Quick Answer
How many people use Facebook Messenger in 2025?
The latest data claims there are currently 1.3 billion users actively using FB Messenger app today.
Recall the days you needed to open a desktop to read Facebook messages.
Wow, that was more than a decade ago!
Facebook Messenger changed how users engaged in virtual conversations upon its launch in 2011.
What’s the Facebook Messenger user count in 2025?
Which countries have the highest number of users?
The answers to these questions and a deep dive into Messenger’s secret features are coming next!
How Many People Use Facebook Messenger in 2025?
The latest data claims there are currently 1.3 billion users actively using FB Messenger app today, with Facebook Messenger having a record of 1.0 billion downloads on Google Play Store alone.
Number of New Conversations Daily
About 260 million new conversations are launched on Messenger and over 8 billion messages are sent every day.
This makes the platform one of the biggest messaging apps worldwide, rivaling its fellow Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp and China’s exclusive messenger WeChat.
All About Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger officially became a stand-alone messaging application in 2011.
Before it, Facebook Chat was the only option used to connect with friends and family while using the app.
The idea is believed to have come from the pressures of China’s growing tech influence.
At that time, WeChat already begins to get ahead of the game through its many novel offers such as in-app flight booking, ride-hailing, online payments, and more.
Despite its initial disadvantage compared to its Chinese rival, the Meta-owned platform quickly rose to fame.
400 million people used Facebook Messenger in 2014.
Facebook Messenger’s Cool Features You Did Not Know
You may be using Facebook Messenger regularly. But you have no idea it has a cornucopia of other features beyond messaging.
End-to-end Encryption
For those who are conscious about their privacy, Messenger actually has an end-to-end encryption format where you can send sensitive messages without worrying it will fall into the wrong hands.
To do this, you must leverage its “Secret Messages” feature by tapping on the person’s profile and clicking “Go to Secret Conversation.”
You can even set your messages to disappear after a couple of seconds. Cool!
Send Money
Hoya! You do not need a dedicated money-transfer app to sort out your finances.
Facebook Messenger supports Facebook Pay where users can link their debit/credit card or PayPal accounts to make and receive payments.
Sadly, this feature is not available in some countries just yet! But we hope it will soon be as it is a real lifesaver.
Messenger Kids
Yes, Facebook Messenger is now safe for young users through Messenger Kids.
This is a safer version of the original where parents can control whom their kids interact with.
Should You Have a Facebook Account to Get Messenger?
As of the latest update from Facebook’s community guidelines, yes. You do have to create a Facebook account to access Messenger.
But don’t frown just yet. The platform offers the Deactivated Except Messenger Account or which allows you to deactivate your main Facebook profile while keep using Messenger with no problem.
Here are some of the guidelines to keep in mind for those planning to have this type of account:
- Login on the Facebook Messenger app using the same credentials from the deactivated Facebook account
- Doing so will not reactivate your Facebook, don’t worry. *wink*
- Other people can search for your account and send you a direct message but you won’t be searchable on Facebook
Countries With the Highest Number of Facebook Messenger Users
How many people use Messenger in India? The United States? The Philippines? Let’s look into this.
- India – this country has an estimated 117 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- Brazil – this country has an estimated 62 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- Mexico – this country has an estimated 58 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- Vietnam – this country has an estimated 53 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- Philippines – this country has an estimated 52 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- Thailand – this country has an estimated 35 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- Egypt – this country has an estimated 33 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- Indonesia – this country has an estimated 27 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- United Kingdom – this country has an estimated 27 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
- Colombia – this country has an estimated 21 million Facebook Messenger active users as of January 2023
Most Popular Global Messaging Applications in 2022
How many people used Facebook Messenger in 2022?
How did its main competitors like WhatsApp and WeChat fare during the year?
Take a look at this data published by Statista on the most popular global messaging applications last year.
Included in this piece of information is each site’s number of monthly active users in 2022.
- WhatsApp – it had 2.0 billion monthly active users in 2022
- WeChat – it had 1.3 billion monthly active users in 2022
- Facebook Messenger – it had 988 million monthly active users in 2022
- QQ – it had 574 million monthly active users in 2022
- Snapchat – it had 557 million monthly active users in 2022
- Telegram – it had 550 million monthly active users in 2022
Number of Facebook Messenger Users
Here is data on the number of Facebook Messenger users in the United States from 2014 to 2020.
- 2014 – the country had 65 million Facebook Messenger users during the period
- 2015 – the country had 90 million Facebook Messenger users during the period
- 2016 – the country had 105 million Facebook Messenger users during the period
- 2017 – the country had 117 million Facebook Messenger users during the period
- 2018 – the country had 126 million Facebook Messenger users during the period
- 2019 – the country had 133 million Facebook Messenger users during the period
- 2020 – the country had 139 million Facebook Messenger users during the period
Conclusion
1.3 billion people use Facebook Messenger.
That’s a lot of users right there!
Beyond sending messages, people use the popular messaging platform for many interesting features such as sending money, engaging in secret conversations for confidentiality, and playing.
Messenger is flexible and easy to use. You can even use it with a deactivated Facebook account.
