Messaging apps have already overtaken social media networks regarding marketing and the overall number of users. The latest Facebook Messenger statistics show that over 133 million Americans use it at the moment—a number that has been steadily rising from 64.9 million in 2014 when Mark Zuckerberg declared private messaging as the future of Facebook.
He acquired the world’s most popular messaging app WhatsApp back in 2014 when it became apparent it is a worthy rival to Facebook Messenger. However, Messenger is still the most used app for communication in the United States.
If you are still unaware of the real advertising power that messaging apps have, these numbers might just make you rethink everything you know about marketing.
Top Facebook Messenger Stats and Facts (Editor’s Choice)
- Facebook Messenger was downloaded 404 million times in 2020.
- Businesses and customers exchange over 20 billion messages on the app every month.
- There are 300,000 monthly active bots on Facebook Messenger at the moment.
- Facebook Messenger’s CTR stands at an astonishing 20%.
- Facebook Messenger’s open rates are 10–80 times higher than those of marketing emails
- Facebook Messenger has 1.3 billion monthly active users.
General Facebook Messenger Numbers and Figures
Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular apps coming from Facebook, Inc.—find out why in this compilation of the most fascinating figures in recent years.
1. Latest data about Facebook Messenger show it is the second most-downloaded app of the past decade.
(App Annie)
The combined App Store and Google Play data from 2010 to 2019 shows that Facebook Messenger was second only to the Facebook app itself when it comes to downloads. This simultaneously puts it in front of today’s most powerful social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, as well as other messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, and WeChat.
While the number of downloads is an impressive factor, the Facebook Messenger engagement statistics are a testament to its on-going value for advertisers and customers alike.
2. In 2020 alone, Facebook Messenger was downloaded 404 million times.
(Forbes)
With the pandemic disrupting the way we communicate, people turned to apps. The top ten most downloaded applications over last year prove it, as half of them were tools to reach others (three messaging and two video conferencing apps).
Top communication apps were downloaded 1.99 billion times combined.
3. Approximately 410 million people use the video chat feature per month.
(Social Media Today)
Facebook Messenger video chat was introduced in 2015 but limited to the US, Canada, UK, and 15 other countries, with other regions being added in the following months. Facebook Messenger user statistics show that it was received enthusiastically, with the ever-growing number of users that engage in it every month.
4. Facebook Messenger spends less data on a video call than WhatsApp.
(Apps2Data)
Research on Facebook Messenger statistics revealed that the app uses around 20 MB of data for a single, 5-minute video call, while WhatsApp spends about 12% more.
Not only is it less costly to use Messenger when on mobile data, but the quality of a call also proved to be slightly higher, with no connectivity issues and smoother video resolution.
5. 62% of Messenger users in the United States access the app at least once a week.
(Statista)
Facebook Messenger usage demographics reveal that the age group 30–44 has the highest percentage of daily access to the app.
In fact, 72% percent of people from that group use Facebook Messenger daily. Out of those who declared they “never” use it, 20% were over 65 years old.
6. When the Messenger Rooms feature was announced, Zoom’s stock plummeted by almost 12%.
(Robinhood)
Messenger Room came in with some promising advantages, compared to rivals such as Zoom and Google Meets. It had no call duration limits, it could be attended by as many as 50 people (as opposed to Zoom’s maximum of 40), and it offered a fun 3600 background feature.
Facebook Messenger Marketing Statistics
The pandemic has deeply affected the way marketers build their strategies. With communication and staying in touch being one of the main reasons people get online, it’s no wonder messaging apps are now an incredible opportunity for promoting a business.
7. Businesses and customers exchange over 20 billion messages every month.
(Social Media Today)
At the conference in 2015, Facebook revealed it facilitates communication between businesses and customers in several ways, including tracking purchases and receiving notifications. Facebook Messenger customer service statistics show that the number of exchanged messages grew exponentially from 2 billion in 2017 and 8 billion in 2018. Hence, it seems crucial for companies to include Facebook Messenger in their business plan.
With this in mind, and with the number of Facebook Messenger users increasing in 2020, it seems imperative for businesses to implement Facebook in their marketing strategies.
8. Statistics show that the number of monthly active chatbots on Facebook Messenger today is an astonishing 300,000.
(Social Media Today)
Introduced in 2016, bots for businesses only grew in numbers (and importance) ever since.
Being used to solve various issues, including product recommendation and customer service, bots are on the frontend of successful business communication with clients worldwide. Facebook Messenger bots stats show that they are vital for providing satisfying service.
9. Similarly, Facebook Messenger CTR stands at an almost incredible 20%.
(Mobile Monkey)
Comparatively, email marketing gets around 1% of click-through rates on average. This means that only one of 1,000 emails sent gets a second click from customers. Facebook Messenger CTR stats show just how beneficial the platform is for businesses.
10. According to Facebook’s standards, the response time to the customers should be no longer than five minutes.
(The Marketing Squad)
Numerous Facebook Messenger statistics indicate that not only is a five-minute response time a scary concept when we talk about big businesses, but it is also expected that you reply to no less than 90% of questions directed at you.
While this may sound overwhelming, there are many ways to overcome it, including using extensions.
11. Only 1.5% of the Facebook revenue comes from Messenger and WhatsApp.
(Stock Analysis)
Facebook, Inc., gets most of its revenue from the two social media platforms—Facebook and Instagram. Combined, they bring in 98.5% of total earnings for the enterprise.
Messaging apps’—Messenger and WhatsApp—part in ad revenue is almost dismissable in that sense.
12. Facebook Messenger open rates are 10–80 times higher than those of marketing emails.
(Mobile Monkey)
With email open rates being relatively low, this is an enormous potential advantage to businesses that decide to transfer their communication with customers to Facebook Messenger.
Reason? While email open rates stand at 5-10%, Facebook Messenger numbers show their rate is over 80% at times.
13. Facebook claims there are 40 million active businesses on its Messenger platform every month.
(ZDNet)
According to numerous Facebook Messenger ads success stats, the number isn’t that surprising considering the various features and tools Facebook has been developing in recent years.
Its goal is to facilitate business-to-user communication and gain more ground in the advertising world. This is a clear sign that the number of businesses on the platform will only grow in the future, as the latest Facebook advertising statistics suggest.
Facebook Messenger Users 2021
Who uses Facebook Messenger? Millennials or Baby Boomers? Men or women? Read on to find out what demographics are the best bet to target on the platform.
14. Latest available data in 2021 shows that Facebook Messenger has 1.3 billion monthly active users.
(Hootsuite)
According to Facebook’s recent report, the number of Messenger users is significantly over one billion every month.
This makes it the second most used messaging app globally, only behind Facebook’s other app—the worldwide popular WhatsApp, which has the most significant instant messaging market share.
15. Almost 90% of internet users in the US aged 25-34 use Facebook Messenger.
(Statista)
This is how it looks among other age groups: 85% of those aged 35-44 use it, compared to 81% of young adults aged 18-24, as shown by Facebook Messenger trends. The percentage starts descending from 73% for the 45-54 age group to 40% for those above 75.
16. Facebook Messenger demographics show that 24.6% of consumers are in the 25–34 age group.
(Statista)
On the other hand, the minors 13–17 years old use it the least—only 1.6% of the total number of users.
The numbers reveal an exciting trend: with people 25–44 years older making almost half of all users, it seems that millennials are Messenger’s most substantial audience.
17. 55.7% of Facebook Messenger users in the US in 2021 are female.
(Statista)
There isn’t much gender disparity when it comes to Messenger users, as the percentage is pretty leveled.
However, the number of female users has grown by 0.3% since the last previous report in 2020.
Facebook Messenger Users By Country
When we compare Messenger to other communication tools, who has the most significant market share globally? The platform is doing exceptionally well in the States, but the figures are somewhat different overseas.
18. Facebook Messenger is the leading messaging app in the United States.
(Statista)
While WhatsApp is more often an app of choice globally, in the United States, Facebook Messenger is still a number one messaging option. According to statistics on people using Facebook Messenger, the total number of users is reported to be 133 million in 2020, expected to reach 135.9 and 138.1 million in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
19. As of September 2019, Facebook Messenger is the leading messaging app in the US in monthly active users.
(Statista)
Not only is Messenger beating out the competition, but how it’s doing it is even more impressive. If we’re to believe these Facebook Messenger stats, monthly active users are outperforming the second-placed Snapchat by 116%.
20. Although not a global leader, Facebook Messenger is still the top messaging app in 57 countries.
(Similar Web)
The top spot belongs to its sister platform, WhatsApp. However, according to Facebook Messenger data usage stats, it’s important to remember that Messenger holds its ground in some of the world’s most important markets, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
21. 73% of Latin American consumers view Facebook Messenger as a proper channel to businesses.
(Colibri)
It is no secret that messaging is the customers’ preferred communication method with businesses for many years now. Recent Facebook Messenger facts reveal that Latin America is no different, as over 70% of users find Facebook Messenger as a comfortable way to navigate their specific needs.
22. According to a January 2021 report, the United Kingdom accounts for 35.91 million messenger users.
(Statista)
Facebook Messenger stats for the UK show that it is the most popular messaging app in the 25-34 age group, making 24.5% of all the users.
The age group, 35-44, makes up for 20% of the total number. The age group with the lowest percentage of users is the underage ones, currently standing at 2.3%.
23. The most popular messaging service in France is Facebook Messenger, with a reach of 51%.
(Messenger People)
However, in other more prominent European countries, it falls behind WhatsApp significantly. Facebook Messenger app usage stats state that only 54% of Italians reported they actively use it, compared to 84% of WhatsApp users.
The difference is even more drastic in Spain, with only 43% of surveyed people saying they use Facebook Messenger.
24. 60% of the Hispanic population in the US use Facebook Messenger to communicate outside the country, according to statistics.
(Facebook)
Mobile devices are their primary tools for accessing the internet, as well—79% of the survey respondents reported consuming the internet this way.
Interestingly, 74% of the study group admitted using their smartphones while simultaneously watching television.
25. Similar to gender demographics in the US, Facebook Messenger data indicates that women use the platform more than men in Canada.
(Statista) (Statista)
As of January 2021, 54.8% of Facebook Messenger users in Canada are female. When it comes to age demographics, the figures are a little different than in the States.
Messenger is the most popular with Canadians aged 18–24, with 11.7% of all users being Generation Z.
Learn from Facebook Messenger Statistics
So what can we learn from this infinite vertigo of numbers and statistics? The most important figures and facts that we summarized above carry a crucial point: messaging apps are too big to be ignored, especially in advertising. With much of the world population spending time online and chatting, placing your business in front of them through the apps they use seems like the only logical step.
A space as personal as a private chat makes more sense in terms of communication with businesses and disclosing sensitive information. With all the privacy breaches happening in recent years, an end-to-end encrypted channel is the safest way to purchase a service or product successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Data usage statistics show that the app falls on a cheaper side of the messaging spectrum. The voice calls tend to use only 333 KB per minute, which places them just behind WhatsApp when it comes to cost-friendliness.
When we talk about Facebook video call data usage, it’s reported that using Messenger is more cost-efficient than WhatsApp, taking up around 22 MB of data for a single, 5-minute call.
According to the latest reports, there are 1.3 billion active users per month. The official numbers of one of Facebook’s 2019 quarterly reports show that the company’s family of apps has over 2.9 billion active users per month. For some more perspective, this puts it on the way to become a go-to communication service for half of the people in the world.
There is a limit of 250 people in a single group chat, according to recent Facebook Messenger group chat statistics. This is a particularly welcome feature for Facebook Groups, as they can now create big, intergroup chats and discuss anything, from poetry to cricket, as well as make plans about the eventual meetups.
The best part of this is that certain people inside one single group can carry conversations that may not be relevant for everyone, without unnecessarily bothering others.
In June 2009, Facebook announced that its chat reached one billion messages sent per day. Fast forward to 2018, and, according to Facebook Messenger statistics, there is a daily average of 20 billion messages being exchanged between businesses and customers alone.
As messaging became not only a preferable means of communication but more of a social norm, businesses turned their advertising, customer service, and user experience efforts to the world of messaging apps, and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
