Introduction
QQ Statistics: QQ is an instant messaging software service from China, initially launched in 1999 by Tencent, a multinational technology conglomerate based in China. It ranks among the most widely used instant messaging platforms in China, having over 800 million active users globally. QQ provides a variety of features such as text messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, and online gaming.
Additionally, the platform includes an integrated email service, a news feed, and an online shopping feature. QQ is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, offering a user-friendly interface. The service encompasses online social games, music, shopping, microblogging, movies, as well as group and voice chat functionalities. As of March 2023, there were 597 million monthly active accounts on QQ.
Editor’s Choice
- OICQ was the initial name of Tencent QQ when it was launched in February 1999.
- QQ had 678 million monthly active mobile users in Q1 2017.
- QQ had 694.1 million monthly active mobile users in Q1 2018.
- QQ had 700.4 million monthly active users in Q1 2019.
- QQ had QQ had 693.5 million monthly active users in Q1 2020.
- QQ had 606.4 million monthly active users in Q1 2021.
- QQ had 563.8 million monthly active users in Q1 2022.
- As per statistics from Similarweb, 17.28% of QQ users indicated their age as being between 18 and 24.
- Specifically, smartphones account for 25.23% of total QQ usage, while desktop devices constitute the remaining 74.77%.
- As of 2018, the platform is projected to surpass 700 million users, with approximately 120 million of those being subscribers.
- The typical duration of visits by GitHub users on QQ is 3 minutes and 42 seconds.
General QQ Statistics
- OICQ was the initial name of Tencent QQ when it was launched in February 1999.
- OICQ stands for Open ICQ, which refers to the early instant messaging service ICQ.
- AOL, the owner of ICQ, threatened Tencent with a lawsuit for trademark infringement; as a result, the name OICQ was changed to QQ.
- The name QQ suggests “cute” in the context of Chinese messaging culture during its early days.
- In contemporary times, particularly within the gaming community, QQ is often used as a taunt by players to represent 2 large crying eyes with tears streaming down.
- Web QQ, the online version of the application, was discontinued in 2019 as part of Tencent’s business restructuring.
- QQ Kandia, an application designed to rival ByteDance, was also terminated in August 2022.
- QQ mail, a mailing service linked to QQ, had a functional name, “drift bottle”.
- Users on QQ have the ability to ‘throw’ these drift bottles into a virtual ocean, remaining anonymous, where other users can then retrieve these ‘floating’ drift bottles.
- While anonymity is preserved during the act of throwing, it is still feasible to include contact information within the drift bottles.
- Tencent discontinued the drift bottle feature in 2019.
- QQ coin is a virtual currency used by QQ users to acquire items within QQ. However, the People’s Bank of China attempted to regulate these coins due to QQ users employing the virtual currency to buy real-world products.
QQ Mobile Users Statistics
2017
- QQ had 678 million monthly active mobile users in Q1 2017.
- QQ had 662 million monthly active mobile users in Q2 2017.
- QQ had 653 million monthly active mobile users in Q3 2017.
- QQ had 683 million monthly active mobile users in Q4 2017.
2018
- QQ had 694.1 million monthly active mobile users in Q1 2018.
- QQ had 708.6 million monthly active mobile users in Q2 2018.
- QQ had 697.9 million monthly active mobile users in Q3 2018.
- QQ had 699.8 million monthly active mobile users in Q4 2018.
2019
- QQ had 700.4 million monthly active users in Q1 2019.
- QQ had 706.7 million monthly active users in Q2 2019.
- QQ had 653.4 million monthly active users in Q3 2019.
- QQ had 647.0 million monthly active users in Q4 2019.
2020
- QQ had 693.5 million monthly active users in Q1 2020.
- QQ had 647.6 million monthly active users in Q2 2020.
- QQ had 617.4 million monthly active users in Q3 2020.
- QQ had 594.9 million monthly active users in Q4 2020.
2021
- QQ had 606.4 million monthly active users in Q1 2021.
- QQ had 590.9 million monthly active users in Q2 2021.
- QQ had 573.7 million monthly active users in Q3 2021.
- QQ had 552.1 million monthly active users in Q4 2021.
2022
- QQ had 563.8 million monthly active users in Q1 2022.
- QQ had 568.7 million monthly active users in Q2 2022.
- QQ had 574.4 million monthly active users in Q3 2022.
QQ Demographic Statistics
Gender
- According to Similarweb, around 67.80% of users on QQ are male.
- Conversely, the remaining 32.20% of users are female.
By Age
- As per statistics from Similarweb, 17.28% of QQ users indicated their age as being between 18 and 24.
- In total, 31.21% of QQ users are within the 25 to 34 age bracket, while 23.24% fall into the 35 to 44 age category.
- 14.41% of users are aged between 45 and 54 years,
- Moreover, 8.52% of QQ users are in the 55 to 64 age range, and 5.34% of users are over 65.
By Device
- Specifically, smartphones account for 25.23% of total QQ usage, while desktop devices constitute the remaining 74.77%.
Traffic Source
- Direct search accounts for the largest share of traffic to QQ.com, representing 67.79% of the website’s traffic, with desktop contributing 80.07% and mobile devices contributing 19.93%.
- Approximately 22.07% of the traffic share is derived from organic searches, while 8.50% comes from referrals.
- Data from SimilarWeb also shows that the remaining sources include paid search (0.00%), social media (1.33%), email (0.03%), and display advertising (0.28%).
By Country
- China: 92.03% of traffic share with a change rate of +0.1%
- Hong Kong: 1.84% of traffic share with a change rate of +4.49%
- United States: 1.47% of traffic share with a change rate of +5.39%
- Taiwan: 1.16% of traffic share with a change rate of +3.94%
- Singapore: 0.52% of traffic share with a change rate of +3.40%
QQ Music Statistics
- QQ Music is one of the three freemium music streaming services in China, owned by Tencent Music, a collaboration between Tencent and Spotify, which is now predominantly owned by Tencent.
- As of 2018, the platform is projected to surpass 700 million users, with approximately 120 million of those being subscribers.
- In 2018, QQ Music’s share of the market among music platforms in Mainland China rose to 75%.
- As of March 2020, QQ Music provides three different subscription options.
- Nevertheless, record labels have the option to limit their content to only subscribing users or to make it available for purchase on their websites, typically priced around 19 to 20 yuan.
Features of QQ Music
- QQ Music features an extensive library of songs spanning various genres, such as Chinese pop, global hits, and indie music.
- Users have the opportunity to discover curated playlists, charts, and tailored recommendations.
- Additionally, users can share their favorite playlists or tracks directly with friends on QQ or other Tencent platforms, enhancing social interactions through music.
- The platform includes a “Sing Along” feature, allowing users to engage in karaoke versions of songs, which introduces a fun and interactive aspect.
- The display of lyrics in real-time, along with user-generated commentary, significantly enriches the listening experience.
- Musicians have the opportunity to conduct Q&A sessions or live performances directly on QQ Music, allowing them to engage with fans in real-time.
- QQ Music provides high-fidelity streaming options tailored for audiophiles, guaranteeing an exceptional listening experience.
- Users are able to view official music videos or brief clips shared by artists, which adds a visual aspect to the music.
- QQ Music facilitates direct monetization through the sale of digital albums, virtual gifting, and fan subscriptions.
QQ Games Statistics
- QQ Games operates as a platform for casual gaming, offering exclusively multiplayer online games.
- Users can access these games through QQ Games directly, and the games are entirely free to play.
- In collaboration through the AIM Plugin Gallery with AOL Instant Messenger, versions 6.5 and subsequent releases of AIM included the English edition of QQ Games.
- QQ Games was created by Tencent, with its English division set up by Tencent America, LLC, and a subsidiary of the Tencent group, based in Redwood City, CA.
- The QQ Games Support Team ceased the English version of QQ Games on January 2, 2014, along with its related website.
Statistics of QQ Coin
- The QQ Coin serves as a virtual currency for QQ users, enabling them to “acquire” items related to QQ for their avatars and blogs.
- QQ Coins can be obtained through purchase (one coin for one RMB) or by using mobile phone services.
- Given QQ’s widespread popularity among the youth in China, online vendors accept QQ Coins in exchange for tangible merchandise, including small gifts.
- Tencent asserts that the QQ Coin is simply a standard commodity and, as such, does not qualify as a currency.
QQ Ad Statistics
- Miscellaneous Ads in QQ cover around 97.3% alone.
- ShareASale Ads in QQ cover around 0.67%.
- Unidentified Networks in QQ cover 0.38%.
- Miaozhen in QQ covers 0.35%.
- Google Display Network in QQ covers 0.32%.
- Others cover 0.98%.
Time Spent on QQ
The typical duration of visits by GitHub users on QQ is 3 minutes and 42 seconds.
Conclusion
QQ’s user base has experienced a decline over the years, especially following the emergence of WeChat; however, it still serves as an important platform in China, particularly among younger demographics and in the gaming sector.
Despite the reduction in user numbers, QQ continues to adapt by introducing features such as QQ Groups, QQ Space, and integrated gaming, thereby preserving its significance within the Chinese digital landscape.
FAQs
QQ is mainly utilized for online messaging, casual video and voice calls, document sharing, and social networking. A notable feature is QQ Group, which encompasses interest groups that range from English learning to travel. Most of these groups are frequently updated and can be searched organically.
No, QQ is not accessible in India. In June 2020, the Indian government prohibited QQ Music and several other Chinese applications, including TikTok and WeChat, due to concerns regarding data security and privacy, as reported by Music Business Worldwide. Although QQ accounts can be established from outside of China, they are predominantly used within China and may necessitate a Chinese phone number.
Tencent’s social networking platforms, especially WeChat and QQ, offer multiple monetization opportunities. Through WeChat, Tencent capitalizes on its extensive user base for digital marketing and advertising, collaborating with businesses to promote their products and services.
