How many people use WhatsApp in the UK? How often do they use it, and how does it compare to other messaging apps? We analyzed the latest Ofcom data to answer the questions about WhatsApp usage in Britain.
Reach & Growth
How Many People Use WhatsApp in the UK? (2025)
WhatsApp is used by 90% of UK online adults. Reach increased from 87% in 2024 and 86% in 2023.
WhatsApp is the top messaging app in the UK and continues growing. It is the highest-reaching messaging service in the country.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025, Ipsos iris
How Many People Use WhatsApp Daily in the UK? (2025)
74% of UK online adults access WhatsApp daily, representing 36.1 million people.
Daily reach increased 10 percentage points from 64% in May 2024, when daily users totalled 30.4 million.
4 out of 5 monthly WhatsApp users use it on any given day. WhatsApp has become essential daily communication infrastructure.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025
Time Spent
How Much Time Do UK Adults Spend on WhatsApp? (2025)
WhatsApp average time spent is 17 minutes per day. That increased from 15 minutes in 2024 and 13 minutes in 2023.
In 2024, WhatsApp averaged 7 hours 41 minutes per visitor per month.
Time spent grew 31% over two years. WhatsApp is capturing more of users communication time.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025
Smartphone Usage
Is WhatsApp the Most Popular Smartphone App in the UK? (2025)
WhatsApp is the most-used smartphone app in the UK. 92% of UK adult smartphone users have WhatsApp, up from 91% in 2024.
WhatsApp daily reach on smartphones is 76%, the highest among all apps. It is the go-to app regardless of smartphone operating system.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025
Demographics
Who Uses WhatsApp in the UK? (2025)
WhatsApp gender split is fairly even at 48% men and 52% women.
This balanced demographic profile makes WhatsApp unusual among messaging and social platforms, which typically skew toward one gender.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025
Meta Ecosystem
How Does WhatsApp Fit With Other Meta Platforms? (2025)
82% of WhatsApp users also use both Facebook/Messenger and Instagram. That is up from 80% in 2024.
The Meta ecosystem is deeply interconnected. WhatsApp users are overwhelmingly part of the broader Meta universe.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025
Other Messaging Apps
How Does WhatsApp Compare to Other Messaging Apps? (2024)
Facebook Messenger reach is 64% of UK adults (30.4 million). Messenger reach declined from 33.4 million in May 2023.
Instagram direct messages are used by 30% of UK internet users aged 16 and over. Among 16 to 24 year olds, Instagram DM is the second-highest-reaching messaging service at 71%.
Discord reached 13% of UK adults (6.2 million), with 66% male audience. Telegram reached 7% (3.4 million), also 66% male.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024
Which Messaging Apps Do Young People Use? (2024)
Among 16 to 24 year olds, Instagram DM reach is 71%, making it the second-highest messaging service for this age group.
Snapchat messenger is third among 16 to 24 year olds at 62%. 57% of 16 to 24 year old Snapchat users sent disappearing images or videos.
Young people use multiple messaging platforms rather than consolidating on one service.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024
- [Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/online-research/online-nation/2025/online-nations-report-2025.pdf)
- [Ofcom Online Nations Report 2024](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/online-research/online-nation/2024/online-nation-2024-report.pdf)
- Ipsos iris