WhatsApp remains one of the most entrenched means of communication in Pakistan. But while it connects millions of people, the platform is also becoming a major battleground for fraudsters. According to recent dataPakistan is among the top 10 countries in terms of the number of WhatsApp accounts: approximately 98.3 million accounts. Here is a table showing how Pakistan compares to other countries:
TOP 10 COUNTRIES RANKED BY NUMBER OF WHATSAPP ACCOUNTS
| Rank | Country | Bills | Global share | Android (%) | iOS (%) | Image (%) | About text (%) | Company (%) | Companions (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 749,075,246 | 21.67% | 95 | 5 | 62.2 | 29.5 | 9.8 | 6.2 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 235,245,077 | 6.81% | 92 | 8 | 49.1 | 27.5 | 10.7 | 9.3 |
| 3 | Brazil | 206,949,224 | 5.99% | 81 | 19 | 61.1 | 41.5 | 10.3 | 15.5 |
| 4 | United States | 137,859,284 | 3.99% | 33 | 67 | 44.0 | 32.8 | 2.4 | 6.1 |
| 5 | Russia | 132,855,022 | 3.84% | 76 | 24 | 61.7 | 33.5 | 3.6 | 9.4 |
| 6 | Mexico | 128,324,166 | 3.71% | 82 | 18 | 46.1 | 23.3 | 4.1 | 11.7 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 98,277,665 | 2.84% | 95 | 5 | 58.5 | 20.0 | 21.7 | 5.4 |
| 8 | Germany | 74,565,425 | 2.16% | 58 | 42 | 51.0 | 35.4 | 2.2 | 13.4 |
| 9 | Turkey | 72,131,903 | 2.09% | 73 | 27 | 48.0 | 33.4 | 3.0 | 12.0 |
| 10 | Egypt | 69,317,806 | 2.01% | 90 | 10 | 53.2 | 25.1 | 11.3 | 6.1 |
Summary:
- Total accounts in top 10 countries: 1,552,021,571
- Share of global WhatsApp users: 44.90%
- Global total accounts (245 countries): 3,456,622,389
The table highlights the distribution of WhatsApp accounts worldwide, showing total number of users, platform preference (Android vs. iOS), and usage patterns such as profile photos, ‘About’ text, business accounts, and companion features.
Global context
Of the approximately 3.46 billion WhatsApp users worldwide, the top 10 countries account for 1.55 billion users, or 44.9% of all WhatsApp accounts. This indicates that almost half of the global WhatsApp user base is concentrated in just 10 countries.
India: the largest WhatsApp market
India leads by a significant margin with 749 million accounts, accounting for 21.67% of the global WhatsApp user base. Android dominates in India with 95% of users, compared to just 5% on iOS. This reflects India’s strong preference for Android devices due to its affordability and availability in the market.
In terms of profile characteristics:
- 62.2% of Indian users have profile photos.
- 29.5% use ‘About’ text, indicating a moderate level of personalization in user profiles.
- 9.8% are business accounts, reflecting the growing trend of WhatsApp as a commercial platform.
- 6.2% use companion apps or connected apps/features, showing limited use outside of messaging.
Pakistan: smaller but unique user base
Pakistan ranks seventh globally with 98 million accounts, accounting for 2.84% of the global WhatsApp population. Like India, Android dominates at 95%, while iOS is left with just 5%, showing a parallel pattern of device preference.
- Profile photos are used by 58.5%, slightly less than in India, meaning about 57-58 million Pakistanis display profile photos.
- ‘About’ text usage is at 20%, roughly 20 million users, which is low compared to India’s 29.5%, showing fewer profile customizations.
- Business accounts are significant at 21.7%, which translates to around 21 million users, which is a much higher percentage than in India. This shows that WhatsApp is widely used for commercial communication in Pakistan.
- The Companions feature is at 5.4%, indicating limited adoption of additional tools.
Muslim-majority countries in the top 10
Five Muslim-majority countries are in the top 10: Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt and, to some extent, the regional context of other Muslim-majority users.
- Indonesia has 235 million accounts, approximately 6.81% of the global share. Android usage is at 92% and iOS 8%, with profile photos at 49.1%, ‘About’ text at 27.5%, business accounts at 10.7% and companions at 9.3%. This shows that Indonesia has a younger or more casual user base with moderate personalization.
- Türkiye: 72 million users (global share 2.09%), Android 73%, iOS 27%, profile photos 48%, “About” 33.4%, business 3%, companions 12%. Türkiye shows a more balanced distribution of devices, but fewer business users.
- Egypt: 69 million users (global share 2.01%), Android 90%, iOS 10%, profile photos 53.2%, About 25.1%, business 11.3%, companions 6.1%. Egypt is similar to Pakistan in its use of profile photos, but has proportionately fewer business accounts.
Comparing these Muslim-majority countries, Pakistan stands out for its high share of business accounts (21.7%) and relatively less prominent text use. Indonesia and Egypt have lower business adoption, but moderate personalization in profiles. Türkiye has higher iOS usage than the other Muslim-majority countries, reflecting a stronger market for premium devices.
Other top countries
United States: 137 million users, iOS dominant (67%), Android only 33%, fewer profile photos (44%) and ‘About’ texts (32.8%), reflecting a less personalized approach but higher iOS adoption.
Brazil and Russia: Android-dominated use of high-profile photos and “About” texts, indicating more engaged social behavior.
Why China is missing
China does not appear in WhatsApp’s top list. This is because WhatsApp is banned in China. The country uses its own domestic apps such as WeChat for messaging, payments and business communications. Chinese users are almost entirely dependent on local platforms, which are integrated into everyday life, for both personal and commercial activities.
Key observations
- Device preference difference: Android dominates most countries, especially in South Asia (India and Pakistan) and Muslim-majority countries. iOS is more popular in the US, Germany and Turkey.
- Profile customization: India and Russia show the highest use of profile photos and ‘About’ texts, reflecting more active personalization. Pakistan lags behind in terms of text usage but leads in terms of corporate adoption.
- Business adoption: Pakistan has an unusually high percentage of business users for its size, indicating strong business penetration of WhatsApp.
- Companion features: Mostly low in all countries, with Türkiye showing higher usage (12%).
The table illustrates the global differences in WhatsApp adoption and usage patterns. While India dominates in terms of total users and engagement, Pakistan shows strong corporate adoption despite fewer users. Muslim-majority countries vary widely, but Android remains dominant and customization habits vary. China is notably absent due to restrictions, relying instead on domestic platforms.
WhatsApp usage in Pakistan: the security and financial risks
In Pakistan, WhatsApp users are facing a growing wave of scams, including account hijacking through code phishing, fake investment schemes, crypto fraud and impersonation, with the Digital Rights Foundation reporting hundreds of fraud cases in 2025 alone. Meta suspended 6.8 million accounts linked to such networks, while the Securities and Exchange Commission warned of fraudulent investment groups.
These scams cost the country more than $9 billion annually, approximately 2.5% of GDP. Authorities such as the PTA recommend enabling two-factor authentication, monitoring devices and reporting suspicious activity, but high-level protections, such as the recently introduced secure phone for government officials, remain out of reach for ordinary users. This underlines the urgent need for broader public awareness and safeguards in cybersecurity.
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