Messaging apps have already overtaken social media networks when it comes to 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 true 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 Pick)
- Facebook Messenger is the second most downloaded app in the last ten years, according to data from Google Play and App Store
- Messenger is unrivaled on its domestic soil, with 133 million Americans having it as their first choice when it comes to messaging apps
- According to Facebook Messenger bot store statistics, there are reportedly 300,000 monthly active bots on the platform
- Facebook Messenger is the most used app for messaging in 57 countries around the world
- 90% of the internet users in the age group 25-34 are reportedly using Messenger in the United States
- Every month, 410 million people use Facebook Messenger’s video chat feature
General Facebook Messenger Stats 2020
1. Facebook Messenger has 1.3 billion unique monthly users.
(TechCrunch)
According to Facebook’s recent report, the number of messenger users is significantly over one billion per month, making it the second most used messaging app in the world, only behind Facebook’s other app WhatsApp.
2. 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 the number of 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.
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.
(TechZim)
Research on Facebook Messenger statistics revealed that the app used 22 MB of data for a single, 5-minute video call, while WhatsApp spent about 15% 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 when it comes to daily access to the app. In fact, 72% percent of people from that group use Facebook Messenger on a daily basis. Out of those who declared they “never” use it, 20% were over 65 years old.
6. 55.4% of Facebook messenger users are female.
(Statista)
As you can see, the fact that males account for 44,6% of Messenger demographics isn’t showing any drastic preference by any gender when it comes to messaging apps of choice.
Facebook Messenger Advertising Stats
7. Businesses and customers exchange over 20 billion messages every month.
(Social Media Today)
At the conference in 2015, Facebook revealed it is facilitating communication between businesses and customers in several ways, including the ability to track 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, so it seems crucial for companies to include Facebook Messenger into their business plan.
With this in mind, and with the number of Facebook messenger users increasing in 2020, it’s imperative for businesses to implement Facebook in their marketing strategies.
8. The number of monthly active bots 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 a variety of issues, including product recommendation and customer service, bots are on the frontend of successful business communication with clients around the world.
Facebook Messenger bots stats show that they are key for providing satisfying service.
9. 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% questions directed at you. While this may sound overwhelming, there are many ways to overcome it, including using extensions.
10. 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.
It’s 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 is only going to grow in the future as the latest Facebook advertising statistics suggest.
11. Facebook Messenger open rates are officially up to eight times higher than those of email marketing.
(Medium)
With email open rates being quite low, this is a huge 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.
12. 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.
Now, let’s turn our attention to what numbers have to say about its usage throughout the world:
Facebook Messenger Users By Country
13. 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.
14. As of September 2019, Facebook Messenger is the leading messaging app in the US when it comes to monthly active users.
(Statista)
Not only is Messenger beating out the competition, but the manner in which it’s doing it is even more impressive. If we’re to believe these Facebook Messenger stats, monthly active users are topping the second placed Snapchat by 116%.
15. 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 messenger data usage stats, it’s important to remember that Messenger is holding its ground in some of the most important markets in the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
16. 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 years of age.
17. 73% of Latin American consumers view Facebook Messenger as an acceptable channel to the businesses.
(Colibri)
It is no secret that messaging is the customers’ preferred method of communication 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.
18. According to the June 2020 report, the United Kingdom accounts for 35.5 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, which makes 25.1% 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%.
19. The most popular messenger 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.
Conclusion
So what can we learn from this infinite vertigo of numbers and statistics? The Facebook Messenger statistics 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 a successful purchase of a service or product.
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 a sum of one billion messages sent per day. Fast forward to 2018, and, according to Facebook Messenger statistics, 20 billion messages are 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.
