WhatsApp has more than 3 billion monthly actives, according to Meta's Q1 2025 earnings call. The WhatsApp Help Center allows up to 1,024 members in a group, 32 people on a group call and documents up to 2 GB, and you can edit a message for up to 15 minutes.
Last checked October 2026.
WhatsApp limits are the kind of thing you only look up when you hit one: the group won't take another member, the video won't send, or the edit button has vanished. I've pulled the main WhatsApp numbers into one table, using the WhatsApp Help Center, WhatsApp's own blog and Meta's newsroom and earnings calls. Each row names its source, so you know where the number came from.
WhatsApp fact table
| What | The number | Source | Refers to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly users | More than 3 billion monthly actives | Meta Q1 2025 earnings call transcript | Q1 2025 (Meta earnings call, 30 Apr 2025) |
| Countries | Used in over 180 countries | WhatsApp About | Oct 2026 (WhatsApp About page) |
| First code written | February 2009 | WhatsApp Blog | 2009 (WhatsApp blog, 20 Feb 2017) |
| Facebook acquisition | Announced 19 February 2014, when over 450 million people used it monthly | Meta Newsroom | 19 Feb 2014 (Meta newsroom) |
| End-to-end encryption default | On by default since April 2016, when over 1 billion people used the app | WhatsApp Blog | 5 Apr 2016 (WhatsApp blog) |
| Channels global launch | Channels launched in over 150 countries in September 2023 | Meta Newsroom | 13 Sep 2023 (Meta newsroom) |
| Minimum age | At least 13 years old (or older where local law requires) | WhatsApp Terms of Service | Terms effective 4 Jan 2021 (global); EEA terms effective 17 Aug 2026 also say 13 |
| Max group size | Up to 1,024 members per group | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Group call size | Up to 32 people on a group voice or video call | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Community size | Up to 2,000 members in a community | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Broadcast list limit | Up to 256 contacts per broadcast list | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Document size limit | Documents up to 2 GB | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Photos per send | Up to 100 photos or videos at once | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Edit window | Messages can be edited for up to 15 minutes | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Delete for everyone window | Two days to delete a sent message for everyone | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Status lifespan | Status updates disappear after 24 hours | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Status video length | Status videos up to 90 seconds | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Disappearing message timers | 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
| Linked devices | Up to 4 linked devices per phone | WhatsApp Help Center | Oct 2026 (help centre) |
How many people use WhatsApp
On the Meta Q1 2025 earnings call, WhatsApp was put at more than 3 billion monthly actives. The WhatsApp About page says it's used in over 180 countries. For scale, when Facebook announced the acquisition on 19 February 2014, the Meta Newsroom put WhatsApp at over 450 million monthly users, and by April 2016 the WhatsApp Blog said over 1 billion people used it.
A few dates help when you're writing about its history. The WhatsApp Blog says the first code was written in February 2009. End-to-end encryption has been on by default since April 2016, and the Meta Newsroom says Channels launched in over 150 countries in September 2023. If you run a channel, whether you can see who viewed your WhatsApp channel and the difference between a channel and a community are worth a read.
WhatsApp group, community and broadcast limits
According to the WhatsApp Help Center, a group can hold up to 1,024 members and a community up to 2,000 members. Group voice or video calls take up to 32 people. Broadcast lists, which send the same message to contacts one by one, hold up to 256 contacts each.
These limits are why businesses tend to mix formats: a community for members, a broadcast list for customers who've saved your number, and a channel for one-way updates. If you're setting up a business group, my guide on what to name a business WhatsApp group covers the part people skip, and how to create a WhatsApp channel walks through the channel setup.
WhatsApp file, message and status limits
The WhatsApp Help Center lists documents up to 2 GB and up to 100 photos or videos in one send. You can edit a message for up to 15 minutes after sending it, and you have two days to delete a sent message for everyone.
Status updates disappear after 24 hours, and status videos can run up to 90 seconds. Disappearing messages can be set to 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days. You can link up to 4 devices to one phone. If your status isn't reaching people, see why WhatsApp status views aren't showing.
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Who can use WhatsApp
The WhatsApp Terms of Service set the minimum age at 13, or older where local law requires it. The EEA terms effective 17 Aug 2026 also say 13. If you manage WhatsApp for a business, how many WhatsApp Business accounts you can have and switching WhatsApp Business back to a normal account answer the questions that usually come next.
How to read these WhatsApp numbers
- Help centre limits change. WhatsApp raises group and file limits from time to time, so the help centre rows carry the month I checked them.
- Monthly actives and accounts aren't the same thing. The user number comes from Meta's earnings call, which counts monthly actives rather than every account ever made.
- Older milestones are history, not current numbers. The 2014 and 2016 user counts show growth over time. Don't quote them as today's size.
- Your phone and app version matter. Some limits roll out gradually, so update the app before deciding a feature is missing.
- Lost chats are a different problem. No limit on this page helps once messages are gone, but recovering WhatsApp messages with no backup covers what's possible.
Where these numbers come from
Every number on this page comes from one of these named sources. I haven't linked them, so search the source name if you want to read the original.
- Meta Q1 2025 earnings call transcript
- WhatsApp About
- WhatsApp Blog
- Meta Newsroom
- WhatsApp Help Center
- WhatsApp Terms of Service
Frequently asked questions
How many people can be in a WhatsApp group?
Up to 1,024 members, according to the WhatsApp Help Center. A community can hold up to 2,000 members.
How many people can join a WhatsApp video call?
Up to 32 people on a group voice or video call.
How long do you have to edit or delete a WhatsApp message?
You can edit a message for up to 15 minutes, and you have two days to delete a sent message for everyone.
How big a file can you send on WhatsApp?
Documents up to 2 GB, and up to 100 photos or videos at once.
How many people use WhatsApp?
More than 3 billion monthly actives, according to the Meta Q1 2025 earnings call.
