesses with tools to connect with customers via automated chatbots and direct messaging. As of June 2023, WhatsApp Business reported more than 200 million monthly active users (MAU) worldwide, up from 50 million MAU in 2020. The app is most popular in regions like India and Indonesia, with 421 million and 115 million downloads, respectively. 

Businesses are charged after exceeding 1,000 conversations, and in 2023, the average revenue per user (ARPU) was estimated at $0.25 globally, with Australia and Oceania leading at $0.72. In 2023, WhatsApp Business generated approximately $382.6 million in revenue, with Asia contributing over $155 million and Europe around $90 million. 

The Bottom Line

The success of WhatsApp is not just driven by its user-friendly interface but also by its commitment to privacy through end-to-end encryption. This ensures that messages and calls are secure, giving users confidence in their conversations. In the eCommerce space, WhatsApp is increasingly being used by businesses for direct communication with customers, making it a valuable tool for dropshipping businesses.

Despite growing competition from other messaging apps like Telegram and Signal, WhatsApp remains a dominant player due to its vast global reach and constant innovation. As the app continues to evolve, its focus on privacy and simplicity will help it maintain its leading position in an increasingly competitive market