Statistics

Telegram Statistics: User Base, Demographics, Group Data, and More

Updated on:
December 1, 2025
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These days, messaging apps are not just about chatting with friends. They’re where relationships grow, where customers engage, and where businesses thrive.

And if you grab your phone right now, there’s a good chance you’ll see Telegram. Why? Because more than 1 billion people use it every month. That’s right; Telegram has officially joined the billion-user club.

Launched in 2013 as a privacy-first app, Telegram has quickly grown into one of the world’s most popular platforms. In just over a decade, it has become the go-to space for everything: breaking news, business communication, viral memes, and even uncensored discussions.

What makes it so powerful? It’s fast, secure, and flexible. Whether it’s global communities, niche groups, or content creators, Telegram gives everyone a reliable place to connect and share.

For marketers and channel owners, this is big. Telegram isn’t just another messaging app; it’s a platform with sky-high engagement rates and audience loyalty that most social media apps can only dream of.

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Telegram Statistics 2025 (Top Picks) 

Here are some of the most important numbers that define Telegram’s growth, usage, and monetization in 2025-

  • 1 billion+ monthly active users
  • 450 million daily active users (DAUs), opening the app ~21 times per day and spending 41 minutes daily
  • 12–15 billion messages sent daily across personal chats, groups, and channels
  • 2–2.5 million new users sign up every day
  • 12 million+ Telegram Premium subscribers
  • Demographics: 29.4% of users are aged 25–34; 59.5% male vs. 40.5% female.
  • Telegram’s revenue projected to reach $2 billion in 2025

General Telegram Usage Statistics

If you’re looking forward to knowing the ins and outs of Telegram, along with its vast potential, you should have a look at these key statistics about the platform. 

Total Number of Users

  • As of March 2025, Telegram crossed 1 billion monthly active users.
  • Just a year ago, in July 2024, the number was 950 million. That’s steady growth of 5.3% in a single year. [Source: affmaven]
  • The scale-up is wild. Back in 2014, Telegram had just 35 million users.
  • Fast forward 11 years, and the number has shot up by 2,757% to hit that 1-billion mark. [Source: Backlinko]
  • This growth makes Telegram the third most popular messaging app worldwide by user base. And it’s not just free users; 12 million people pay for Telegram Premium right now.
  • Every single day in 2025, about 2 to 2.5 million new users sign up. That’s like the entire population of a small city joining Telegram daily.

Telegram is now the second most-used messaging app in the world, right behind WhatsApp.

Here’s a full breakdown of Telegram users over time:

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
Spring 2024 900 million
July 2024 950 million
March 2025 1 billion

Sources: Statista, Backlinko

Daily Activity Stats

  • Telegram has reported around 450 million daily active users (DAUs) in 2025.
  • Each user opens the app about 21 times per day, spending 41 minutes daily on average.

How many messages are sent on Telegram per day?

  • The platform processes around 12 to 15 billion messages per day.
  • An average Telegram user sends about 150 texts per day on the platform.

They do so through personal chats, groups, and channels. This is what makes the platform one of the most engaging messaging apps worldwide.

App Engagement & Downloads

App Engagement & Downloads

Beyond the active usage of the messaging platform, Telegram app downloads by region showcase the global reach it has. 

In 2024–2025 alone,

  • India led with over 220 million downloads, making the country Telegram’s largest user market
  • The United States recorded about 50 million downloads
  • In the European Union region, downloads counted for 90 million, with Germany, Italy, and France recording the most downloads

Telegram has an increased appeal among people as a secure, feature-rich alternative to other messaging apps. Such a high number of downloads reflects how many people are increasingly getting into this platform. 

Telegram User Demographics

Telegram User Demographics

Let’s have a look at different user demographics of Telegram, such as age, gender, and region. 

Age and Gender Distribution

In 2025, young adults are the biggest demographic of Telegram’s audience.

  • The 25–34 age group make up 29.4% of Telegram users.
  • The next highest user-base belongs to the 35–44 age group, which makes up 23.8% of the user base.
  • Meanwhile, 18–24-year-olds account for 22.5% of Telegram users. Such age demographics mean that Telegram is highly popular among the working-age population.
  • Older users, who are over 45, represent 18.6% of Telegram users, while those under 18 make up a much smaller segment.

Telegram appears to have a male-heavy user base.

As 59.5% of the platform’s users are male, while 40.5% are female. 

This demographic can help marketers curate their campaigns based on the age groups and genders that are most active on the platform.

Global User Base

While Telegram has users in most countries across the globe, certain countries stand out in terms of Telegram usage.

India leads the pack with over 104 million active users, which makes it the largest market for Telegram. This high number of users is owed to the country’s massive population and the platform’s appeal as a privacy-focused alternative, as many other messaging apps are facing various regulations. 

Russia, Telegram’s country of origin, has around 34.4 million active Telegram users. 

Indonesia and the United States follow closely, with around 27.2 million and 26.9 million active users. 

Brazil is another prominent country for Telegram usage, with nearly 22 million active users.

The USA accounts for a relatively smaller share of Telegram’s global user base. But its presence is significant, as the country boasts high internet penetration and digital engagement.

Top 5 Countries by Telegram Users

Top 5 Countries by Telegram Users
Country Active Users Share of Global Users
India 104M 10.4%
Russia 34.4M 3.4%
Indonesia 27.2M 2.7%
USA 26.9M 2.6%
Brazil 22M 2.2%

Regionally, Asia houses the largest share of Telegram’s users, which is 38%. Europe comes with 27%, Latin America with 21%, and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region contributing 8% of Telegram users.

Global User Base

Telegram employs extensive localization strategies to cater to such diverse global audiences. 

They include support for 15 Indian languages, offline messaging in Africa and Southeast Asia, and culturally adapted payment systems in Latin America and MENA.

Telegram Channels and Groups Statistics

Telegram comes with amazing features like public and private channels, alongside huge chat groups. 

Growth of Public Channels

Telegram Channels and Groups Statistics

Telegram’s public channels have seen rapid growth, with millions of such channels created worldwide as the platform keeps expanding. 

As of 2023,

  • About 36% of channel administrators had started their channels within the previous year, showing strong ongoing interest.
  • Another 27% had been managing channels for more than a year
  • 26% had run theirs for over two years.

Subscriber counts vary widely for these channels. Some of the largest channels actually have millions of followers, which is beyond impressive. 

For example, Telegram Tips, the official Telegram channel, has 13.2M subscribers as of September 2025. 

Other top channels include Telegram News (11.8M+) and ProxyMTProto (8.85M+). These figures highlight Telegram’s ability to reach massive global audiences.

In terms of content, news channels dominate, followed by entertainment and educational content. 

Around 85% of Telegram users follow news updates, 62% follow entertainment, and 58% follow educational content. 

Political channels also engage about 50% of users, while niche industry updates and personal channels from friends add to Telegram’s diverse ecosystem.

Monetization is another major driver for channel growth. Roughly 70% of channel administrators earn through advertising, and 40% monetize by selling goods or services.

Channel Analytics Benchmarks

Telegram’s channel analytics show consistent engagement across niches:

  • 20 to 30% of subscribers view posts on average on a Telegram channel
  • Click-through rate (CTR): 5–12% of subscribers click on posts. The rate varies depending on niche and calls-to-action.
  • Posting frequency: How often the channels are posting is also important. Successful channels have 1–3 posts per day on average, which helps them maintain visibility without overwhelming subscribers

What’s a good Telegram channel view rate?

A good benchmark is 20–30% of your total subscribers viewing each post. For highly active or niche channels, this can even exceed 40%.

Engagement in Groups

Groups in Telegram continue to grow both in number and size. They also keep a myriad of activities. 

  • In the meantime, the platform has raised the member limit for supergroups from 10,000 to 200,000 members.

This has turned such groups into one of the biggest messaging communities available. Now communities have the opportunity to scale into the tens of thousands and enjoy an even better engagement.

The participation from members in such Telegram groups is also high. Users of this platform join multiple groups and contribute to daily conversations. 

Most of the 15+ billion messages sent daily across the platform are generated in these groups. These groups have many interesting and engaging features, like polls, quizzes, bots, and media-sharing, which help increase interactions and real-time discussions.

Group Size Insights

  • Maximum group size: 200,000 members , and these groups are known as “supergroups.”
  • Number of large communities: A huge number of supergroups exceed 50,000 members. Especially in niches like crypto, trading, and education, such large communities are common.

Marketing and Business Usage on Telegram

Telegram isn’t just a mere testing platform; instead, it has helped revolutionize marketing and business communications. 

Telegram for Brand Communication

Telegram provides a fast, versatile, and media-rich platform. This prompts a lot of brands to leverage the platform for direct communication, as it helps them engage customers easily with text, images, videos, stickers, and interactive buttons.

On Telegram, brands can set up customized start pages and use automated greetings or away messages for a better and more engaging customer experience.

Other business-friendly features on Telegram include-

  • Quick replies and chat labels for organized interactions
  • QR codes, chat links, and similar features for customers to access products easily
  • Chatbot and AI integration to provide 24/7 support and automated features

Telegram also caters to businesses through large file sharing, rich media support, and open Bot API customization, among other features. These have made Telegram a powerful tool to increase customer engagement and build stronger relationships.

Moreover, the tools on Telegram are free, unlike WhatsApp, which often requires paid API access for advanced features. Telegram’s tools are also cloud-based, which sync seamlessly across devices. 

Performance of Broadcast Messages

Telegram broadcast messages deliver strong engagement metrics. 

  • For many channels, average engagement rates reach 20–30%. This is far better than the usual benchmarks for other social media platforms.
  • Top-performing broadcasts often see 40–50% higher interaction rates, as they frequently use features like polls, quizzes, and multimedia elements.

Key broadcast performance insights:

  • View rates: 20–30% of subscribers per post
  • CTR on links: strong, often above 5–10%
  • Audience loyalty: measured by repeat interactions and feedback
  • Analytics tools: Telegram bots and dashboards allow real-time tracking

All these make Telegram a great platform for promotions, community updates, and customer engagement campaigns.

Telegram vs WhatsApp or TikTok

Telegram offers a lot of benefits and features that are absent on other major communication platforms, which makes it stand out as a top choice for marketers.

Telegram vs WhatsApp
Feature Telegram WhatsApp
Group Size Limit Up to 200,000 members Up to 1,024 members
Channel Subscribers Unlimited Not available
Discoverability Public groups & channels are searchable and discoverable Groups are private, not searchable
Automation & Bots Full support for automation and bots Limited to business APIs, no open bot ecosystem
Best Use Case Large-scale community building, open engagement Private, smaller networks for customer support & chats

Telegram vs TikTok

Now let’s see how Telegram has an edge over TikTok:

Feature TikTok Telegram
Core Focus Short-form, algorithm-driven video feeds Direct messaging & community-driven engagement
Content Format Vertical videos (15s–3 min, up to 10 min) Text, images, files, polls, voice/video, unlimited size
Virality Potential Extremely high (algorithm pushes content beyond followers) Low (content stays within groups/channels)
Marketing Role Drives awareness & viral marketing Builds niche communities & repeat conversions
Audience Strategy Broad reach, fast customer acquisition Long-term loyalty & stronger engagement
Community Building Tools Limited (comments, duets, lives) Groups (200k limit), channels (unlimited subscribers), bots
Discoverability Page algorithm boosts visibility Public groups & channels searchable
Automation & Bots Minimal, mostly external integrations Full support for bots & automation
Best Use Case Customer acquisition, trend participation, and brand awareness Deep engagement, retention, private or large-scale communities

How Do Telegram Ads Work and Who Can Run Them?

Telegram’s advertising system was launched in late 2021, and it expanded further in 2023–2025. 

The system is based on sponsored messages shown in large public channels (1,000+ subscribers).

  • Ad format: Short text ads with optional links
  • Targeting: Contextual (based on channel topics), not personal user data
  • Who can run ads: Businesses, brands, and creators can run ads via the Telegram Ads Platform (It, however, requires minimum ad spend).
  • Revenue sharing: Channel owners on Telegram receive a share of ad revenue. It is paid out with the platform’s blockchain-based cryptocurrency, Toncoin (TON).

Telegram ads are privacy-friendly and highly effective for reaching niche audiences.

How do Telegram ads differ from Facebook or Google ads?

Telegram does not track personal user data, unlike Facebook or Google. Ads are only shown in public channels and are shown based on relevance. 

Facebook Ads are rather random and shown on the feed arbitrarily. Such practice helps Telegram stay aligned with its privacy-first philosophy.

Monetization and Creator Economy on Telegram

Monetization and Creator Economy on Telegram

Telegram now comes with a large potential and massive opportunities for monetization and the creator economy, with several models and features.

Paid Subscriptions and Premium Channels

  • Telegram’s monetization efforts have increased very fast since mid-2022, as during that time, the platform launched its paid subscription service, Telegram Premium.
  • By December 2023, Telegram Premium had around 4 million paying subscribers, and by late 2024, that number more than tripled to 12 million.
  • As per estimates, Premium subscriptions are soon reaching the 15-million mark as of 2025, which is about 1.5% of Telegram’s global user base.
  • Around 98–99% of Telegram users still remain free users. This means the premium option is an elite but fast-growing segment of the platform’s ecosystem.

Telegram Premium offers its users many advanced features like faster downloads, larger file uploads, voice-to-text conversion, an ad-free experience, and exclusive stickers/reactions.

Revenue Streams & Profitability

The revenue model of Telegram has diversified significantly over the past two years, featuring-

  • Premium Subscriptions – Over $292 million in 2024 revenue
  • Advertising & Sponsored Messages – Telegram Ads (sponsored posts in public channels with over a thousand members) generated $250M+ in 2024, and the revenue was shared with channel owners in Toncoin (TON).
  • Stars Purchases – Stars (Telegram’s digital currency) are bought by users to tip creators, send premium reactions, or unlock paid content on the platform. Stars can be used for in-app purchases, or they can be redeemed in exchange for TONs.
  • Partnerships & Integrations – Monetization options have increased on Telegram due to its partnerships with fintech and crypto services.
  • Bond Fundraising – In 2024 alone, Telegram raised $1.5 billion through bond sales. This strengthened the platform’s cash flow and supported infrastructure growth.

Is Telegram profitable in 2024–2025?

  • Telegram reported its first profit in 2024 at $547 million, which is largely owed to Premium subscriptions, ads, and cost optimization.
  • In 2025, analysts expect Telegram’s revenue to reach as high as $2 billion.

It could help secure the platform’s transition from a donation-funded startup to a profitable global platform.

Earning Potential for Creators

Telegram’s growing creator economy allows individuals, influencers, and businesses to monetize audiences in multiple ways-

Subscriptions & Premium Content

Creators on Telegram can charge their fans a monthly subscription. The fans pay the charge through using Stars, and in exchange, they get access to exclusive channels, behind-the-scenes content, or premium resources. 

For instance, a language-learning channel can charge $5 per month for providing access to daily lessons.

Stars & Tips (Direct Support)

Fans send Stars as reactions or tips, and creators keep 100% of it, unlike TikTok. Stars can be converted to Toncoin or used to pay for ads.

Sponsored Content & Paid Posts

Popular channels on Telegram can sell promotional posts to brands. The rates usually depend on “Cost per thousand views” or CPM, which ranges from $5–$15 CPM, based on niche and engagement. 

For example, a crypto channel with 100,000 active subscribers can earn $500–1,500 per sponsored post.

Ad Revenue Sharing

Telegram shares ad revenue with creators whose channels host sponsored messages. Larger channels (100k+ subscribers) can earn thousands monthly.

Channel Sales (One-Time Income)

Creators can sell their channels with massive followings as digital assets. 

The prices vary widely, but active niche channels (50k+ members) often sell for $10,000–50,000.

Case Study Example

A niche channel owner scaled from zero to $5,000/month within months by selling ads and building a targeted audience.

How much can Telegram creators earn?

Earnings vary widely. Small creators may earn a few hundred dollars monthly, while large niche channels can generate $5,000–10,000+ per month, particularly by combining multiple revenue streams.

Features and Platform Dynamics

Telegrams come with a plethora of features, making the platform engaging and highly useful for users worldwide. Two of its most compelling additions are Stories and Mini Apps. 

Stories

While exact numbers aren’t widely published, Stories are increasingly popular among users, particularly in highly visual niches like lifestyle, e-commerce, and entertainment.

Mini Apps

Mini Apps are lightweight web apps running within Telegram; you don’t need to install them. 

Built with JavaScript and HTML, they work through the Bot API and support payments, push notifications, one-tap Telegram login, and personalization.

  • As of 2024, Mini Apps reached over 500 million monthly active users.
  • Popular use cases include Web3 games, NFT gifting interfaces, AI chatbots, shopping tools, and mini-e-commerce shops.
  • In late 2024, a major update enabled Mini Apps to run full-screen (portrait and landscape), added subscription options (paid via Stars), home screen pinning, and enhanced media sharing and localization.

Regulation, Safety & Moderation

Telegram suffers from the classic conflict between privacy and safety. As it allows free expression and a free flow of information and content, the platform also struggles to contain misuse of the privacy features.

It has often been used in unwarranted activities, as well as the spread of unethical content, misinformation, and disinformation. 

Regulation, Safety & Moderation

And this has provoked many regulatory actions from governments.

Censorship & Bans

  • There are several countries where Telegram is banned. As of 2025, Kenya, Nepal, and Vietnam have restricted Telegram usage, citing security, misinformation, and regulatory compliance concerns.
  • In Nepal, the government banned Telegram in July 2025. For that, they have blamed online fraud and money laundering.
  • In Vietnam, telecom operators were instructed to block Telegram in May 2025. As reasons, the authorities alleged that Telegram is complicit in criminal activities, such as fraud, drug trafficking, and terrorism. They also blamed the platform’s non-compliance with sharing user data and removing illegal content.
  • Russia has recently restricted Telegram voice and video calls, saying that the platform has not complied with Russian laws.

Misinformation & Extremist Content

Telegram is highly praised for its privacy-first approach, but it has also made the platform a haven for extremist, criminal, and misinformation networks.

According to researchers, extremist channels, including neo-Nazi groups and conspiracy networks, are highly active on Telegram. In some cases, such groups and channels are recommended through the platform’s algorithm to users with similar interests.

Also, as per various investigations, Telegram hosts cybercriminal channels that traffic malware, phishing links, and compromised data. These networks often evade takedowns by frequent migration.

In other instances, extremist content has been "restricted" on Telegram, but not fully banned, and it remains accessible through mirrors or alternative channels.

Telegram’s Actions and What You Can Do

Over time, public pressure has increased regarding these issues. Amid the situation, Telegram has taken steps to remove or moderate harmful content. However, they are yet to show proactive enforcement in this area.

The hands-off moderation approach of Telegram has drawn criticism from governments and watchdogs across the world. 

As a user, content creator, or business, you need to be aware of such issues and risks and use the platform responsibly. It’s important for your own safety and well-being that you stay away from such channels and content. 

Also, make sure to stay safe from risks, including malicious content, malware, misinformation, and the spread of extremism. 

Tools to Accelerate Growth and Visibility on Telegram

On Telegram, gaining and working on momentum is important for a channel’s growth. The more members, reactions, and activity a channel has, the more organically it can attract new followers. 

Role of Growth Services

If you get some push from growth services, they can help kickstart your growth process by making your channel look trustworthy, active, and worth joining.

Analytics tools can also play a big role here by providing insights into member growth, engagement rates, post reach, and audience demographics. 

They help provide valuable insights, which can be used to refine strategies for posting on time, using effective formats, and maintaining community engagement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are Mini Apps on Telegram?

Mini Apps are lightweight applications built into Telegram – such as payment tools, booking services, or games – that are accessible without leaving the app.

How many messages are sent on Telegram per day?

Users send 12 to 15 billion messages daily on average.

How many Premium subscribers does Telegram have now?

As of early 2025, Telegram Premium has 12+ million paying users.

What’s a good Telegram channel view rate?

A healthy view rate typically ranges from 10 to 20% of total subscribers.

Tasnim Abedeen Raju

About The Author

Tasnim Abedeen Raju

Tasnim is a content and digital marketer born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. For over thirteen years, Tasnim has worked as a freelancer for several social media marketing companies. He has acquired skill sets in copywriting, content marketing, SEO & social media marketing. He’s one of the founding members of SEOSkit, a very exciting search engine marketing startup. In his free time he likes to travel, read, and make failed attempts at music.

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Jack Bellingham

Great tips! I never realized how much engagement impacts growth more than just posting frequently. I've been focusing only on content, but now I see how interacting with my audience can make a difference. Time to step up my strategy!

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Nicholas Feyenoord

Super helpful article! I always thought Facebook Groups were just for discussions and never really considered them as a tool for growing followers. The idea of actively engaging and sharing valuable content in relevant groups makes so much sense. I'll definitely start participating more and see how it impacts my page. Thanks for the great advice!

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