I’ve compiled a list of the most popular messaging apps by country. Each app on this list comes from data that specifies the most active users on each app (for Android and iPhones).
I always want to know their most popular messaging app when traveling to a new country. So I can blend in. If you wish to know for the same reason or are here for pure curiosity, I’ve compiled a list to help.
App trends change all the time. To present the most accurate information, I’ve compiled my list based on a couple data points.
How I Found My Data
App trends continually change. Whether a company does something scummy causes them to lose a considerable part of their user base. Or people get bored with the app. So you MAY find this information isn’t up to date.
But:
I did the best I could with my research. Just for you.1
To find the most popular messaging apps by country, I chose data.ai as my source. They provide data on mobile users to companies looking to make apps. Thus, I felt they were the most ‘trustworthy.’
I ensured data came from the same website to prevent any mixups. I felt they were the most trustworthy out of other data collection firms. But I welcome you to perform your own research.
Prepare yourself for your head to spin.
The primary data point I’m going with to determine an app’s popularity is “Active Users.” For countries where I COULDN’T find any data, I resorted to the number of app downloads.
For countries I listed by Downloads Rank, I will list a single asterisk (*) beside it.
Keep in mind that people can manipulate both data fields.
Whether they have a phone farm. Or if the app comes preinstalled.
In short, don’t take this information as gospel.
Most Popular Chat Apps by Country
Don’t make life harder on yourself.
You can search for a country by using the search bar.
Remember the data points:
- Asterick (*): most downloaded (out of Apple App and Google Play Stores)
- Everything else: apps with most active users (out of both app stores)
| Country | Most Popular App (By Active Users) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | |
| Albania | |
| Algeria | *Facebook Messenger |
| Angola | |
| Argentina | |
| Armenia | |
| Australia | Facebook Messenger |
| Austria | |
| Azerbaijan | |
| Bahamas | |
| Bangladesh | No Data |
| Belarus | Telegram |
| Belgium | |
| Belize | Facebook Messenger |
| Benin | |
| Bhutan | |
| Bolivia | *Facebook Messenger |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | *Viber |
| Botswana | *Facebook Messenger |
| Brazil | |
| Brunei | |
| Bulgaria | Viber |
| Burundi | |
| Cambodia | *Facebook Messenger |
| Cameroon | |
| Canada | Facebook Messenger |
| Chad | |
| Chile | |
| China | |
| Columbia | |
| Costa Rica | *Telegram |
| Croatia | |
| Cuba | No Data |
| Czech Republic | |
| Cyprus | |
| Denmark | Facebook Messenger |
| Djibouti | |
| Dominican Republic | |
| East Timor | |
| Ecuador | |
| Egypt | |
| El Salvador | |
| Estonia | |
| Fiji | *Viber |
| Finland | |
| France | |
| Gabon | |
| Georgia | |
| Germany | |
| Ghana | |
| Greece | Viber |
| Guatemala | |
| Guinea | |
| Guyana | |
| Honduras | *Facebook Messenger |
| Hong Kong | |
| Hungary | Facebook Messenger |
| Iceland | |
| India | |
| Indonesia | |
| Iran | No Data |
| Iraq | |
| Ireland | |
| Israel | |
| Italy | |
| Jamaica | |
| Japan | LINE |
| Jordan | *Facebook Messenger |
| Kazakhstan | |
| Kenya | |
| Kuwait | |
| Kyrgyzstan | |
| Laos | |
| Latvia | |
| Lebanon | |
| Liberia | |
| Libya | |
| Lithuania | |
| Luxembourg | |
| Macau | |
| Malaysia | |
| Mali | |
| Mauritania | |
| Mauritius | |
| Mexico | |
| Moldova | *Viber |
| Mongolia | *Facebook Messenger |
| Morocco | |
| Mozambique | |
| Myanmar | *Facebook Messenger |
| Namibia | |
| Nepal | |
| Netherlands | |
| New Zealand | Facebook Messenger |
| Nicaragua | *Telegram |
| Niger | |
| Nigeria | |
| Norway | Facebook Messenger |
| North Korea | No Data |
| Oman | |
| Pakistan | |
| * Palestine | |
| Panama | *Telegram |
| Papua New Guinea | |
| Paraguay | |
| Peru | |
| Philippines | Facebook Messenger |
| Poland | Facebook Messenger |
| Portugal | |
| Puerto Rico | No Data |
| Qatar | |
| Romania | |
| Russia | |
| Rwanda | |
| Saudi Arabia | |
| Senegal | |
| Serbia | *Viber |
| Sierra Leone | |
| Singapore | |
| Slovakia | Facebook Messenger |
| Slovenia | *Viber |
| Somalia | No Data |
| Somaliland | No Data |
| South Africa | |
| South Korea | KakaoTalk |
| Spain | |
| Sri Lanka | |
| Suriname | |
| Sweden | Facebook Messenger |
| Switzerland | |
| Syria | No Data |
| Taiwan | LINE |
| Tajikistan | |
| Tanzania | |
| Thailand | LINE |
| Trinidad and Tobago | |
| Tunisia | |
| (Türkiye) Turkey | |
| Turkmenistan | *ICQ Video Calls & Chat Rooms |
| Uganda | |
| Ukraine | Viber |
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | |
| United Kingdom (UK) | |
| United States of America (USA) | Facebook Messenger |
| Uruguay | |
| Uzbekistan | *Telegram Messenger |
| Venezuela | |
| Vietnam | Zalo |
| Yemen | |
| Zambia | *Facebook Messenger |
| Zimbabwe |
* Data generated from users in specified country.
FAQs: Messaging Apps
Still have questions about messaging apps?
Dive into this list of frequently asked questions to find your answers.
What Chat App Does the World Use the Most?
Most countries use WhatsApp. Out of the 100 countries that use it, you’ll want to pay attention to two data points. Either WhatsApp was the most downloaded or had the most active users.
Across both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store
Is Telegram Made in India?
Telegram was originally made in Russia. However, in 2014 Telegram left Russia and became a registered LLC in the United States.
Also, Telegram’s legal domicile headquarters is in London. Whereas, their operational center is in Dubai.
Do You Have the Right Apps Downloaded?
Out of all of the available mobile messaging applications, most countries only use a select bunch.
Don’t forget to explore other apps when the opportunity arises.
If you’re a traveler, don’t forget to download any of these apps before you head to your destination. Otherwise, you may find yourself outside the loop.
