January 18 to May 14 and July 13 to Semptember 31, 2021
Number of respondents
24,666 respondents
Age group
15 years and older
Special properties
The data was collected in two waves
Supplementary notes
TGI/AskAfrika, annually interviews 24,666 respondents aged 15+ living in urban areas with 8,000 or more inhabitants, using a stratified random probability sample. The data is weighted to the South African national statistics service, "Statistics South Africa's" population estimates, which allow for an accurate representation of 27.76 million South Africans.
To ensure a nationally representative sample, the survey is based on enumerated area (EA) sampling.
Citation formats
Distribution of instant messaging App users South Africa 2021 by population group
In 2021, a survey was conducted in South Africa about the usage of instant messaging applications among different population groups. The findings showed that Black South Africans, the largest population group in the country, were also the largest users of all the instant messaging Apps. White and colored individuals followed, except for the more significant number of Indians/Asians who used Signal compared to the colored population.
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Ornico, & World Wide Worx. (June 30, 2022). Distribution of instant messaging App users in South Africa in 2021, by population group [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from /statistics/1340939/distribution-of-instant-messaging-app-users-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
Ornico, und World Wide Worx. "Distribution of instant messaging App users in South Africa in 2021, by population group." Chart. June 30, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 31, 2026. /statistics/1340939/distribution-of-instant-messaging-app-users-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
Ornico, World Wide Worx. (2022). Distribution of instant messaging App users in South Africa in 2021, by population group. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 31, 2026. /statistics/1340939/distribution-of-instant-messaging-app-users-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
Ornico, and World Wide Worx. "Distribution of Instant Messaging App Users in South Africa in 2021, by Population Group." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 30 Jun 2022, /statistics/1340939/distribution-of-instant-messaging-app-users-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
Ornico & World Wide Worx, Distribution of instant messaging App users in South Africa in 2021, by population group ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1340939/distribution-of-instant-messaging-app-users-in-south-africa-by-population-group/ (last visited July 31, 2026)
Distribution of instant messaging App users in South Africa in 2021, by population group [Graph], Ornico, & World Wide Worx, June 30, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1340939/distribution-of-instant-messaging-app-users-in-south-africa-by-population-group/
