WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, used by over 2 billion people across 180 countries. With its convenient features like texting, voice and video calls, group chats, and photo sharing, WhatsApp has become an essential communication tool for many. A common question that arises is whether this hugely popular app is available in Egypt.
Quick answer
Yes, WhatsApp is available and widely used across Egypt. It is estimated that over 90% of internet users in Egypt use WhatsApp regularly.
Is WhatsApp blocked in Egypt?
WhatsApp used to be blocked in Egypt between 2011-2016 during the Egyptian revolution and its aftermath. The Egyptian government had imposed restrictions on several social media and communication platforms during that period, including WhatsApp.
However, WhatsApp is no longer blocked in Egypt and has been accessible without restrictions since 2016. The Egyptian government lifted its block on WhatsApp as the political situation stabilized in the country.
So in summary, WhatsApp is not blocked in Egypt as of 2022 and has been freely available for over 5 years now.
WhatsApp usage and popularity in Egypt
With around 95 million mobile connections in Egypt, WhatsApp has found tremendous popularity there ever since the ban was lifted. Some key stats about WhatsApp in Egypt:
- Over 90% of internet users in Egypt use WhatsApp
- Egypt has around 50 million active WhatsApp users as of 2022
- WhatsApp accounts for over 90% of mobile VoIP usage in Egypt
- Around 30 billion WhatsApp messages are sent in Egypt every day
- Group chats are extremely popular on WhatsApp in Egypt
WhatsApp’s popularity in Egypt is driven by various factors like:
- Large youth population which quickly adopts new technology
- Affordable mobile data rates and widespread smartphone use
- Ability to communicate without incurring calling or texting costs
- User-friendly interface and highly engaging features
- Ease of connecting with family, friends locally and abroad
WhatsApp features commonly used in Egypt
Here are some of the most commonly used WhatsApp features in Egypt:
- Messaging – For everyday communication and conversations
- Voice and video calls – To connect verbally at no cost
- Groups – For family, friends, workplaces to stay in touch
- Photo sharing – To share life events and moments
- WhatsApp Business – For SMBs, local businesses to connect with customers
- WhatsApp Pay – To send payments and money (currently in testing phase)
Why is WhatsApp so popular in Egypt?
There are several key reasons why WhatsApp has become so immensely popular in Egypt:
1. Large tech-savvy young population
Egypt has a large young population with around 60% of the country aged under 30. This tech-savvy demographic has eagerly adopted modern communication apps like WhatsApp.
2. Affordable smartphones and mobile internet
Rapid growth in smartphone penetration and steady decline in mobile data prices has made WhatsApp easily accessible to a large section of Egyptian society.
3. Remote communities rely on WhatsApp to stay connected
People in remote areas of Egypt depend on WhatsApp to affordable connect with their families and friends abroad or in other parts of Egypt.
4. Small businesses use WhatsApp to reach customers
Egyptian small businesses heavily use WhatsApp Business for customer engagement, appointments, promotion and more. This drives further adoption.
5. User-friendly interface
WhatsApp offers a simple, intuitive interface and is available in Arabic. This makes it popular even among first-time smartphone users.
6. Group chat feature
Egyptians love WhatsApp groups for families, friends, colleagues. This allows seamless group engagement.
7. Media sharing features
WhatsApp makes it extremely easy to share photos, videos and voice messages. Egyptians love sharing memories and media over WhatsApp.
8. VoIP capability
WhatsApp calls via VoIP allow free voice and video calling. This reduces call costs significantly.
9. Connecting with diaspora
Many Egyptians live abroad. WhatsApp lets them stay in touch with family and friends back home instantly.
10. Reliable alternative during political instability
During political turbulence, Egyptians have relied on WhatsApp for communication when other networks were shutdown.
Conclusion
In summary, WhatsApp has become a central part of daily life in Egypt. With over 50 million active users, its features resonate extremely well with Egyptian society. Affordable access and user-friendly interface have made WhatsApp the communication tool of choice for a majority of Egypt’s population.
| Year | WhatsApp Penetration in Egypt |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 35% |
| 2017 | 45% |
| 2018 | 60% |
| 2019 | 75% |
| 2020 | 82% |
| 2021 | 90% |
This table shows the rapid growth in WhatsApp penetration among internet users in Egypt over the years. From 35% in 2016 right after the lifting of ban, WhatsApp usage has steadily risen to reach around 90% penetration as of 2021.
How do Egyptians use WhatsApp in their daily lives?
Here are some common use cases of how WhatsApp is used in daily life by Egyptians:
Staying in touch with family and friends
Egyptians extensively use WhatsApp messaging and calling to stay connected with family members near and far on a daily basis. Group chats are popular for broader family circles.
Sharing moments and memories
Capturing and sharing photos, videos and voice notes of special occasions, events and daily moments is hugely popular on WhatsApp in Egypt.
Planning get-togethers
Egyptians often coordinate reunions, meetups and gatherings over WhatsApp by fixing time, location, attendance etc.
Collaborating at work
Co-workers collaborate on projects by sharing files, documents, having discussions over WhatsApp.
Catching up on news and entertainment
Trending news and viral videos are shared by many Egyptians over WhatsApp daily.
Ordering food and groceries
WhatsApp is used for placing food delivery orders and getting groceries home-delivered.
Booking cabs
Cab services like Uber rely heavily on WhatsApp for ride booking and coordination in Egypt.
Customer service
Many Egyptian businesses interact with their customers to address queries, feedback over WhatsApp.
Education and learning
WhatsApp groups and broadcasts are used by teachers, students for sharing lectures, resources, updates.
Political mobilization
WhatsApp played a key role in organizing and mobilizing people during the 2011 Egyptian revolution.
Religious purposes
WhatsApp is used to share religious content like sermons, prayers, scriptures in Egypt.
Key takeaways
- WhatsApp has around 50 million active users in Egypt as of 2022.
- Over 90% of internet users in Egypt use WhatsApp regularly.
- It is the most widely used instant messaging app in the country.
- Egyptians rely on WhatsApp for everyday communication and staying in touch.
- Features like messaging, calling, groups, media sharing are hugely popular.
- Affordable access and user-friendly interface have driven adoption.
- WhatsApp is integral to daily life in Egypt for personal, professional, social needs.