Picture this: It’s Monday morning, you’re sipping your coffee, and your phone buzzes. Is it a meme from your group chat, a breaking news alert, or maybe a notification from your favorite crypto channel? Odds are, if you’re like a billion other people, it’s Telegram lighting up your screen. In just over a decade, Telegram has gone from a privacy-focused underdog to a global social media heavyweight, now boasting over 1 billion monthly active users—a number that would make even the most seasoned Silicon Valley execs do a double-take ().
But Telegram isn’t just another chat app. It’s a news source, a business tool, a meme factory, and—depending on where you live—a lifeline for uncensored information. Whether you’re a marketer sizing up your next campaign, a founder eyeing new markets, or just a social media stats nerd (no judgment, I’m right there with you), these Telegram statistics for 2025 will give you the full download on where the platform stands, how it’s changing, and what it means for the future of digital communication.
Telegram Statistics at a Glance: The Top 10 Numbers You Need to Know
Let’s kick things off with a rapid-fire rundown of the most jaw-dropping Telegram statistics for 2025. These are the numbers you’ll want to drop in your next pitch deck—or at least at your next coffee break.
- 1 billion monthly active users as of March 2025 ()
- 2.5 million new users join every day ()
- 450 million daily active users—nearly half the MAU base ()
- Top market: India, with 83.8 million downloads in 2023 ()
- Average user spends 3 hours 45 minutes per month on Telegram ()
- Telegram Premium: 10 million paying subscribers as of September 2024 ()
- $547 million in profit reported in 2024 ()
- 58% of users are male, 42% female ()
- Largest age group: 25–34 year-olds (29.4% of users) ()
- Over 10 million active bots and millions of channels ()
Telegram’s Global User Base: Growth, Reach & Rankings
Telegram’s journey from a niche privacy app to a billion-user juggernaut is the stuff of startup legend. I’ve watched this growth with a mix of awe and, honestly, a little envy—who wouldn’t want their product to add 2.5 million users a day?
Monthly Active Users: Telegram’s Climb to 1 Billion
Telegram’s growth curve looks less like a gentle hill and more like a ski jump. Here’s the quick timeline:
- 2013: Telegram launches.
- 2018: 200 million MAU ()
- 2021: WhatsApp privacy backlash triggers a 25 million user surge in 72 hours ()
- October 2021: 70 million new users in a single day during the Facebook outage ()
- Mid-2023: 800 million MAU
- Mid-2024: 950 million MAU
- March 2025: 1 billion MAU ()
That’s a tenfold increase since launch, with double-digit annual growth even as other platforms plateau ().
Visual Timeline
- 2013: Launch
- 2018: 200M MAU
- 2021: 500M MAU (after WhatsApp exodus)
- 2023: 800M MAU
- 2024: 950M MAU
- 2025: 1B MAU
Telegram vs. Other Messaging Apps: Where Does It Stand?
Telegram now ranks as the 4th largest messaging app worldwide, trailing only WhatsApp (~2B MAU), WeChat (~1.34B), and Facebook Messenger (~1B) (). It’s leapfrogged Snapchat (~800M) and left Signal in the dust.
But here’s the kicker: Telegram is currently the most downloaded messaging app, averaging 48–50 million downloads per month—edging out WhatsApp’s 46 million (). That’s a clear sign of momentum and fresh user acquisition.
In terms of engagement, Telegram users spend less time in-app than WhatsApp or Facebook, but the platform’s focus is different—think quick info checks, not endless doomscrolling. The average session is just 1 minute 21 seconds (), compared to several minutes on TikTok or Instagram.
Telegram Downloads & Regional Popularity: Where the App Dominates
Telegram’s global footprint is anything but uniform. While it’s a household name in some countries, in others it’s still the “new kid” on the social media block.
Telegram’s Top Markets: India, Russia, and Beyond
- India: Telegram’s #1 market, with 83.8 million downloads in 2023 (). Nearly half (45%) of Indian internet users are regular Telegram users.
- Russia: 35.1 million downloads in 2023; 51% of Russian citizens now use Telegram ().
- United States: 29.9 million downloads in 2023, but only 9% population penetration ().
- Other hot spots: Brazil (38% penetration), Mexico (34%), Italy (29%), South Africa (32%).
Telegram’s adoption often spikes after political events, privacy scandals, or when competitors stumble. For example, the WhatsApp privacy policy update in 2021 sent millions flocking to Telegram overnight ().
Regional Trends: EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas
- EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa): 46.2 million downloads in Q4 2023 ().
- Asia-Pacific: 44.5 million downloads in Q4 2023.
- North & Latin America: 23.9 million downloads in the same period.
Telegram’s popularity in places like South Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe is fueled by privacy concerns, dissatisfaction with other platforms, and the need for large group communication (think education, activism, or, yes, meme-sharing).
Telegram Demographics: Who’s Using Telegram in 2025?
Telegram’s user base is a fascinating mix—young, tech-savvy, and a bit more male than you might expect. As someone who’s spent years building SaaS products, I always pay close attention to these demographic shifts; they tell you where the next wave of innovation (and business opportunity) will come from.
Age Groups: Telegram’s Core Audience
- 25–34 years: 29.4% of users (the largest group)
- 35–44 years: 23.8%
- 18–24 years: 19%
- Under 18: 6.4%
- 45+ years: 21.6% ()
So, over half of Telegram’s users are between 25 and 44—a sweet spot for marketers and tech brands. Compared to Facebook (which skews older) or Snapchat (which skews younger), Telegram sits right in the “millennial power user” zone.
Gender Split: More Men Than Women?
- Male: 58%
- Female: 42% ()
This male skew is unusual among major social platforms. It’s likely a result of Telegram’s early adoption by techies, crypto enthusiasts, and communities that tend to be more male-dominated. But with a billion users, even the “smaller” group is massive—hundreds of millions of women use Telegram every month.
Telegram Revenue & Monetization: How the Platform Makes Money
Telegram’s approach to making money is refreshingly different from the ad-saturated models of its rivals. As a founder myself, I love seeing platforms experiment with monetization that doesn’t just mean “show more ads.”
Telegram became profitable for the first time in 2024, reporting $547 million in profit (). Here’s how they did it:
- Telegram Premium: Paid subscription launched in 2022, now with 10 million subscribers (). Priced around $4.99/month, it offers perks like 4GB file uploads, faster downloads, and exclusive stickers.
- Sponsored Messages: Ads shown in large public channels (1,000+ subscribers). Channel admins get 50% of ad revenue ().
- Username Auctions: Unique handles sold on the TON blockchain (the @news handle sold for $1.7 million) ().
- In-app purchases: $11.66 million in the first two months of 2024; monthly in-app revenue reached $6.1 million by February 2024 ().
Compare that to WhatsApp (free, monetized via business APIs), Facebook Messenger (ads + integration into Meta’s ad machine), or WeChat (a super-app with payments, games, and more). Telegram’s model is all about privacy, user experience, and giving creators a cut.
Telegram Channels & Bots: Engagement, Monetization & Community
If you’ve ever fallen down a Telegram channel rabbit hole, you know how powerful these broadcast feeds can be. And don’t get me started on bots—I’ve seen everything from crypto price alerts to pizza ordering, all without leaving the app.
Channel Statistics: The Biggest & Most Influential Telegram Channels
- Millions of channels exist, covering news, entertainment, education, and more.
- 85% of users follow at least one news channel ().
- Top channel: Telegram Tips (official) with ~10.9 million subscribers ().
- Other biggies: Telegram Premium (7.3M), Telegram News (7.1M), and various community channels with 3–6M followers.
- Monetization: 70% of channel admins make money via ads or sponsorships; 40% sell products/services ().
Telegram Bots: Powering Automation & User Experience
- Over 10 million bots are active on Telegram ().
- Bots handle everything from group moderation to payments, games, productivity, and customer service.
- Telegram’s open Bot API has enabled a thriving ecosystem—far more active bots than Facebook Messenger ever achieved.
Telegram User Engagement: Time Spent & Usage Patterns
Telegram users are a unique bunch: they check in often, but don’t stick around for hours at a time. It’s like the digital equivalent of popping into your favorite coffee shop for a quick chat, then heading out.
- Average time spent: 3 hours 45 minutes per user per month ()
- Average session: 1 minute 21 seconds ()
- DAU/MAU ratio: 47% (nearly half of users log in daily) ()
Compare that to WhatsApp (17+ hours/month), Facebook (19+ hours), or TikTok (5.9 minutes per session). Telegram is all about quick hits—scan the news, check your groups, maybe forward a meme, and get on with your day.
Telegram for News, Business, and Social Connection
Telegram isn’t just for chatting—it’s a newswire, a business tool, and a social network rolled into one. I’ve seen countless SaaS founders, marketers, and even government officials use Telegram as their primary broadcast channel.
Telegram as a News Platform: Trust & Reach
- 80% of users rely on Telegram for news ().
- 85% follow at least one news channel ().
- Telegram played a critical role during events like the Ukraine war and Belarus protests, providing real-time updates when other channels were censored ().
Business & Marketing on Telegram: Adoption & Results
- 11,000+ companies have a Telegram presence ().
- Businesses use Telegram for marketing, customer service, and even e-commerce (via bots).
- Telegram offers ~100% reach to channel subscribers—no algorithmic feed means your message gets seen.
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Telegram Security, Privacy & Regulatory Scrutiny
Telegram’s privacy-first image is a big part of its appeal—but it’s also landed the platform in hot water with regulators around the world.
Privacy Features: What Sets Telegram Apart?
- End-to-end encryption for Secret Chats; regular chats use server-client encryption ().
- Self-destructing messages and the ability to hide your phone number.
- Telegram does not share user data with governments—and has been banned in multiple countries for refusing to comply ().
- User sentiment: 4 in 10 internet users outside China use Telegram, including those most worried about privacy ().
Telegram updated its privacy policy in late 2023 to allow sharing of IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities for serious crimes, but only with a valid court order (). Secret Chats remain fully private.
Regulatory Challenges: Bans, Investigations & Impact
- 31 countries have temporarily or permanently banned or restricted Telegram since 2015 ().
- China: Blocked since 2015.
- Iran: Banned since 2018.
- Russia: Attempted ban (2018–2020), now widely used.
- Spain, Brazil, Germany, Vietnam, Ukraine: Various bans, threats, or regulatory actions in recent years ().
Despite these hurdles, Telegram’s user base continues to grow—often with users circumventing bans via proxies or VPNs.
Key Takeaways: What Telegram Statistics Reveal for 2025
So, what does all this data mean for marketers, business leaders, and anyone obsessed with social media statistics (like me)?
- Telegram is now a billion-user platform—it’s no longer “alternative,” it’s mainstream.
- Growth is fastest in Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East—but Western markets are catching up.
- User engagement is unique: short, frequent sessions focused on news, communities, and group chats.
- Monetization is working: Telegram is profitable, Premium is growing, and creators are earning real money.
- Privacy and regulatory battles will shape the next chapter—expect more headlines as governments grapple with Telegram’s influence.
If you’re in marketing, sales, SaaS, or just tracking the future of digital communication, Telegram is a platform you can’t afford to ignore. And if you’re just here for the stats…well, you’re in good company.
Sources & Further Reading
Curious to dig deeper? Here are the sources that powered this roundup of Telegram statistics:
For more deep dives into social media statistics and digital trends, check out the . And if you’re looking to automate your own data collection (Telegram or otherwise), you might want to see how can help you scrape, organize, and analyze web data—without breaking a sweat or a single line of code.