How Many People Use WeChat? User Statistics & Trends (Mar 2023)


Did you know that WeChat valuation is US $62 billion? WeChat, or known as Weixin in China, is a mobile messaging app with an estimated 1.671 billion monthly active users in 2023. The WeChat growth rate is 8.43% from last year’s expected number of users.
Know more about the WeChat statistics – the number of WeChat users daily and monthly, sub-applications in the ecosystem, WeChat demographics, and many more.
Editors Picks:
- Users: WeChat users are estimated to reach 1.671 billion in 2023.
- Demographics: Most WeChat users are over 51 years old, accounting for 22.7% of the total users, with males accounting for 52.9%
- Ranking: WeChat ranks fifth in the popular social media app, with 1.309 billion monthly active users.
- Revenue: Tencent’s annual transactions rose by more than 600% when the foreign business launched mini-programs.
WeChat Monthly Active Users (MAU)
How Many People Use WeChat?
In 2023, WeChat is expected to reach 1.671 billion monthly active users (MAU) worldwide. It will show a significant year-on-year (YoY) growth of 8.43% or 13 million from the estimated number of WeChat users last year. It is currently the fifth most popular social media app with 1.309 billion MAU.
An interesting fact to note is that WeChat is called Weixin in China. It is one of the messaging apps created by the Chinese company Tencent rebranded as WeChat for international audiences.
The messaging service has many popular features, particularly Moments, wherein WeChat users can update their status and share photos and videos with friends. According to the WeChat usage statistics, most users open the app to check WeChat Moments.
Annual Number of Active Users on WeChat (2011-2025)
Year | Active Users (in billion) |
---|---|
2025* | 1.93 |
2024* | 1.8 |
2023* | 1.671 |
2022* | 1.541 |
2021 | 1.268 |
2020 | 1.225 |
2019 | 1.164 |
2018 | 1.097 |
2017 | 0.989 |
2016 | 0.889 |
2015 | 0.697 |
2014 | 0.5 |
2013 | 0.355 |
2012 | 0.16 |
2011 | 0.05 |
- Data Table
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Year Active Users (in billion) 2025* 1.93 2024* 1.8 2023* 1.671 2022* 1.541 2021 1.268 2020 1.225 2019 1.164 2018 1.097 2017 0.989 2016 0.889 2015 0.697 2014 0.5 2013 0.355 2012 0.16 2011 0.05 - Data Graphic
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Note: *Annual Number of Active Users on WeChat (2011-2025)
The growth of WeChat active users has been slow-moving in the past few years as most Chinese smartphone users have an account. According to the latest WeChat statistics, there are 1.26 billion active users on the messaging app in 2021, accounting for 80% of China’s total population.
Growth of WeChat Number of Users
WeChat users are expected to reach 1.671 billion by 2023, an increase of 13 million or 8.43% over last year. The projected number of users by 2025 is 1.93 billion, representing a growth rate of 15.49% or 259 million over the current year.
Daily Active Users (DAU) for WeChat Mini Programs
WeChat Mini Programs has an estimated 614 million daily active users in 2023. It shows a substantial year-on-year (YoY) growth of 13.91% or 75 million over the last year. Mini Program users spend more time on mobile gaming.
WeChat Mini Programs is a cloud-based sub-applications within the ecosystem. According to the WeChat revenue statistics from Tencent, which owns WeChat, the company’s annual transactions rose by more than 600% when the foreign business launched mini programs.
WeChat Mini Programs Active Users Per Year (2017-2025)
Year | Mini Programs Daily Active Users (in million) |
---|---|
2025* | 764 |
2024* | 689 |
2023* | 614 |
2022* | 539 |
2021 | 450 |
2020 | 400 |
2019 | 330 |
2018 | 230 |
2017 | 160 |
- Data Table
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Year Mini Programs Daily Active Users (in million) 2025* 764 2024* 689 2023* 614 2022* 539 2021 450 2020 400 2019 330 2018 230 2017 160 - Data Graphic
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Note: *Number of users was estimated using linear regression analysis based on data from Statista.
WeChat Mini Programs is anticipated to reach 764 million daily active users by 2025, an increase of 75 million or 10.88% from last year’s estimated number of users. According to the WeChat usage stats in 2020, WeChat users spend an average of 68.1 minutes on WeChat Mini Programs.
WeChat Mini Programs User Growth
WeChat Mini Programs users are expected to reach 614 million by 2023, an increase of 75 million or 13.91% over last year. The projected number of users by 2025 is 764 million, representing a growth rate of 24.42% or 150 million over the current year.
Number of Users for WeChat Pay
WeChat Pay is China’s second most popular digital payment option, with an estimated 1.133 billion active users in 2023. It will show a significant increase of 92 million or 8.83% over the last year.
WeChat Pay is WeChat’s payment app launched in 2013. The Chinese customer base includes people of all ages. Music, travel, and food are some of the most popular hobbies among WeChat Pay users.
WeChat Pay Active Users Per Year (2016-2025)
Year | Users (in billion) |
---|---|
2025* | 1.318 |
2024* | 1.225 |
2023* | 1.133 |
2022* | 1.041 |
2021 | 0.9 |
2020 | 0.865 |
2019 | 0.8 |
2018 | 0.72 |
2017 | 0.6 |
2016 | 0.43 |
- Data Table
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Year Users (in billion) 2025* 1.318 2024* 1.225 2023* 1.133 2022* 1.041 2021 0.9 2020 0.865 2019 0.8 2018 0.72 2017 0.6 2016 0.43 - Data Graphic
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Note: *Number of users was estimated using linear regression analysis based on data from BusinessofApps.
WeChat Pay is expected to reach 1.318 billion users by 2025, an increase of 93 million or 7.59% from last year’s estimated number of users. WeChat Pay users increased significantly over five years, from 430 million in 2016 to 900 million in 2021.
WeChat Pay User Growth
WeChat Pay users are expected to reach 1.133 billion in 2023, an increase of 92 million or 8.83% over last year. The projected number of users by 2025 is 1.318 billion, representing a growth rate of 16.32% or 185 million over the current year.
WeChat Work Users
WeChat Work is expected to reach 102 million users in 2023, an increase of 11.5 million or 12.70% from the previous year.
WeChat Work, commonly known as WeCom, is a remote working solution developed by Tencent. It has 73.40 million active users in 2021. The platform’s user base doubled as people adapted to working from home setups.
WeChat Work Active Users Per Year (2017-2025)
Year | Users (in million) |
---|---|
2025* | 125 |
2024* | 113.5 |
2023* | 102 |
2022* | 90.5 |
2021 | 75 |
2020 | 70 |
2019 | 60 |
2018 | 45 |
2017 | 30 |
- Data Table
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Year Users (in million) 2025* 125 2024* 113.5 2023* 102 2022* 90.5 2021 75 2020 70 2019 60 2018 45 2017 30 - Data Graphic
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Note: *Number of users was estimated using linear regression analysis based on data from BusinessofApps.
WeChat Work is expected to reach 125 million users by 2025, an increase of 11.5 million or 10.13% from the estimated number of users last year. Over four years, the number of WeChat Work users increased by more than half, from 30 million in 2017 to 75 million in 2021.
WeChat Work User Growth
WeChat Work users are expected to reach 102 million in 2023, an increase of 11.5 million or 12.70% over the estimated number of users last year. The projected number of users by 2025 is 125 million, representing a growth rate of 22.54% or 23 million over the current year.
WeChat User Demographics
WeChat is popular among internet users over 50, accounting for 22.7% of the total users, with males accounting for 52.9%.
WeChat User Age Distribution
22.7% of WeChat users are over the age of 51, according to the most recent WeChat stats by age distribution. The under-24 age group comes in second with a 22.3% share, slightly behind the 51 and up an age group.
WeChat User Gender Demographic
WeChat users are mostly males, with a 52.9% share of the total WeChat accounts, which is only slightly higher than female users, who account for 47.1% based on the latest WeChat statistics by gender distribution.
Which Country Has Most Downloads for the WeChat App?
China has the largest WeChat app downloads, accounting for 66.31 million in 2022. Although WeChat has predominantly Chinese users, it also has users in other countries, such as the United States, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. These countries contributed 7.3 million app downloads, with the United States contributing the most.
Top Countries by WeChat App Downloads
Quarter | Users (in millions) |
---|---|
Q1 2023 | 161.8 |
Q4 2022 | 164.2 |
Q3 2022 | 152.1 |
Q2 2022 | 137.7 |
Q1 2022 | 129.8 |
Q4 2021 | 118.1 |
Q3 2021 | 116 |
Q2 2021 | 103.6 |
Q1 2021 | 94.9 |
Q4 2020 | 73.7 |
Q3 2020 | 57.5 |
Q2 2020 | 33.5 |
Q1 2020 | 26.5 |
- Data Table
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Quarter Users (in millions) Q1 2023 161.8 Q4 2022 164.2 Q3 2022 152.1 Q2 2022 137.7 Q1 2022 129.8 Q4 2021 118.1 Q3 2021 116 Q2 2021 103.6 Q1 2021 94.9 Q4 2020 73.7 Q3 2020 57.5 Q2 2020 33.5 Q1 2020 26.5 - Data Graphic
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China has the most WeChat app downloads, with 66.31 million, followed by the United States, with 2.08 million in 2022. Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Vietnam also saw significant growth in WeChat user numbers, with 2.07 million and 1.78 million app downloads, respectively.
Which Country Has the Highest Share for WeChat In-App Revenue?
China has the highest share of WeChat in-app purchase (IAP) revenue, generating US $55.97 million or 91% of the total share
Top Countries by WeChat In-app Revenues
Country | WeChat IAP Revenue (in million USD) |
---|---|
China | 55.97 |
United States | 1.8 |
Hong Kong | 1.01 |
Canada | 0.9 |
Taiwan | 0.71 |
Singapore | 0.6 |
Australia | 0.49 |
Japan | 0.43 |
South Korea | 0.23 |
United Kingdom | 0.17 |
- Data Table
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Country WeChat IAP Revenue (in million USD) China 55.97 United States 1.8 Hong Kong 1.01 Canada 0.9 Taiwan 0.71 Singapore 0.6 Australia 0.49 Japan 0.43 South Korea 0.23 United Kingdom 0.17 - Data Graphic
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China has the largest WeChat in-app purchase revenue, accounting for US $55.97 million in 2022. Other important markets for WeChat included the United States, Hong Kong, and Canada, which collected US $3.7 million in IAP revenue.
What is the Top WeChat Video Channel?
WeChat is not just a messaging app; it also features a video channel where content creators, businesses, and individuals can upload short videos. Weile Jiaxiang Mahjong, the animated game channel, is the top WeChat video channel with 1,003.90 influence index points in 2021.
The influence index is measured by the content volume posted by a channel and the performance of the content, which includes the total number of likes, views, and reach of the trending content.
Most Influential Channels on WeChat
WeChat Video Channel | Influence Index (in points) |
---|---|
Weile Jiaxiang Mahjong | 1003.9 |
Monk Yichan | 991.8 |
Xiaoxiaowu | 990 |
Weile Doudizhu | 986.1 |
Taozi Qinggan Yizhan | 978.4 |
- Data Table
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WeChat Video Channel Influence Index (in points) Weile Jiaxiang Mahjong 1003.9 Monk Yichan 991.8 Xiaoxiaowu 990 Weile Doudizhu 986.1 Taozi Qinggan Yizhan 978.4 - Data Graphic
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The animated game channel, Weile Jiaxiang Mahjong, is the most influential channel on WeChat, garnering a 1,003.90 influence index, followed by Monk Yichan with 991.80 points.
What is the Most Influential Official Account on WeChat?
In 2021, the most influential official account on WeChat was “cctvyscji,” which belonged to the state-owned broadcaster China Central Television. It received a 1,022.50 influence index.
The content volume posted by a channel and the performance of the content, which includes the total number of likes, views, and reach of the trending content, are used to calculate the influence index.
According to WeChat Wiki, there are more than 20 million Official Accounts. WeChat Official Account owners agree that the app benefits them as it helps them save money by more than 30%.
Most Influential Accounts on WeChat
WeChat Official Account | Influence Index (in points) |
---|---|
CCTV-2 Finance (cctvyscj) | 1022.5 |
Heilongjiang TV – Night News (yehang82898289) | 1008.3 |
DXY (DingXiangYiSheng) | 1005.1 |
Hangzhou Transport Radio (hzfm918) | 1001.5 |
Dongjian (DJ00123987) | 999.4 |
China Fund News (chinafundnews) | 998.4 |
Henan CDC (henancdc) | 997.1 |
Shanghai TV – News (stvxwf) | 994.9 |
Read of Ten (duhaoshu) | 994 |
China Economic Daily ([email protected]) | 990 |
- Data Table
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WeChat Official Account Influence Index (in points) CCTV-2 Finance (cctvyscj) 1022.5 Heilongjiang TV – Night News (yehang82898289) 1008.3 DXY (DingXiangYiSheng) 1005.1 Hangzhou Transport Radio (hzfm918) 1001.5 Dongjian (DJ00123987) 999.4 China Fund News (chinafundnews) 998.4 Henan CDC (henancdc) 997.1 Shanghai TV – News (stvxwf) 994.9 Read of Ten (duhaoshu) 994 China Economic Daily ([email protected]) 990 - Data Graphic
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CCTV-2 Finance (cctvyscj), Heilongjiang TV – Night News (yehang82898289), DXY (DingXiangYiSheng), and Hangzhou Transport Radio (hzfm918) are the most influential WeChat official accounts with more than 1000 influence index.
74.2% of WeChat Official Account users utilize the app to receive news and boost their company’s visibility.