Instant messaging service Line will be used by 50.2m people in Japan in 2017, which is equal to 92.8 per cent of the country’s mobile messaging app users in the country.

Line, developed by the Japanese arm of South Korean internet company Naver, was initially created as response to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake – which caused the outage of traditional communications means. However, since being released to the public in June 2011, it has seen outstanding levels of popularity.  

According to eMarketer, 85.3 per cent of those accessing Line will be regular users in 2017, while the number of people using the app in total is set to reach 58.5m by the end of 2021.

Furthermore, the app is expected to reach 51.2 per cent of Japan’s internet users every month, while 51.8 per cent of Japan’s mobile users will access it each month in 2019.

Earlier this year, Line introduced a cloud AI virtual assistant called Clova, as well as launching a work-based messaging platform called Line Works. Those are just a couple of other avenues Line has taken to raise its stock. It also has its Line Pay service, and offer ride-hailing, music, video streaming and mobile gaming services.