WeChat Users by Country in 2024
Launched in 2011 as a simple messaging app, WeChat has rapidly evolved into a multifaceted platform. Today, not only does it dominate the digital landscape in China, it also has a growing global presence.
Playing an essential part of daily life for millions of users worldwide, WeChat offers services ranging from messaging and social networking to mobile payments and ecommerce. According to recent WeChat statistics, the number of WeChat users has surged significantly, not just in China but globally as well. Let’s take a closer look at the ranking of WeChat users by country in 2024.
WeChat users by country (2024): table
|
Country |
Number of WeChat users |
|
1. China |
810.0 million |
|
2. Malaysia |
12.0 million |
|
3. India |
10.0 million |
|
4. Russia |
9.5 million |
|
5. Japan |
5.5 million |
|
6. South Korea |
5.0 million |
|
7. United States |
4.0 million |
|
8. Indonesia |
3.0 million |
|
9. Mexico |
2.5 million |
|
10. Thailand |
2.5 million |
Number of WeChat users by country
As of 2024, the number of WeChat users by country reveals China in the lead, with a staggering 810 million users, making it the only country with more than 100 million users. This dominance is expected, given that China is WeChat’s home market, and the app is deeply integrated into the daily lives of Chinese citizens for both personal and professional use.
Following China is Malaysia, with 12 million, highlighting the app’s significant penetration in Southeast Asia. Despite ranking in second place, the number of WeChat users in Malaysia represents just 1.5% of that in China, underscoring the app’s popularity in its home country.
India, with its rapidly growing digital population, ranks third, with 10 million. Russia and Japan follow closely with 9.5 million and 5.5 million users, respectively. South Korea ranks sixth on this list comparing the number of WeChat users by country, with five million users.
The United States has four million, an indication that WeChat is making strides even in markets where other messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are dominant. According to a report, many WeChat users in the US are part of the Chinese diaspora or are drawn to the app’s unique features not found in Western counterparts.
In seventh place on this ranking of the number of WeChat users by country is Indonesia, with three million. Mexico and Thailand complete the list, with 2.5 million users each.
Factors driving the high number of WeChat users in Asia
A notable observation is the high concentration of Asian countries in the top 10 list of WeChat users. China aside, Malaysia, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand all have substantial user bases.
This trend can be attributed to WeChat’s comprehensive suite of services, which go beyond messaging. They include mobile payments, ecommerce, and social networking, which cater to the diverse needs of Asian users. This means that, unlike its rivals like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, whose primary focus is on messaging, WeChat provides a more holistic digital experience. This multifaceted functionality is particularly appealing in markets like China, where users prefer an all-in-one app for convenience.
It’s also important to note that WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, which are among the most popular messaging apps worldwide, are banned in China. This has significantly contributed to WeChat’s dominance, as the absence of these global competitors has allowed WeChat to capture a vast majority of the market share, becoming the default messaging app there.