As one of the most popular messaging channels, running ads on Facebook Messenger should be on the top of every business’s marketing agenda.

But before doing so, it’s wise to get the lay of the land and understand its users a little. All this starts with answering one basic question about it: how many people use Facebook Messenger?

According to the latest statistics, the number of Facebook Messenger users in the United States has been on a steady rise in recent years. As of 2022, there are 138.1 million users of the app – which is a 1.6 percent increase from the previous year. 

Facebook Messenger statistics also show that in the years from 2018 to 2022, the number of users is forecast to increase by 11.8 million. This marks an average annual growth rate of 2.3 percent. 

The largest year-over-year increase in the number of Facebook Messenger users in this period came in 2019. In that year, there were 130 million users, 2.9 percent more than the previous year.

Start selling online now with Shopify

Start your free trial

Facebook Messenger Users: Age and Gender Demographics

Knowing the number of Facebook Messenger users isn’t enough. It’s also important to have a sense of the demographics, especially if you’re going to cater ads to these users.

The number of female and male Facebook Messenger users is pretty on par—with the platform just slightly more popular among males. 50.4 percent of Facebook Messenger users are male, while 49.6 percent are women.

In terms of age, most of the Facebook Messenger users in the US are between the ages of 25 and 44. In fact, 44.6 percent of them fall within this age group, with the majority (24.2 percent) between 25 and 34.

The third-largest age group is 45 to 54: 16.7 percent of Facebook Messenger users in the US are of these ages. 

These Facebook Messenger statistics show that usage of the chat app tends to decrease as users’ ages increase. For instance, just 13.9 percent of Facebook Messenger users are between 55 and 64 years old. This decreases further to 12.9 percent for those 65 aged and above.

By far, the smallest age group is 13 to 17. Only a tiny 1.2 percent of Facebook Messenger users in the US fall in this age category.

Start selling online now with Shopify

Start your free trial

Want to Learn More?