Skip to main content
What is your favourite go-to emoji? IMAGE: Nicholas Yong

Here Are 24 Emoji Facts To Commemorate World Emoji Day 2024 📅

Happy World Emoji Day! 🌍🎉

Did you know that emojis have been used for over 20 years? It all started in 1999 when artist Shigetaka Kurita created the first set of 176 emojis for Japanese mobile phone company DOCOMO.

World Emoji Day was first celebrated on 17 Jul 2014, thanks to Jeremy Burge, the founder of Emojipedia. The date was chosen because it’s the one shown on the calendar emoji 📅

We dive into 2️⃣4️⃣ of our favourite emoji facts to celebrate this iconic day!

IMAGE: WORLD EMOJI DAY

1. The winner of the most popular emoji of 2024 ( according to World Emoji Day) is the 🙂‍↔️ head shaking horizontally, followed by the 🙂‍↕️ head shaking vertically, and the 🐦‍🔥 phoenix in third place. 

2. There’s also a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for the emoji that’s the most popular, significant, and notable on our tiny screens. This year’s winner hasn’t been announced, but 2023’s recipient was 🤣 - the rolling on floor laughing emoji.

3. More than 10 billion emojis are sent every day across the globe. That's more than the number of people on Earth! Talk about emojis being a universal language 🌐

4. The most frequently used emoji is the laughing face 😂, followed by the red heart ❤️, and then the rolling on the floor laughing emoji 🤣 - what is your fav emoji of all time?

5. It’s no wonder the 😂 emoji became Oxford Dictionaries’ “Word” of the Year in 2015.

6. The cowboy hat emoji tops the list of the most misunderstood emojis. Yeehaw! Or maybe not? 🤠❓

7. Half of emoji users often don't use them according to their intended meaning. Like the 🤠, what emojis are you most confused about 🙃❓

8. Our brains recognise images in just 13 milliseconds, making emojis an excellent communication tool. No wonder emojis are so effective lah 🧠

9. Your iPhone has more than 3,600 emojis to choose from. That's a lot of tiny pictures 📱🖼️

10. The No. 1 reason people use emojis is because they believe emojis help them express their thoughts more accurately. Yup, sometimes, words just aren’t enough 💭✨

11. Messages with an emoji are 50% more likely to get a response. Want a reply from your potential Tinder date? Add a smiley 😊📩

12. There’s an emoji anthem, written and produced by Jonathan Mann. Don’t blame us if it gets stuck in your head 🎤 🎶

13. On X, 86% of emoji users are 24 years old and younger. Emojis are definitely the language of Gen Z 🐦👶

14. 32% of Gen Z have used an emoji to end a relationship. A picture might be worth a thousand words, but sometimes it’s a breakup message 💔📲

15. 73% of people think that including emojis in messages makes them appear cooler 😎✨

16. 92% of people online use emojis. Almost everyone online is emoji-savvy 🌐👍

17. 88% of people feel more empathetic towards someone who uses emojis. What are the emojis you send to your loved ones? 💖

18. On Facebook Messenger, 900 million emojis are sent daily without any text. Who needs words when you have emojis? 🗨️✨

19. Half of Instagram comments include at least one emoji. Does that mean Emojis are the heart of Instagram? 📸❤️

20. 44% of shoppers are more likely to purchase something if emojis are used in the marketing. Emojis aren’t just for fun - they’re also good for business 🛍️🤑

21. 78% of people believe using emojis affects how likeable someone is at work. A good tip if you’re starting your first day on the job 🏢🌟

22. 61% of people use emojis in their workplace communications. The office is full of secret emoji enthusiasts 🏢🤫

23. 65% of people find it easier to express emotions with emojis than over the phone. Emojis > phone calls 📞😌

24. 79% of emoji users believe sharing them at work helps convey ideas. Consider using them for your next successful brainstorming session 🧠💡

For the latest updates on Wonderwall.sg, be sure to follow us on TikTok, Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook. If you have a story idea for us, email us at [email protected].

Share with others!