55+ Telegram Statistics You Need to Know in November 2024– Revenue, Usage, and More

With its rise to prominence as one of the leading messaging apps, Telegram has captured the minds of millions worldwide. Through an in-depth analysis of Telegram statistics, we uncover the reasons behind Telegram’s widespread adoption and unwavering popularity.

From its robust security features to its seamless user experience, we explore how Telegram has risen to become one of the most influential messaging platforms in the digital landscape.

Who Owns Telegram?

Telegram was founded by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai Durov

The cloud-based messenger app launched on August 14, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Pavel provides financial and ideological support to Telegram, while Nikolai’s contributions focus more on the technological aspects. 

Nikolai’s development of a unique custom data protocol, which is open, secure, and optimized for use with multiple data centers, played a crucial role in making Telegram possible. As a result, a messaging platform was formed that blends security, reliability, and speed, irrespective of the network being utilized.

Pavel Durov is a Russian entrepreneur and computer programmer.

Durov earned the moniker “Russia’s Zuckerberg” as he also founded Vkontakte, the largest social network in Russia when he was just 22 years old.

After declining to cooperate with the Russian secret service and handing over encrypted user data from his first social network, Durov left Russia in 2017. 

Durov moved himself and Telegram to Dubai and later obtained French citizenship in 2021.

Pavel Durov has an estimated net worth of $15.1 billion. 

At the age of 37, he is the youngest and wealthiest among the seven UAE-based expat billionaires, with technology being the source of his riches.

Telegram Group Inc., the parent firm of Telegram, has its legal address located in the British Virgin Islands. 

Meanwhile, Telegram UK Holdings Ltd, based in the United Kingdom, is the legal representative for data protection regulations.

Telegram Investment Data

As of July 18, 2023, Telegram has raised a total of $2.9 billion in funding across three rounds. 

Telegram has received funding from six investors, with the most recent contributions coming from Pavel Durov and Mubadala through a debt financing round. Other investors include Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners, ARK FUND, Dalma Capital, and Oyster Ventures.

2018 saw Telegram strategically develop its own TON blockchain (Telegram Open Network). 

As part of this endeavor, TON successfully executed the largest private initial coin offering (ICO) at that time, attracting $1.7 billion in funding without needing a public round.

In May 2020, Pavel Durov announced the termination of the TON project due to a legal battle with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

The SEC had filed a lawsuit against Telegram, alleging that the company’s ICO for Gram tokens was an unregistered securities offering.

The Telegram team agreed to pay an $18.5 million settlement and refund funds to investors.

Telegram Business Statistics

In July 2023, Telegram held the position as the third messaging app worldwide, ranking as the number one in 10 out of 100 countries. 

Telegram was the second most popular messaging app globally and was the number one choice in 14 countries in November, after WhatsApp. 

Telegram was the 6th most-downloaded app worldwide in 2022. 

The cloud-based instant messaging service was downloaded by 310 million users worldwide.

Among the top categories on Telegram, “Utilities and Tools” take the lead, accounting for 34% of the usage, which includes groups, bots, and stickers.

Telegram’s popularity extends to other segments, such as:

• Communication – 18.5% of users
• Music and audio – 11.4% of users
• Social interactions – 8.4% of users

Telegram Products & Features Stats

In 2021, the platform introduced sponsored messages, which are minimalist and privacy-conscious advertisements that may appear in specific public channels. 

Sponsored messages on Telegram appear in large, public, one-to-many channels with 1,000+ subscribers and follow a 160-character limit. These sponsored messages are exclusively tailored to align with the subject matter of the public channels where they are showcased.

A year later, Telegram launched a premium subscription option that allows users to support the app while gaining access to exclusive features.

Premium Telegram users have access to the following features: 

• Doubled limits
• 4 GB file uploads
• Faster download speeds
• Voice-to-text conversion
• Premium stickers
• Unique reactions
• Advanced chat management
• Animated profile pictures
• Profile badges
• Premium app icons
• No ads
• Custom emojis
• Voice message privacy settings
• Voice-to-text for video messages
• Emoji statuses
• Real-time chat and channel translation

Non-premium users can also experience certain benefits of Telegram Premium, such as downloading extra-large documents and viewing stickers sent by premium users. 

Additionally, they can tap to increase counters on premium reactions that were already added to a message, enhancing their interaction with premium content on the platform.

Telegram groups can have up to 200,000 members, making them suitable for hosting large communities and organizations.

Groups are a key feature of the Telegram messaging app that allows users to communicate and collaborate with multiple people simultaneously. Here are some notable features that differentiate the app from other messaging services:

• Unified history
• Cross-platform availability 
• Instant search
• Replies, mentions, hashtags
• Smart notification 
• Pinned messages
• Moderation tools
• Group permissions
• File sharing
• Public groups 
• Customization via bots 

Telegram channels allow broadcasting messages to large audiences with unlimited subscribers. 

Channels with over 50 subscribers can access detailed growth and post-performance statistics.

There are over 20,000 stickers on Telegram.

Stickers come in packs, can be custom-made, and include animated options for added engagement.

In 2020, Telegram introduced chat folders to cater to the needs of its users who utilize the app for work and studies.

​​This feature lets users declutter their chat list and prioritize important conversations, ensuring a more organized and efficient messaging experience. Users can create, edit, and customize chat folders, tailoring them to suit their preferences and needs, enhancing their overall messaging workflow on Telegram.

Telegram launched group video calls in June 2021.

With the introduction of this new product feature, users gained the ability to share their screen during voice chats in groups on all devices, including tablets and desktops.

Telegram Revenue Statistics

Since July 2022, Telegram has earned $14 million in revenue from the App Store.

It witnessed its highest month of revenue in February, experiencing a large spike in net revenue from the App Store, reaching $2.3 million.

Telegram achieved a revenue of over $1.6 million from in-app purchases worldwide from June 2022 to January 2023. 

This growth was likely influenced by the introduction of Telegram Premium, offering users additional features like extended limits, larger file uploads, and faster download speeds. Telegram also generates revenue through optional features, such as stickers and themes, that users can choose to purchase. 

Telegram & Politics Data

Telegram holds the distinction of being the most politicized social network. 

Over 40% of its channels are dedicated to news content, and approximately 17% directly focus on the war and Ukraine. 

Furthermore, TIME received data from Logically, a UK-based company fighting misinformation, revealing a 48% surge in subscribers across 187 Russian-language news channels since February 24, 2022, with an increase of 8 million new subscribers.

Telegram has also been criticized for allegedly facilitating illegal activities, including terrorism and criminal behavior.

In Germany, there have been demands for Telegram to take down “far-right” content that promotes hate speech and extremist ideologies. 

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the government threatened to ban the app if Telegram did not take action against pro-ISIS channels that were using the platform to spread propaganda and coordinate activities.

Who Uses Telegram? 

Telegram appeals to many users across different age groups, genders, and generations. Tech-savvy Millennials and Gen Z are drawn to its innovative features, while older generations appreciate its user-friendly interface. Both men and women value Telegram’s secure and private messaging, making it a popular choice among diverse demographics seeking reliable communication options.

According to Pavel Durov, the messaging platform experienced a surge of 25 million new user registrations in January 2021. 

This rapid increase translates to an average of approximately 8.33 million new signups per day during that month.

As of November 2022, the Telegram messaging app has reported a user base of 700 million monthly active users, which would rank it as the third-largest “population” in the world if treated as a country.

Experiencing remarkable growth since 2019, Telegram’s user base has expanded by approximately 230%, boasting 55.2 million daily active users.

In 2022, 47.50%  of monthly users accessed the app daily, opening it an average of 8.7 times per day.

The average session time on Telegram lasts approximately 2.35 minutes, while the total session time can extend up to 59.32 minutes.

Two and a half years after its launch, Telegram delivered more than 15 billion messages daily.

Telegram surpassed 1 million premium subscribers in December 2022. 

Telegram Premium costs range from $4 to $6, depending on the country.

In 2023, monthly active Telegram users accounted for approximately 8.7% of the global population. 

However, when considering the population aged 16 and above, the percentage of monthly active Telegram users rose to 11.9%.

Telegram Users by Gender and Age 

Male users dominate the Telegram app, representing 57.4% of the total user base. 

Meanwhile, female users make up 42.6% of the platform’s users.

As of 2023, the largest demographic of Telegram users, comprising over 29%, fell between the ages of 25 and 34. 

Additionally, users aged younger than 24 years constituted over 25% of the messaging app’s user base.

Top Telegram Channels Stats 

As of May 9, 2023, Telegram Tips and Telegram News were the most subscribed channels on the platform, with around 8.9 million and 6.3 million followers, respectively. 

ProxyMTProto, a channel offering Telegram proxies, ranked third, with over 6.3 million subscribers.

Telegram Statistics by Country

As we explore Telegram statistics by country, we gain valuable insights into the app’s global success, demonstrating its adaptability and appeal to diverse cultures and communication preferences. From Asia’s tech-savvy population to Europe’s love for efficient messaging and Latin America’s vibrant communities to the MENA region’s demand for secure communications, Telegram’s journey highlights its remarkable influence in the global messaging landscape.

Telegram’s statistics reveal a remarkably diverse user base, with users spread across different continents. 

The largest share, accounting for 38%, hails from Asia, followed by 27% in Europe, 21% in Latin America, and 8% in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Telegram ranks among the top five apps on Android devices in 21 out of 100 countries and within the top ten in 53 out of 100 countries.

Now to Telegram usage statistics in Anglophone countries.

In 2022, users worldwide spent approximately 4 hours per month using Telegram. 

Breaking that down to a country level, users in Russia spent more than 6.5 hours on average using the popular social and communication app, while users in Singapore spent around five hours monthly on the app.

India emerged as the leading market for Telegram by app downloads, with approximately 104 million installations by Indian users between January and December 2022.

Russia secured second position, with over 34 million Telegram downloads, followed by Indonesia with 27.2 million downloads. 

Telegram Statistics in the US

In 2023, the highest number of Telegram app downloads was recorded in the US, reaching a total of 35.98 million installations.

On a monthly basis, 10.89 million Americans use Telegram, while 5.14 million Americans engage with the platform on a daily basis.

According to data on alternative social media sites provided by Pew Research Center, 27% of US adults are aware of Telegram, but only 2% use it for news. 

In general, only 6% of Americans regularly obtain news from any of the seven alternative social media sites examined, with no single site being regularly utilized for news by more than 2% of US adults. In comparison, more significant portions of the population rely on established platforms like Facebook (31%), YouTube (25%), and Twitter (14%) for news consumption.

Among the 2% of US adults who regularly obtain news on Telegram, a majority report positive experiences. 

Approximately 75% of them expect the news and information to be mostly accurate, while 24% anticipate it to be mostly inaccurate.

68% of American Telegram news consumers state that their received news helped them better understand current events.

On the contrary, 11% claim it confused them more about current events.

Telegram Statistics in Russia

As of 2023, Moscow residents comprised 31.3% of Telegram users in Russia.

Meanwhile, Saint Petersburg accounted for the second-largest share, making up approximately 12.6% of the country’s instant messaging app’s user base.

TGstat reported that Russia has the highest number of Telegram channels, with a total of 626,000 channels.

In March 2023, Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of the Russian State Duma, led the view count for posts with approximately 1,900 views per post on his Telegram channel in Russia.

Following closely behind was Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia and former president of the country.

After the Meta platforms ban of Facebook and Instagram in Russia in February and March 2022, social media users turned to alternative networks like Telegram and VK. 

Within the first month of the ban, Telegram’s Russian-speaking audience surged by 23%, propelling it to become one of the most downloaded apps in the country in March 2022. 

By August 2022, Telegram recorded a daily average of over 42 million Russian users accessing the platform.

However, WhatsApp emerged as Russia’s most visited online resource, attracting an average daily audience of 72.6 million users. Russia’s search engine Yandex followed closely behind, with around 64 million daily users on average.

On September 24, 2022, the number of Russian speakers publicly posting, reposting, or commenting on Telegram witnessed a significant 58% increase. 

This surge occurred compared to February 24, 2022, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

Telegram Competitor Stats

Telegram’s commitment to privacy and security sets it apart from competitors, ensuring end-to-end encryption for all communications. It is known for its dedication to safeguarding user data, user-friendly interface, and a wide array of features.

Between January and December 2022, Telegram ranked as the third most popular messaging app on Android devices, with 412.6 million monthly active users (MAU).

As a social networking platform, Telegram holds the 11th position in global popularity rankings.

Telegram surpassed notable platforms like Snapchat, Twitter, and Pinterest, securing its position as one of the most popular social networks worldwide. 

 WhatsApp vs Telegram Statistics

Pavel Durov, Telegram’s founder, has frequently criticized WhatsApp.

For example, in a Telegram post shared on October 2022, Pavel Durov cautioned users about the security risks associated with WhatsApp, “hackers could have full access (!) to everything on the phones of WhatsApp users”. 

He advised users to be cautious and consider alternative messaging apps, highlighting that WhatsApp has been perceived as a surveillance tool for over 13 years.

In the same Telegram post, Durov stated, “You can use any messaging app you like, but do stay away from WhatsApp”. 

While both apps function as instant messaging services and share fundamental features, Telegram and WhatsApp vary significantly in their additional offerings.

For instance, Telegram permits unlimited participants to join voice calls, whereas WhatsApp restricts voice calls to a maximum of 8 participants.

Telegram’s unique features and commitment to privacy have contributed significantly to its growing appeal. As the platform continues to evolve and innovate, the journey ahead may be both exciting and rewarding, solidifying Telegram’s position as a leader in the messaging app landscape.

FAQs

Resources

• Crunchbase
• Telegram
• Moscow Times
• Forbes Middle East
• Sedar
• Data Requests
• TON
• SEC
• SEC
• Similar Web
• Statista
• Similar Web
• Telegram 
• Telegram Blog 
• Telegram FAQ Premium
• Telegram FAQ
• Telegram Blog
• Telegram Blog
• Telegram Blog
• App Figures
• Statista
• Media Scope
• TIME
• DW
• US News
• Statista
• Data Reportal
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• World Population Review
• Statista
• Statista
• Pew Research Center
• Statista
• TGstat
• Statista
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