WhatsApp has reached the milestone of 1 billion downloads on Android, according to Digital Spy.

The messaging service is only the second non-Google app to achieve the feat, following in the footsteps of Facebook.

The figure does not translate to active users since Google Play does not account for the number of account holders who have uninstalled the app.

Nevertheless, the only other apps to have reached 1 billion downloads on Android are Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube.

WhatsApp revealed in January that it has 700 million monthly active users on iOS and Android, but there has been no word on how that figure has changed in the last two months.

The messaging app was acquired by Facebook last year in a deal worth $22 billion.