KakaoTalk in South Korea – 2025
KakaoTalk remained South Korea’s dominant messaging app in 2025, with 48.9 million monthly active users, effectively covering the vast majority of the country’s internet-connected population. This near-universal adoption underscores KakaoTalk’s deeply embedded role in South Korean digital life — not only as a personal messaging tool but also as a platform for business communication, e-commerce, content sharing, and even public service updates. The app’s seamless integration with other Kakao services, such as KakaoPay, KakaoMap, and KakaoStory, has made it indispensable in the everyday lives of Korean users.
Despite the growth of global messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram, KakaoTalk’s dominance in South Korea remains unchallenged due to its localization and tailored features that resonate with Korean cultural and communication preferences. With a market penetration rate that far exceeds any other app in the country, KakaoTalk serves as a national digital infrastructure — a rare case where a local service continues to outperform global competitors in its home market.
South Korea KakaoTalk Statistics 2025
KakaoTalk App Rankings and User Statistics
| Metric Category | KakaoTalk Value | National Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Active Users (Mobile App) | 48.9 million | 1st |
| Most Used Social Media Platform | 82.9% | 1st |
| Favourite Social Media Platform | 49.7% of social media users | 1st |
| Total Consumer Spend (App Ranking) | High | 5th |
KakaoTalk, developed by Kakao Corp, stood out as South Korea’s top mobile app in 2025 with 48.9 million monthly active users, reinforcing its unmatched dominance in the market. It also led in terms of social engagement, being the #1 most used and #1 most favoured social platform in the country. An impressive 82.9% of internet users used KakaoTalk, and nearly half of all social media users (49.7%) considered it their preferred platform—underscoring its deep integration into everyday digital communication in South Korea.
Beyond engagement, KakaoTalk also demonstrated strong monetization. It ranked 5th in total consumer spend across all mobile apps in South Korea, showing that users are not only active but also willing to invest financially in the platform. With features spanning messaging, mobile payment (KakaoPay), gaming, and content sharing, KakaoTalk’s influence extended far beyond a messaging tool—serving as a digital ecosystem central to South Korean life in 2025.
KakaoTalk Users in South Korea – 2025
KakaoTalk User Penetration in South Korea (2025)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Active Users | 48.9 million |
| Share of Total National Population | 94.7% |
| Share of Total Internet Users | 97.2% |
In 2025, KakaoTalk maintained its dominance in South Korea’s digital communications space, with an estimated 48.9 million monthly active users, according to data from Kakao’s earnings presentations. This figure represents an impressive 94.7% of the country’s total population, demonstrating that the app is deeply embedded in everyday life across nearly every demographic. Such a high usage rate reflects KakaoTalk’s position not just as a messaging platform but as a central digital utility in the country.
Moreover, KakaoTalk’s penetration among internet users was even more profound. An estimated 97.2% of South Korea’s internet users were active on KakaoTalk, indicating near-universal adoption among connected citizens. This near-total user share solidifies its reputation as the default communication app in South Korea, offering a suite of integrated services including payments, shopping, and entertainment—far beyond simple messaging.
Gender Distribution of KakaoTalk Users in South Korea – 2025
| Gender | Share of Users | Number of Users (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 50.9% | 24.90 |
| Female | 49.1% | 23.99 |
In 2025, KakaoTalk maintained a nearly even gender distribution among its users in South Korea. Males accounted for 50.9% of the platform’s 48.9 million monthly active users, amounting to approximately 24.90 million users, while females made up 49.1%, or about 23.99 million users. This balance reflects KakaoTalk’s strong universal appeal and widespread integration into the daily digital habits of South Koreans.
The minor difference in gender share underlines KakaoTalk’s role as an inclusive, indispensable communication tool used across all demographics. Given that KakaoTalk reaches 94.7% of the country’s population and 97.2% of all internet users, its functionality clearly extends beyond messaging, encompassing payments, scheduling, e-commerce, and entertainment—features used evenly by both men and women in South Korea.
KakaoTalk User Growth in South Korea – 2024
| Period | Change in Users | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2023 to Q3 2024 | +597,000 users | +1.2% |
| Q2 2024 to Q3 2024 | +2,000 users | +0.004% |
KakaoTalk continued its dominance in South Korea’s messaging landscape with a modest but positive growth in its monthly active user base in 2024. Between Q3 2023 and Q3 2024, KakaoTalk gained 597,000 users, marking a 1.2% year-on-year increase. This growth pushed the total user base close to 48.9 million active users, highlighting the platform’s sustained relevance in an already saturated market.
On a quarter-to-quarter basis, growth was minimal. From Q2 to Q3 2024, the platform added just 2,000 new users, a 0.004% increase. This marginal rise suggests that KakaoTalk has reached near-universal adoption within South Korea, where over 94% of the population already uses the app. The stagnation in short-term growth signals market maturity but also reinforces the platform’s entrenched position in daily digital communication across all age groups.
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.
