LINE in Japan in 2025
In 2025, LINE remained Japan’s most dominant messaging app, continuing to serve as the country’s primary platform for personal communication, business messaging, and official services. With an estimated 97 million monthly active users in Japan, LINE’s user base represented a significant portion of the country’s total population, which was around 123 million. This indicates that roughly 79% of Japan’s total population used LINE on a monthly basis, reinforcing its role as a critical part of Japan’s digital and social infrastructure.
The platform’s deep integration with everyday life in Japan—through services like LINE Pay, LINE News, and official government accounts—contributed to its sustained popularity. Its multifunctionality has kept users consistently engaged across age demographics. Additionally, LINE’s widespread use among businesses, public institutions, and media organizations has ensured its relevance beyond just social networking, making it a utility app in Japan rather than just a communication tool. As of 2025, LINE remains a cornerstone of digital engagement in Japan, unmatched in penetration and cultural presence.
Japan LINE Users Statistics 2025
Metric | Ranking | Value |
---|---|---|
Monthly Active Users (MAUs) | 1st | 97.0 million users |
Avg Monthly Sessions (Android) | 1st | 367.9 sessions |
Most Used Social Media (by users) | 1st | 81.6% of internet users |
Most Favourite Social Media (by users) | 1st | 43.2% of social media users |
Avg Time per Month (Android) | 3rd | 9 hours 50 minutes |
Total Consumer Spend | 7th | — |
In 2025, LINE solidified its position as Japan’s leading mobile and social platform, with 97 million monthly active users, making it the most used mobile app in the country. It held the top spot for monthly sessions, averaging 367.9 sessions per month on Android devices, reflecting extremely high user engagement and habitual usage. With 81.6% of internet users actively using the app, LINE stands out as the most widely used social media platform in Japan. Furthermore, it was the most favored app among social media users, with 43.2% selecting LINE as their top choice.
The average user spent 9 hours and 50 minutes per month on the LINE app, placing it third in time spent among social media platforms. Despite its utility-focused nature, LINE also ranked 7th in total consumer spend, indicating modest monetization compared to its high engagement. Its integration with daily life—from messaging and payments to government services and news—makes it an essential app across age groups. These metrics affirm LINE’s continued dominance and unique position in Japan’s digital ecosystem in 2025.
LINE Users in Japan – 2025
Metric | Value |
---|---|
Monthly Active Users (MAUs) | 97.0 million |
Share of Total Population | 78.6% |
Share of Internet Users | 89.1% |
In 2025, LINE remained the dominant communication platform in Japan, boasting 97.0 million monthly active users. This impressive user count represents 78.6% of the entire Japanese population, underscoring the platform’s deep integration into the everyday lives of citizens. The widespread adoption of LINE across demographics reflects its multifaceted utility—from personal communication and business messaging to digital payments, news delivery, and public service access.
From an internet usage standpoint, the data reveals that 89.1% of all internet users in Japan were active on LINE at the start of 2025. This signifies a near-universal adoption among digitally connected individuals in the country. The scale and penetration of LINE make it not just a messaging app, but a critical digital infrastructure in Japan’s mobile-first environment, helping it maintain its leadership in both engagement and relevance year after year.
Gender Breakdown of LINE Users in Japan – 2025
Gender | Share (%) | Number of Users |
---|---|---|
Female | 52.8% | 51.22 million |
Male | 47.2% | 45.78 million |
In 2025, LINE’s user base in Japan showed a slightly higher representation of female users, accounting for 52.8% of its total active users. This equates to approximately 51.22 million women actively using the platform each month. The platform’s inclusive features, such as user-friendly design, group chats, stickers, and lifestyle-integrated services, may contribute to its popularity among female users across different age groups.
Meanwhile, male users made up 47.2% of LINE’s audience, amounting to 45.78 million users. The near-balanced distribution between genders demonstrates LINE’s broad appeal and cross-demographic functionality in Japan. This balance enhances LINE’s positioning as a mass-utility app rather than one targeted at a specific segment, contributing to its status as the most widely used mobile app in the country.
LINE User Growth in Japan – 2024 to 2025
Period | Net Change in Users | Growth Rate (%) |
---|---|---|
Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 (Annual) | +1.0 million | +1.0% |
Oct 2024 – Jan 2025 (Quarterly) | ~0 (no change) | 0.0% |
In the year leading up to early 2025, LINE added approximately 1.0 million new monthly active users in Japan, representing a +1.0% year-over-year growth. This steady gain pushed the total user base to 97.0 million, further cementing LINE’s dominance as Japan’s most widely used communication app. Despite Japan’s relatively stable population, LINE continues to see slight organic growth, likely driven by its integration into everyday services such as payments, shopping, news, and entertainment.
However, quarterly trends suggest a plateau in new user acquisition. From October 2024 to January 2025, the number of active users remained relatively unchanged, indicating market saturation. This flat quarter-over-quarter performance suggests that LINE may be approaching full penetration among Japan’s internet users, highlighting the platform’s challenge of maintaining growth in an already highly connected and mature digital market.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.