Check out a wide range of voicemail statistics in this article, including how many calls go to voicemail, how many people respond to voicemails, and how many people leave a voicemail rather than send a text.
This article gives you data relating to leaving and responding to voicemail on a smartphone or mobile phone.
The article also looks at the relationship people have with voicemails, and how they react to voicemails.
You can also find out what the majority of people do when an unknown number calls their phone.
In this article, you’ll find a wide range of voicemail statistics relating to their use on smartphones. Voicemails are often, inexplicably, treated with some trepidation. Lots of people leave them, few people listen to them, and even fewer actually respond them. Given that we constantly have our phones in our hands, what is it about the humble voicemail that we simply do not want to interact with? Let’s find out about our voicemail habits.
SellCell Key Findings:
80% of all calls to smartphones and mobile phones go to voicemail. Of this 80%, only 20% of callers will leave a voicemail.
Smartphone and mobile phone owners take longer to reply to voicemail than any other form of messaging, with most voicemails unplayed for three days.
The ideal length of a voicemail is between eight and thirteen seconds, which doesn’t give much time to get your message to its intended recipient!
What Is a Voicemail?
Voicemail is a handy feature on mobile phones and smartphones that lets users receive and save recorded audio messages when they can’t pick up a call. With smartphones, voicemail systems have become more sophisticated, allowing users to personalize greetings, manage messages, and even get text transcriptions of their voicemails. Voicemail statistics highlight its widespread use, showing how people rely on this feature to stay connected when answering calls isn’t practical, making mobile communication more efficient.
Looking at voicemail statistics, it’s interesting to see how user habits are changing. While voicemail is still valuable, the popularity of text-based communication methods like messaging apps is on the rise. Smartphones offer various ways to connect, and users now have options like voicemail, text messages, and other messaging platforms to choose from based on their preferences. As mobile communication keeps evolving, voicemail adapts to these changes, remaining a dynamic feature in our interconnected world.
Voicemail Statistics
So, now we know exactly what a voicemail is, lets take a look at some data relating to voicemails and their recipients.
Note: To calculate the number of calls going to voicemail, and the number of people who leave a voicemail, SellCell took the total number of phone calls made each day and calculated the figures based on the percentage of calls going to voicemail and the percentage of people who leave a voicemail., creating unique data illustrating how many people leave voicemails, and how many calls go to voicemail.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail, Globally?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
4,927,500,000,000
3,942,000,000,000
Per Month
405,000,000,000
324,000,000,000
Per Day
13,500,000,000
10,800,000,000
Per Hour
562,500,000
450,000,000
Per Minute
9,375,000
7,500,000
Per Second
156,250
125,000
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
As the above table illustrates, a vast number of calls (80%) 1 we recieve go straight to voicemail. Out of the 13.5 billion calls made every second, globally, 10.8 billion of them go to voicemail.
According to expert mindset coach, Maya Zack, people dislike leaving voicemail messages as it adds a certain degree of pressure for the person leaving the voicemail, in terms of ensuring the message is short enough for the recipient to engage with it, but contains enough information for them to respond to 2.
In terms of receiving voicemails, Zack states that people find it intrusive, or it can create anxiety because people think the contents are too important for the person not to leave a message. It makes people fear the worst, as the contents of the message are unknown until the recipient listens to it.
How Many People Leave a Voicemail, Globally?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
4,927,500,000,000
788,400,000,000
Per Month
405,000,000,000
64,800,000,000
Per Day
13,500,000,000
2,160,000,000
Per Hour
562,500,000
90,000,000
Per Minute
9,375,000
1,500,000
Per Second
156,250
25,000
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
However, despite 80% of calls going to voicemail, only 20% of people then actually leave a voice message for the recipient to respond to 3. From the 13.5 billion calls made per day, only 2.16 billion callers will leave a voicemail.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in the USA?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
1,058,500,000,000
846,800,000,000
Per Month
87,000,000,000
69,600,000,000
Per Day
2,900,000,000
2,320,000,000
Per Hour
120,833,333
96,666,667
Per Minute
2,013,889
1,611,111
Per Second
33,565
26,852
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
With the same percentage of their calls going to voicemail (80%), US mobile and smartphone users see 2.32 billion of their 2.90 billion calls per day going to voicemail.
How Many People Leave a Voicemail in the USA?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
1,058,500,000,000
169,360,000,000
Per Month
87,000,000,000
13,920,000,000
Per Day
2,900,000,000
464,000,000
Per Hour
120,833,333
19,333,333
Per Minute
2,013,889
322,222
Per Second
33,565
5,370
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Only 20% of US callers leave a voicemail. This means that for the 2.9 billion phone calls the US makes per day, only 464 million callers will end the call with a voicemail.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in the UK?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
232,928,400,000
186,342,720,000
Per Month
19,144,800,000
15,315,840,000
Per Day
638,160,000
510,528,000
Per Hour
26,590,000
21,272,000
Per Minute
443,167
354,533
Per Second
7,386
5,909
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Heading to the UK, we can see that, from the 638 million phone calls they make a day, 511 million go to voicemail. Again, this is 80% of all calls smartphone and mobile phone users make in the UK.
How Many People Leave a Voicemail in the UK?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
232,928,400,000
37,268,544,000
Per Month
19,144,800,000
3,063,168,000
Per Day
638,160,000
102,105,600
Per Hour
26,590,000
4,254,400
Per Minute
443,167
70,907
Per Second
7,386
1,182
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
In terms of leaving a voicemail, with only 20% of people doing so, Brits only leave 102 million voicemails for the 638 million calls they make per day.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in China?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
5,073,500,000,000
4,058,800,000,000
Per Month
417,000,000,000
333,600,000,000
Per Day
13,900,000,000
11,120,000,000
Per Hour
579,166,667
463,333,333
Per Minute
9,652,778
7,722,222
Per Second
160,880
128,704
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
China makes a whopping 13.9 billion calls a day. With a percentage of 80%, that leaves 11.1 billion calls going to voicemail.
How Many People Leave a Voicemail in China?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
5,073,500,000,000
811,760,000,000
Per Month
417,000,000,000
66,720,000,000
Per Day
13,900,000,000
2,224,000,000
Per Hour
579,166,667
92,666,667
Per Minute
9,652,778
1,544,444
Per Second
160,880
25,741
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Given that only 20% of people leave a voicemail, that means 2.2 billion of the 13.9 billion calls made per day in China culminate in a voicemail.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in Germany?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
310,688,000,000
248,550,400,000
Per Month
25,536,000,000
20,428,800,000
Per Day
851,200,000
680,960,000
Per Hour
35,466,667
28,373,333
Per Minute
591,111
472,889
Per Second
9,852
7,881
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Germans make 851 million phone calls a day. With a rate of 80%, this leaves 680 million heading to voicemail once the call has rung out.
How Many People Leave Voicemails in Germany?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
310,688,000,000
49,710,080,000
Per Month
25,536,000,000
4,085,760,000
Per Day
851,200,000
136,192,000
Per Hour
35,466,667
5,674,667
Per Minute
591,111
94,578
Per Second
9,852
1,576
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Only 20% of people leave voicemail. This means that only 136 million of Germany’s 851 million daily callers will close out the call by leaving a voice message.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in Spain?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
165,892,500,000
132,714,000,000
Per Month
13,635,000,000
10,908,000,000
Per Day
454,500,000
363,600,000
Per Hour
18,937,500
15,150,000
Per Minute
315,625
252,500
Per Second
5,260
4,208
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
The Spanish make 455 million calls per day. With 80% going to voicemail, that means 364 million of those calls will end up with the answerphone.
How Many People Leave Voicemails in Spain?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
165,892,500,000
26,542,800,000
Per Month
13,635,000,000
2,181,600,000
Per Day
454,500,000
72,720,000
Per Hour
18,937,500
3,030,000
Per Minute
315,625
50,500
Per Second
5,260
842
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Given that only 20% of people leave voicemails, only 73 million of the 455 million Spanish calls per day will terminate with a voicemail message to the recipient.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in France?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
210,240,000,000
168,192,000,000
Per Month
17,280,000,000
13,824,000,000
Per Day
576,000,000
460,800,000
Per Hour
24,000,000
19,200,000
Per Minute
400,000
320,000
Per Second
6,667
5,333
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
The French make 576 million calls every day. If 80% of them go to voicemail, this is 461 million people ending up with the recipients voicemail service.
How Many People Leave a Voicemail in France?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
210,240,000,000
33,638,400,000
Per Month
17,280,000,000
2,764,800,000
Per Day
576,000,000
92,160,000
Per Hour
24,000,000
3,840,000
Per Minute
400,000
64,000
Per Second
6,667
1,067
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Despite 576 million French people hitting voicemail a day, only 92 million of them will actually leave a message once the dialing tone rings out.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in Italy?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
228,081,200,000
182,464,960,000
Per Month
18,746,400,000
14,997,120,000
Per Day
624,880,000
499,904,000
Per Hour
26,036,667
20,829,333
Per Minute
433,944
347,156
Per Second
7,232
5,786
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Every day, Italians make 625 million calls, and every day, 500 million of them end up going to voicemail.
How Many People Leave a Voicemail in Italy?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
228,081,200,000
36,492,992,000
Per Month
18,746,400,000
2,999,424,000
Per Day
624,880,000
99,980,800
Per Hour
26,036,667
4,165,867
Per Minute
433,944
69,431
Per Second
7,232
1,157
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Despite the fact that 80% of calls go to voicemail, Italians only leave just under 100 million voicemails a day, which is 20% of all calls made in that 24-hour period.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in Turkey?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
251,966,800,000
201,573,440,000
Per Month
20,709,600,000
16,567,680,000
Per Day
690,320,000
552,256,000
Per Hour
28,763,333
23,010,667
Per Minute
479,389
383,511
Per Second
7,990
6,392
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Turks make 690 million calls every day. This means that 552 million (80%) of them will end up going to voicemail.
How Many People Leave a Voicemail in Turkey?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
251,966,800,000
40,314,688,000
Per Month
20,709,600,000
3,313,536,000
Per Day
690,320,000
110,451,200
Per Hour
28,763,333
4,602,133
Per Minute
479,389
76,702
Per Second
7,990
1,278
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
With only 20% of all calls ending with the caller leaving a voicemail, that equates to 110 million voicemails left by Turkish callers every day.
How Many Calls Go to Voicemail in Mexico?
Phone Calls
Going to Voicemail (80%)
Per Year
361,846,400,000
289,477,120,000
Per Month
29,740,800,000
23,792,640,000
Per Day
991,360,000
793,088,000
Per Hour
41,306,667
33,045,333
Per Minute
688,444
550,756
Per Second
11,474
9,179
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Mexicans make 991 million calls every day, with 793 million of them going to voicemail. This equates to 80% of all calls that end this way.
How Many People Leave a Voicemail in Mexico?
Phone Calls
Leaving a Voicemail (20%)
Per Year
361,846,400,000
57,895,424,000
Per Month
29,740,800,000
4,758,528,000
Per Day
991,360,000
158,617,600
Per Hour
41,306,667
6,609,067
Per Minute
688,444
110,151
Per Second
11,474
1,836
*Above data calculated based on average per day figure
Of those 991 million calls a day, and with 793 million going to voicemail, only 158 million Mexican people will leave a voicemail at the end of a call.
Voicemail Statistics: What Happens to Unknown Numbers?
We’ve seen the voicemail statistics for global use and use by country, but these are for calls from identifiable numbers. What about unknown numbers?
WHAT ADULTS IN THE U.S. DO WHEN AN UNKNOWN NUMBER CALLS
Percentage of respondents
Answer phone to see who it is
19%
Check voicemail if left
67%
Ignore voicemail if left
14%
As the above graph shows, only 19% of Americans will answer a call from an unknown number to see who it is.
67% of people won’t answer an unknown number, but will check the voicemail that number leaves.
14% of people don’t bother at all, and would just ignore the call and then ignore the voicemail message from the unknown number.
More Voicemail Statistics
90% of first-time voicemails are left unreturned by the intended recipient of the initial phone call. 5
In business terms, sales representatives spend up to 15% of their time leaving voicemails for the recipients of their calls. 5
The average response rate for voicemails is only 4.8%. This means over 95% of voicemails go completely unaddressed. 5
Sales companies have found that leaving a scripted voicemail can yield a 22% increase in response rate. 1
In terms of leaving a message, companies have discovered that the optimum length for a voicemail is between 8 and 13 seconds. 1
JPMorgan Chase & Co reported that the company saved itself $3.2million by terminating its voicemail service. 6
Millenials and Gen-Z do not appreciate reaching a voicemail service, nor do they appreciate having to address voicemail messages. 6
People take longer to reply to a voicemail than they do any other form of communication. That is if they even bother responding at all. 7
30% of voicemails are left unattended for up to three days at a time, whereas 91% of people under 30 will reply to a text message in under an hour (see SellCell’s text message stats page for more comprehensive data on text messaging). 7
According to data, 97% of business calls will go to voicemail. This leaves only 3% of people who will answer the call, minimizing the opportunity to make a sale. 8
Voicemail Statistics: Are Voicemails a Dying Form of Communication?
We have looked at global voicemail statistics, and voicemail data country by country. We have seen what happens to calls from unknown numbers, and the messages those numbers leave. With the multiple methods of contacting each other, we now have less patience for voicemails, which could see the humble voicemail die a slow and agonising death. Perhaps it is time we overhauled voicemail services… or abandoned them altogether.
