WhatsApp Business Stats & Trends
February 23, 2022
WhatsApp Business is a business-to-consumer communication channel where people can message with businesses. It offers brands a way to connect with customers via WhatsApp messaging. Since its launch in January 2018, millions of businesses have adopted the platform “to support customers, grow their businesses, and serve their communities all over the world,” according to WhatsApp.
Here’s what you need to know about WhatsApp Business usage—all of the most important WhatsApp for business statistics and how you can get the most out of the platform.
WhatsApp Business Stats and Trends
With more than two billion monthly active users across 180 countries, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world. And its users are chatty: Collectively, WhatsApp users send 100 billion messages per day. Here are the key WhatsApp Business stats you need to know to succeed on the platform.
WhatsApp’s dominance is global: It’s the communication platform of choice in EMEA, Latin America, and parts of Asia—and especially huge in emerging markets like India (487 million users) and Brazil (118 million users).
For years, messaging apps like WhatsApp have been growing as an attractive cheaper alternative in countries where SMS messaging is expensive. This may help account for the app’s widespread popularity in Asia and Latin America, as demonstrated by the WhatsApp Business stats illustrated in the map above.
Additionally, as the world becomes more globalized, WhatsApp and other messaging platforms provide an easy and affordable way to stay connected with friends and relatives abroad — particularly in countries with prominent diasporas, such as the Philippines. Even the Philippine government has gotten in on the trend. At least one Philippine Consulate now operates a WhatsApp hotline in order to better serve their citizens abroad.
WhatsApp Business Usage: What Businesses Need to Know
There are three main things you need to know about WhatsApp Business usage:
1. Business is booming on the platform
Since the launch of WhatsApp Business in January 2018, WhatsApp for business statistics show that more than 5 million businesses have started using the platform. It’s no wonder it’s so popular—WhatsApp Business gives brands the ability to create mobile storefronts for their businesses with catalogs and accept secure payments using Facebook Pay. These built-in sales and marketing capabilities make it easy for prospective customers to browse products or services, ask questions, and make a purchase, all without leaving the app.
It’s not just business dominating the platform—the public sector is getting on in it too. More and more governments are using WhatsApp to keep their citizens informed about important issues. For instance, in Australia, the government is operating a COVID-19 WhatsApp channel to share important health information.
2. Geography matters when deciding whether to use the platform
WhatsApp usage is widespread in Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia. While the app has faced slower adoption in North America, don’t discount it—it’s number four behind Facebook Messenger, Apple Messages and Instagram. As of July 2020, 12% of adults in the United States use WhatsApp, compared to 32% who use Facebook Messenger. But WhatsApp usage does seem to be on the rise — in 2019, 68.1 million U.S. mobile phone users accessed WhatsApp to communicate and some forecasters project this figure to grow to 85.8 million users by 2023.
3. Age demographics matter to WhatsApp usage just as much as geography
Where your customers are is important, but it also matters who they are. For instance, in the U.K., some studies have indicated that 80 percent of adults aged 18 to 24 use WhatsApp, a much higher proportion than the general population. WhatsApp for business statistics show that similar trends hold true in other nations where WhatsApp is popular: Generally speaking, WhatsApp usage is highest among Millennials and Gen Z. For instance, in India, 49 percent of 18-25 year olds and 35 percent of 26-35 year olds are active WhatsApp users (the share of active users declines with age). In the U.S., it’s most popular among millennials aged 26-35.
Get Started with Verint Messaging and WhatsApp Business Today
WhatsApp has risen to messaging dominance around the world. Tap into this market by using WhatsApp Business through Verint Messaging. WhatsApp provides a seamless customer experience for users on the front end, while Verint Messaging adds a powerful customer messaging platform for businesses on the back end. Together, they’re unstoppable.