Who Uses WhatsApp The Most?
With close to three million users worldwide, it should come as no surprise that WhatsApp reigns as the most popular messaging app worldwide. This speaks volumes about its reach and it is certainly a channel brands need to be on to grow.
But to succeed at using WhatsApp effectively for your business, you need to first understand key WhatsApp statistics and data—including WhatsApp’s usage by country. This requires knowing what countries use WhatsApp. Or, more specifically, knowing the answer to the question: Where is WhatsApp popular?
WhatsApp usage by country: key statistics
- WhatsApp usage is the highest in Nigeria, with 95.1% of its online population using the popular messaging app.
- In terms of user count, India tops the list of WhatsApp users by country, with 535.76 million users there.
- Four of the 10 countries with the highest WhatsApp penetration are located in Europe.
Which country uses WhatsApp the most: penetration rates
|
Country |
Percentage of the country’s digital population using WhatsApp |
|
1. Nigeria |
95.1% |
|
2. South Africa |
93.9% |
|
3. Brazil |
93.4% |
|
4. Mexico |
92.2% |
|
5. Spain |
91.0% |
|
6. Indonesia |
90.9% |
|
7. Italy |
90.3% |
|
8. Portugal |
90.3% |
|
9. Romania |
88.2% |
|
10. Kenya |
86.8% |
Which country uses WhatsApp the most: top 10
Recent data from a list ranking WhatsApp’s usage by country shows that the penetration rate of the communication app is the highest in Nigeria. At 95.1%, this means that nearly every single person going online is also a WhatsApp user. In a country where internet access is rapidly growing, WhatsApp serves as a crucial communication tool for both personal and business purposes. Its accessibility and low data usage make it the preferred messaging platform in Nigeria.
Second on the list analyzing WhatsApp’s popularity by country is South Africa, where 93.9% of all its digital population are active on WhatsApp. Brazil follows closely behind in third place, with a penetration rate of 93.4%. It’s worth noting that Brazil is also the country with the second-highest number of WhatsApp users, with 139.34 million.
Mexico and Spain round out the top five countries where WhatsApp usage is the highest, with penetration rates of 92.2% and 91%, respectively.
Indonesia follows closely in sixth place, with a 90.9% WhatsApp usage rate among its digital population. This reflects the app’s effectiveness in a country with diverse internet speeds and varying levels of connectivity. WhatsApp’s ability to function smoothly across these conditions makes it highly popular in Indonesia.
In Italy and Portugal, WhatsApp usage is equally significant, with 90.3% of the digital population in both countries using the app. These are the only eight countries where WhatsApp usage rates are above 90%. Romania and Kenya complete the top 10, with penetration rates of 88.2% and 86.8%, respectively.
WhatsApp popularity by country: summary
This list ranking the 10 countries where WhatsApp is most popular reveals the app’s overwhelming popularity across the globe. Of the top 10, four are located in Europe, while three African countries, two South American nations, and one Asian country complete the list.