Telegram has become a powerhouse in the messaging world, reaching 1 billion monthly active users in 2025.
Its privacy-focused features, massive group chats, and versatile tools make it a go-to platform for individuals, businesses, and communities.
Whether you’re a marketer, entrepreneur, or casual user, understanding Telegram’s stats and features can help you leverage the platform for your benefit.
In this article, we dive deep into Telegram’s user base, demographics, downloads, revenue, and unique features, while also addressing the latest user questions from platforms like Quora and Reddit.
With detailed tables and simple explanations, this guide covers everything you need to know about Telegram statistics 2025.
Why Telegram Matters in 2025
Telegram stands out for its speed, security, and flexibility. Unlike other messaging apps, it offers end-to-end encryption (optional), supports groups with up to 200,000 members, and allows file sharing up to 2 GB (or 4 GB for premium users).
Its ad-free experience and bot platform make it a favorite for businesses, influencers, and communities.
By exploring Telegram’s growth and usage trends, you can discover how to use it for networking, marketing, or staying connected.
Telegram User Statistics: A Snapshot
Telegram’s growth is staggering. From 100 million users in 2016 to 1 billion in 2025, the app has solidified its place as the 4th most popular messaging app globally. Here’s a quick look at the key stats for 2025:
- Monthly Active Users (MAU): 1 billion
- Daily Active Users (DAU): 500 million
- Telegram Premium Subscribers: 15 million
- Daily New Users: 2.5 million
- Average Time Spent Monthly: 4 hours and 25 minutes
- Global Rank (Messaging Apps): 4th
- In-App Revenue (Feb 2024): $6.1 million
These numbers show Telegram’s massive reach and engagement, making it a platform worth exploring for personal and professional use.
Telegram Monthly Active Users Over Time
Telegram’s user base has grown steadily since its launch in 2013. The table below tracks its monthly active users (MAU) from 2014 to 2025:
| Date | Monthly Active Users |
| March 2014 | 35 million |
| December 2014 | 50 million |
| September 2015 | 60 million |
| February 2016 | 100 million |
| December 2017 | 180 million |
| March 2018 | 200 million |
| October 2019 | 300 million |
| April 2020 | 400 million |
| January 2021 | 500 million |
| July 2021 | 550 million |
| June 2022 | 700 million |
| 2023 | 800 million |
| April 2024 | 900 million |
| July 2024 | 950 million |
| March 2025 | 1 billion |
Source: Statista 1, Telegram, Statista 2.
This growth reflects Telegram’s ability to attract users with its privacy features and resistance to censorship, especially in regions with restrictive internet policies.
Also read about: Social Media Statistics
Telegram Daily Active Users
Telegram boasts 500 million daily active users in 2025, meaning half of its monthly users engage with the app every day.
This high engagement rate highlights Telegram’s role as a daily communication tool for millions.
Telegram Premium: A Growing Revenue Stream
Telegram Premium, launched in June 2022, offers exclusive features like 4 GB file uploads, faster download speeds, and premium stickers.
By July 2025, Telegram Premium reached 15 million subscribers, up from 10 million in September 2024. Despite this growth, premium users make up only 1.5% of the total user base, showing that most users prefer the free version.
Here’s how Telegram Premium subscribers have grown:
| Month-Year | Premium Subscribers |
| July 2022 | 0.15 million |
| August 2022 | 0.26 million |
| December 2022 | 1 million |
| October 2023 | 3.5 million |
| December 2023 | 4 million |
| January 2024 | 5 million |
| September 2024 | 10 million |
| July 2025 | 15 million |
For businesses and creators, Telegram Premium offers tools to enhance content sharing and audience engagement, making it a valuable investment.
Also read about: WhatsApp Statistics
Telegram User Demographics
Understanding Telegram’s user base can help you tailor your content or marketing strategies. Let’s break down the demographics by age, gender, and country.
Age Demographics
Telegram’s largest user group is young adults. The 18–34 age bracket accounts for 53.5% of users, with the 25–34 age group being the most dominant at 29.7%.
| Age Group | Share of Telegram Users |
| 18–24 | 23.8% |
| 25–34 | 29.7% |
| 35–44 | 19.64% |
| 45–54 | 12.76% |
| 55–64 | 9.36% |
| 65+ | 5.25% |
This youthful demographic makes Telegram ideal for targeting Gen Z and Millennials with trendy content, products, or services.
Gender Demographics
Telegram’s user base is slightly male, with 56.8% male users and 43.2% female users.
| Gender | Share of Users |
| Male | 56.8% |
| Female | 43.2% |
This balance suggests Telegram is versatile for reaching both genders, though male-dominated niches like tech or crypto may find a stronger audience.
Telegram Users by Country
Telegram’s popularity varies by region. India leads with 45% of its population using Telegram, followed by Brazil (38%) and Mexico (34%). In contrast, only 9% of Americans and 1% of Japanese use the app regularly.
| Country | Share of Respondents Using Telegram |
| India | 45% |
| Brazil | 38% |
| Mexico | 34% |
| South Africa | 32% |
| Spain | 32% |
| Italy | 29% |
| Germany | 16% |
| France | 11% |
| United Kingdom | 10% |
| United States | 9% |
| Japan | 1% |
For businesses, India’s massive user base offers a prime opportunity for marketing campaigns, while Brazil and Mexico are also strong markets.
Also read about: TikTok Statistics
Telegram App Downloads
Telegram’s app downloads reflect its global appeal. In 2024 (up to October 27), the app was downloaded 271.8 million times. In 2023, downloads reached 409.48 million, a 6.94% increase from 2021.
Downloads by Year
| Year | Number of Downloads |
| 2015 | 40.33 million |
| 2016 | 53.58 million |
| 2017 | 67.77 million |
| 2018 | 87.02 million |
| 2019 | 141.5 million |
| 2020 | 326.31 million |
| 2021 | 382.92 million |
| 2022 | 367.23 million |
| 2023 | 409.48 million |
| 2024* (Oct 27) | 271.8 million |
Downloads by Country (2023)
India dominates Telegram downloads with 83.85 million in 2023, followed by Russia (35.06 million) and the United States (29.92 million).
| Country | Number of Downloads (2023) |
| India | 83.85 million |
| Russia | 35.06 million |
| United States | 29.92 million |
| Indonesia | 24.34 million |
| Brazil | 22.83 million |
| Vietnam | 17.55 million |
| Ukraine | 11.77 million |
| Kazakhstan | 9.36 million |
| France | 7.45 million |
| United Kingdom | 6.04 million |
| Malaysia | 5.52 million |
| Italy | 4.14 million |
Downloads by Region (Q4 2023)
The EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) led with 46.17 million downloads, followed by APAC (44.45 million) and NALA (North and Latin America, 23.93 million).
| Quarter | APAC | EMEA | NALA |
| 2023 Q4 | 44.45 million | 46.17 million | 23.93 million |
| 2023 Q3 | 44.99 million | 40.74 million | 22.77 million |
| 2023 Q2 | 38.57 million | 34.96 million | 21.26 million |
| 2023 Q1 | 38.07 million | 33.77 million | 19.8 million |
These download stats show Telegram’s strong presence in emerging markets, making it a great platform for targeting users in Asia and Africa.
How Much Time Do Users Spend on Telegram?
Users spend an average of 4 hours and 25 minutes per month on Telegram, equivalent to 8.5 minutes daily. They open the app 21 times a day, with each session lasting about 41 minutes. Compared to other platforms, Telegram ranks 8th in time spent:
| Social Media Platform | Time Spent Per Month |
| TikTok | 34 hours |
| YouTube | 28 hours 5 minutes |
| 19 hours 47 minutes | |
| 17 hours 6 minutes | |
| 15 hours 50 minutes | |
| Line | 8 hours 14 minutes |
| X (Twitter) | 4 hours 40 minutes |
| Telegram | 4 hours 25 minutes |
| Snapchat | 3 hours 33 minutes |
| FB Messenger | 3 hours 21 minutes |
| 1 hour 49 minutes | |
| 51 minutes |
This engagement level makes Telegram a sticky platform, ideal for businesses running time-sensitive campaigns or communities fostering daily interactions.
Telegram Revenue and Funding
Telegram generates revenue through in-app purchases, primarily via Telegram Premium. In February 2024, the app earned $6.1 million, with $4.86 million from the Apple App Store and $1.22 million from Google Play.
In-App Revenue by Month
| Month-Year | Apple App Store | Google Play Store |
| Feb 2024 | $4.86 million | $1.22 million |
| Jan 2024 | $4.44 million | $1.14 million |
| Dec 2023 | $3.87 million | $0.97 million |
| Nov 2023 | $3.35 million | $0.82 million |
| Oct 2023 | $3.18 million | $0.79 million |
Since its launch, Telegram has raised over $4 billion, with the latest funding of $330 million in March 2024.
| Date | Funding Received |
| March 18, 2024 | $0.33 billion |
| July 18, 2023 | $0.27 billion |
| April 28, 2021 | $0.75 billion |
| March 2021 | $1 billion |
| March 1, 2018 | $1.7 billion |
This financial backing supports Telegram’s independence and continuous feature development, ensuring it remains competitive.
Telegram Features: Why Users Love It
Telegram’s unique features set it apart from competitors like WhatsApp or Signal. Here’s how you can use these features to your advantage:
- Large Group Chats: Host up to 200,000 members, perfect for communities, businesses, or fan groups.
- File Sharing: Share files up to 2 GB (or 4 GB for Premium users), ideal for sending large documents or media.
- Bots: Over 10 million bots power automation, from customer service to gaming. Create your own bot using Telegram’s free bot platform.
- Channels: Broadcast to unlimited subscribers. Channel owners with 1,000+ subscribers can earn 50% of ad revenue, withdrawable via the Fragment platform.
- Privacy: Optional end-to-end encryption for private chats (not groups). Users must enable it manually, which has sparked debates (more below).
For businesses, these features enable customer support automation, content distribution, and community building. For individuals, they offer secure communication and access to diverse content.
Telegram Channels: A Goldmine for Creators
Telegram channels are a powerful tool for reaching large audiences. The most popular channel, Telegram Tips, has 10.89 million subscribers. Other top channels include Telegram Premium (7.34 million) and Telegram News (7.11 million).
| Channel Name | Number of Subscribers |
| Telegram Tips | 10.89 million |
| Telegram Premium | 7.34 million |
| Telegram News | 7.11 million |
| Proxy MTProto | 7.10 million |
| Notcoin Community | 6.10 million |
Most Popular Channel Categories
| Category | Share of Users Following |
| News | 85% |
| Entertainment | 62% |
| Educational | 58% |
| Political | 50% |
| Industry News | 48% |
| Friends’ Personal Channels | 45% |
| Military Operation Channels | 36% |
| Bloggers/Celebrities | 31% |
| Company Internal Channels | 19% |
| Brands/Companies | 17% |
| Products/Discounts | 16% |
| Job Offers | 14% |
| Adult Content | 13% |
| Darknet | 4% |
Channels are perfect for creators looking to share news, tutorials, or promotions. The 50% ad revenue share for channels with 1,000+ subscribers makes Telegram a lucrative platform for influencers.
Telegram E-Commerce: A Growing Market
Telegram is emerging as an e-commerce hub, with $12 million in sales from goods sourced from China. Other top segments include digital equipment ($5.52 million) and consumer loans ($3.12 million).
| Segment | Sales Volume |
| Goods from China | $12 million |
| Digital Equipment | $5.52 million |
| Consumer Loans | $3.12 million |
| Apparel and Shoes | $2.14 million |
| Sport | $0.86 million |
| Work and Education | $0.57 million |
| Hypermarkets | $0.45 million |
| Health and Beauty | $0.25 million |
| Furniture/Household Goods | $0.063 million |
| Food Delivery | $0.057 million |
Businesses can use Telegram to sell products directly through channels or bots, tapping into its massive user base, especially in India.
Telegram Security: Opportunities and Challenges
Telegram’s security features are a double-edged sword. While it offers end-to-end encryption for private chats, it’s not enabled by default, and group chats remain unencrypted. This has led to controversies, including:
- Pavel Durov’s Arrest (August 2024): French authorities detained Telegram’s CEO over allegations of the app being used for drug trafficking, money laundering, and distributing illegal content. This sparked debates about Telegram’s moderation policies.
- India Investigations (2024): Telegram faced scrutiny in India for its role in leaking exam papers, stock manipulation, and extortion scams. For example, a Telegram group was linked to a ₹20 lakh stock manipulation scheme.
- Cybercrime Tools: Scammers sell phishing tools for as low as $230 on Telegram, exploiting its open platform.
Despite these issues, Telegram’s privacy focus attracts users in regions with heavy censorship, like Russia and Iran. To use Telegram safely, enable end-to-end encryption for sensitive chats and avoid suspicious groups.
Latest User Questions from Quora and Reddit (2025)
Users on Quora and Reddit are buzzing about Telegram’s potential in 2025. Here are some trending questions and insights:
- Can Telegram replace WhatsApp for businesses? Many users praise Telegram’s bots and channels for customer support and marketing. Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram’s unlimited group sizes and file-sharing capabilities make it ideal for large-scale campaigns.
- Is Telegram safe for crypto trading? Reddit users highlight Telegram’s popularity in crypto communities, with channels like Notcoin Community (6.1 million subscribers) leading discussions. However, they warn about scams and recommend verifying channel authenticity.
- How can I monetize a Telegram channel? Users on Quora suggest building a niche channel (e.g., tech, education) and reaching 1,000 subscribers to earn ad revenue. Premium features like collectible usernames also offer monetization potential.
- Why is Telegram banned in some countries? Reddit threads mention bans in countries like China due to Telegram’s resistance to government data requests. Users recommend using VPNs to access Telegram in restricted regions.
These insights show Telegram’s versatility but also highlight the need for caution due to its open nature.
How to Use Telegram for Your Benefit
Here’s how different groups can leverage Telegram in 2025:
- Businesses: Create channels to share updates, run ads, or sell products. Use bots for automated customer service or order processing.
- Content Creators: Build a channel to share blogs, videos, or tutorials. Monetize through ads or premium subscriptions.
- Individuals: Join communities for networking, learning, or entertainment. Use private chats with encryption for secure communication.
- Marketers: Target India and Brazil with localized campaigns. Use Telegram’s analytics to track channel growth.
Telegram’s Global Reach
Telegram is available in 175 countries on the iOS App Store, 133 countries on Google Play, and 107 countries on the Windows Store. Its accessibility makes it a global platform for connecting with diverse audiences.
Telegram’s Ranking Among Social Media Platforms
As of 2024, Telegram ranks 7th among social media platforms with 950 million users, climbing to 1 billion in 2025. It trails behind giants like Facebook and WhatsApp but surpasses Snapchat and Twitter.
| Social Media Platform | Monthly Active Users |
| 3.065 billion | |
| YouTube | 2.504 billion |
| 2 billion | |
| 2 billion | |
| TikTok | 1.582 billion |
| 1.343 billion | |
| Facebook Messenger | 1.010 billion |
| Telegram | 1 billion |
| Snapchat | 800 million |
| Douyin | 755 million |
FAQs About Telegram Statistics
1. How many people use Telegram in 2025?
Telegram has 1 billion monthly active users and 500 million daily active users in 2025, with 2.5 million new users joining daily.
2. Is Telegram safe to use for businesses?
Telegram is safe for businesses if you use encrypted chats for sensitive data and verify channel authenticity to avoid scams. Its bots and channels are excellent for customer engagement.
3. How can I make money on Telegram?
You can monetize Telegram by creating a channel with 1,000+ subscribers to earn 50% of ad revenue, selling products, or offering premium content via Telegram Premium features.
4. Why is Telegram so popular in India?
Telegram’s popularity in India (45% of the population) stems from its large group chats, file-sharing capabilities, and resistance to censorship, making it ideal for education, news, and community building.
5. What are the risks of using Telegram?
Risks include unencrypted group chats, scams, and illicit activities on some channels. Always enable end-to-end encryption for private chats and avoid suspicious groups.
Also Read:
- Reddit Statistics
- Personalization Statistics
- Chatbots Statistics
- Generative AI Statistics
- Canva Statistics
Conclusion: Why Telegram is a Game-Changer
Telegram’s journey to 1 billion users by 2025 showcases its appeal as a fast, secure, and versatile platform. Its young, engaged user base, massive group capabilities, and monetization options make it a goldmine for businesses, creators, and individuals.
However, its security challenges remind users to stay vigilant. By leveraging Telegram’s features—channels, bots, and premium tools—you can connect with audiences, grow your brand, or build communities like never before.
