Telegram Statistics 2025: Users, Growth, and Opportunities

Telegram has become a powerhouse in the messaging world, crossing 1 billion monthly active users (MAUs) in 2025. 

Its emphasis on speed, privacy, large group chats and versatile tools has made it a preferred platform for individuals, businesses and communities alike. 

This guide explores Telegram’s user‑base, growth trajectory, revenue streams, demographics and features — and shows you how to leverage it whether you’re a marketer, creator or casual user.

Telegram’s User Statistics: A Snapshot

• Monthly Active Users (MAU): 1 billion (2025)
• Daily Active Users (DAU): 500 million
• Premium Subscribers: 15 million
• Daily New Users: ~2.5 million
• Average Time Spent Monthly: 4 hours 25 minutes
• Global Rank (Messaging Apps): 4th
• In‑App Revenue (Feb 2024): US $6.1 million

These stats reflect Telegram’s broad reach and engagement, making it a compelling platform for both personal use and professional strategy.

Also read about: WhatsApp Statistics

Telegram’s Growth Timeline: Monthly Active Users Over Time

Here is how Telegram’s MAU count has grown:

Source: Statista 1, Telegram, Statista 2.

This timeline underscores how Telegram has scaled rapidly by offering distinctive features and tapping into global markets.

Daily Activity & Engagement

In 2025, Telegram’s 500 million daily actives means half of its monthly audience engages every day.

With users opening the app multiple times and spending consistent time, Telegram plays a meaningful role in daily communication.

Telegram Premium: A Growing Revenue Stream

Telegram Premium, launched in June 2022, includes perks like 4 GB file uploads, faster downloads and premium stickers.

By July 2025 the subscriber count reached 15 million, up from 10 million in September 2024. Even though premium users represent only ~1.5% of MAUs, the growth signals monetization potential.

For creators and businesses, Premium features add value — especially for sharing large files or exclusive content.

Also read about: Facebook Users Statistics

Demographics: Who’s Using Telegram?

By Age

The dominant 25‑34 age bracket (29.7%) shows Telegram is geared toward young adults, making it well‑suited for trending content and early‑adopter behaviours.

By Gender

• Male users: 56.8%
• Female users: 43.2%

This moderate skew toward male users means content should still be inclusive but may resonate especially with tech‑ or crypto‑oriented audiences.

By Country Usage

India (45%) stands out as a major market. Brands focusing on India, Brazil and Mexico may find particularly strong growth opportunities.

Also read about: Surprising Instagram Statistics

Downloads & Global Reach

Telegram’s popularity is also evident in its download numbers. For example, Android and iOS combined downloads reached 409.48 million in 2023 (a 6.94% increase from 2021).

Downloads by country (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

By region (Q4 2023):

• EMEA: 46.17 million
• APAC: 44.45 million
• NALA (North & Latin America): 23.93 million

These numbers reflect strong traction in emerging markets, particularly in Asia and Africa.

Time Spent & Usage Patterns

Users spend, on average, 4 hours and 25 minutes per month on Telegram (≈8.5 minutes per day). Sessions average around 41 minutes, and users open the app roughly 21 times a day.

While lower than some other apps, this degree of engagement still provides meaningful touchpoints.

Comparative monthly usage:

While ranked 8th, Telegram’s combination of engagement and niche capabilities (bots, channels) make it a strong platform in its category.

Revenue & Funding

Telegram generates revenue largely through in‑app purchases and Premium subscriptions. In February 2024, for example:

• Apple App Store: US $4.86 million
• Google Play Store: US $1.22 million

Cumulative funding:

• March 18 2024: US $0.33 billion
• July 18 2023: US $0.27 billion
• April 28 2021: US $0.75 billion
• March 2021: US $1 billion
• March 1 2018: US $1.7 billion

This financial strength allows Telegram to develop features and scale globally.

Unique Features & Why Users Love Telegram

Telegram offers many standout capabilities:

• Large Group Chats: up to 200,000 members.
• File Sharing: up to 2 GB (4 GB for Premium users).
• Bots: Over 10 million bots, enabling automation across messaging, commerce and gaming.
• Channels: Broadcast to unlimited subscribers; channel owners may earn ad revenue (50% share) once they hit ~1,000+ subscribers.
• Privacy Focus: Optional end‑to‑end encryption for private chats (though not for all chats and needs to be enabled manually).

These features make Telegram ideal for community building, content delivery and marketing.

Telegram Channels: A Goldmine for Creators

Channels are widely used:

• Most popular channel: Telegram Tips (10.89 million subscribers).
• Other top channels: Telegram Premium (7.34 M), Telegram News (7.11 M), Proxy MTProto (7.10 M), Notcoin Community (6.10 M).

Popularity across categories:

• News: 85% of users follow
• Entertainment: 62%
• Educational: 58%
• Political: 50%
• Industry News: 48%
• Friends’ Personal Channels: 45%
• Brands/Companies: 17%
• Products/Discounts: 16%
• Job Offers: 14%

Channel monetization via ad revenue sharing opens up new revenue streams for creators and marketers.

E‑Commerce & Business Use

Telegram is becoming an e‑commerce hub. Sample sales data:

• Goods from China: US $12 million
• Digital Equipment: US $5.52 million
• Consumer Loans: US $3.12 million
• Apparel & Shoes: US $2.14 million

These figures highlight direct commerce capability via Telegram channels and bots.

Security & Challenges

Telegram’s privacy credentials come with complexities. Some issues:

• End‑to‑end encryption is optional and not enabled by default for all chats.
• Legal scrutiny: e.g., Telegram’s founder detained by French authorities in 2024 for alleged misuse of the app.
• Linked to scams: phishing tools, illegal file sharing and extortion have been reported.
• In censorship environments (e.g., Russia, Iran), Telegram remains popular—but brings regulatory risk.

For safe use: enable encryption, vet groups/channels and avoid suspicious links.

Community Insights: Quora & Reddit Discussions 2025

From Quora

• Question: “Can Telegram replace WhatsApp for businesses?”
  Answer: Yes—with caveats. Business users highlight large groups and bots as major advantages; however WhatsApp’s default encryption and large user‑base still matter.
• Question: “Is Telegram safe for crypto trading?”
  Reddit users point to big crypto channels such as Notcoin Community but warn of scams and anonymity risks.
• Question: “How can I monetize a Telegram channel?”
  Common advice: Build a niche channel >1,000 subscribers to qualify for ad revenue share, explore Premium features and partner with brands.

From Reddit

• r/Telegram emphasizes how Telegram’s bots and group sizes allow large‑scale community building.
• r/Crypto warns about fake channels and pump‑and‑dump schemes.
• r/BusinessApps and r/Marketing praise Telegram’s use for direct marketing in India, Brazil and other fast‑growing markets.
• Monetization hacks: Use bots for subscriptions, premium content and affiliate sales tied to channels.

These community insights highlight how users are experimenting with Telegram for marketing, content and commerce—especially in emerging markets.

How to Use Telegram for Your Benefit

For Businesses

• Create a channel to broadcast updates and run exclusive offers.
• Use bots for customer service, order tracking or interactive content.
• Target high‑growth markets (India, Brazil) with localised content.

For Creators

• Build a niche channel, aim for 1,000+ subscribers to tap ad revenue share.
• Offer premium content (via Premium subscription or pay‑wall).

For Individuals

• Join communities in your interest area: technology, news, hobbies.
• Use private encrypted chats for secure messaging; take advantage of Telegram’s large file‑sharing for projects or media.

Global Reach & Platform Ranking

Telegram is available in 175 countries on iOS, 133 countries on Google Play, and 107 countries on Windows Store — making it a globally accessible platform.

Ranking among messaging platforms:

With 1 billion users, Telegram now ranks among the top messenger services globally.

FAQs About Telegram Statistics

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Conclusion: Why Telegram is a Game‑Changer

By 2025, Telegram’s sweep to 1 billion monthly users reflects its global appeal and flexibility.

The mix of young, engaged users; large group and channel features; and growing monetization tools make it a goldmine for creators, businesses and individuals seeking to build communities and reach new audiences.

However, the open nature of the platform and optional encryption highlight the importance of security awareness.

By leveraging Telegram’s channels, bots and premium offerings — and by targeting high‑growth regions such as India and Brazil — you can connect with audiences, scale your content and monetise effectively.

In the crowded landscape of apps, Telegram stands out as a versatile, high‑potential platform for 2025 and beyond.