Emoji Statistics 2025: What Data Reveals About Modern Business Communication

One day, a short “Okay.” in a team chat that suddenly feels colder than an Arctic breeze. No smiley. No thumbs-up. Just that dot. In a world where remote and hybrid work have turned most of our communication into written text, the absence of facial expressions and tone leaves a lot to interpretation – often the worst one. That’s why emojis have quietly become the emotional punctuation of modern business communication.

In 2025, an estimated 10 billion emojis are sent every day around the world – a powerful signal that visual language has become a standard, not a side note. From Slack reactions to customer support chats and LinkedIn posts, emoji usage now defines how teams express approval, empathy, or humor. 

But are emojis truly beneficial to communication, or do they risk diluting professionalism? Let’s dig into the latest emoji statistics to explore what the data reveals – how teams actually use emojis, which ones dominate (and which are forgotten), and what every business communicator should learn from this global experiment in digital emotion.

The rise of emojis in business communication

Before emojis became the go-to way to express feelings in workplace chats, they were a small set of pictographs born in Japan in the late 1990s. Their goal was simple – to make early text messages feel warmer, more human. 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an emoji is “a small digital image or icon used to express an idea, emotion, etc., in electronic communication.” In other words, emojis are the facial expressions of our text-based world – the tone indicators that written words alone can’t always convey.

Fast-forward to today, and these tiny icons have evolved into a global communication system. They’re no longer just decorative symbols; emojis now function as a digital language with their own dialects, constantly expanding as new icons appear and online culture reshapes their meanings.

💬 Reading between the lines (and emojis)

Emoji usage isn’t universal or static. A simple 😊 might feel friendly to one person but passive-aggressive to another, which is why context – cultural and generational – matters. What feels natural to a Gen Z intern could seem too casual to a senior executive. Over time, workplaces develop their own micro-language of reactions, almost like a linguistic fingerprint of team culture.

This micro-language is powerful. Emojis can transform a blunt “Thanks.” into something warmer, adding nuance and emotional clarity where tone can easily get lost. 

According to Adobe’s Future of Creativity: 2022 Emoji Trend Report, 73% of people feel emojis make them seem cooler, friendlier, and funnier –proof that they do more than decorate text; they shape perception. An Atlassian survey also found that 65% of respondents said emoji usage helps them convey their intended tone and “vibe.”

⚖️ When emojis become serious business

Emojis are not all fun and games. In 2023, more than 200 legal cases worldwide included emojis or emoticons as part of the evidence, demonstrating that they carry significant interpretative weight. Misunderstandings often arise because people read the same emoji differently, and 53% of users believe employers should offer training on when and how emojis are appropriate at work.

So while emojis have clearly become indispensable in digital collaboration, they also remind us of how complex human communication really is. They bridge gaps, but they can also open new ones. Understanding the emoji statistics, the psychology behind it, and how different generations interpret them is key to mastering modern business communication. 💼✨

Emoji usage statistics: Who uses them and how

As of 2025, around 92% of people use emojis, underscoring how widespread this visual language has become. Meanwhile, the “data emoji” narrative is increasingly relevant in business communication. This wide adoption means emoji usage in team chats, emails, and collaboration platforms is no longer optional – it’s mainstream.

Generational patterns

Research from the Adaptivist Group highlights clear generational differences in how emojis are used at work:

A YouGov & Atlassian survey of 10,000 workers across the US, France, Germany, India, and Australia reinforces this generational contrast: 65% of employees used emojis to convey tone, with 88% of Gen Z finding them helpful, versus only 49% of Baby Boomers and Gen X.  

Yet despite high usage, a noteworthy number of professionals remain cautious: 65% of employees said they’ve avoided using an emoji at work because they were afraid it would be misinterpreted.

Why teams use emojis, and why some still resist

Emojis aren’t just fun – they can actually help teams communicate more effectively. 

• 62% of professionals believe emojis can boost team morale.
• According to Adobe in U.S. workplaces, emoji users say they:
  • Share ideas quickly – 79%
  • Make decisions more efficiently – 62%
  • Reduce the need for meetings and calls – 47%

When asked why they use emojis in work emails 56% said it’s “to be friendly”. But 26% of recipients feel emojis can make an email “unprofessional”

These stats show the balance: emojis can humanize and speed up communication, but overuse or misuse might make messages seem too casual.

Global view and emerging insights

While most of the stats above are U.S./Western‑centred, global adoption is growing rapidly. One example: in a 2024 survey, 80% of Americans reported having been confused by emoji use, underlining that even in heavy usage markets interpretation is not guaranteed.

On top of that, the total number of official emojis in the standard is now 3,953 (as of September 2025) – a sign of the expanding “dialects” within this digital language. 

Most and least used emojis in the workplace

While almost everyone uses emojis at work, some icons dominate team chats and emails, while others barely make an appearance. Understanding which symbols are common, and which are rare, can help teams communicate more clearly and avoid misinterpretation.

Top 15+ Most used emojis

The thumbs-up (👍) reigns supreme in American workplaces, with 54 – 82% of workers using it regularly. According to a Lokalise study, it most often signals task completion, making it a quick, efficient acknowledgment in busy team threads. Another popular emoji, 👏 clapping hands (64%), shows encouragement or celebration, helping boost morale with just a tap.

Other commonly used workplace emojis include:

• 😊 Smiling face – conveys friendliness or positive acknowledgment
• 🎉 Party popper – celebrates milestones, achievements, or project completions
• ❤️ Red heart – expresses gratitude, support, or emotional engagement (use sparingly)
• 😂 Face with tears of joy – adds humor or lightens the mood in team chats
• 🙌 Raising hands – signals celebration, team spirit, or approval
• 💯 Hundred points – indicates full agreement, high praise, or acknowledgment of quality
• ✅ Check mark – signals task completion, milestone confirmation, or acknowledgment
• 🤝 Handshake – conveys agreement, collaboration, or partnership
• 📌 Pushpin – marks important messages, notes, or deadlines
• 📢 Loudspeaker / megaphone – signals announcements, notifications, or team-wide messages
• 💡 Light bulb – indicates ideas, suggestions, or creative inspiration
• 📝 Memo / writing hand – conveys reminders, notes, or clarifications
• 🌟 Star – highlights recognition, rewards, or praise
• 🗓️ Calendar / Schedule – indicates deadlines, planned events, or scheduling tasks
• 📈 Chart increasing – indicates progress, growth, or positive outcomes
• 🎯 Bullseye – signals goal achievement, focus, or target completion
• 💬 Speech balloon – conveys discussion, questions, or clarifications

These emojis act as a digital shorthand for tone, emotion, and social cues, reducing ambiguity in text-heavy communication.

🚫 Top 10 Least Used Emojis

On the flip side, some emojis are rarely seen in professional settings. According to emoji usage statistics, these often include:

• 🥴 Woozy face
• 🪐 Ringed planet
• 🧿 Nazar amulet
• 🦴 Bone
• 🐉 Dragon
• 🏴‍☠️ Pirate flag
• 🛸 Flying saucer
• 🪓 Axe
• 🪁 Kite
• 🦥 Sloth

Why so rarely? Many are too obscure, too casual, or culturally ambiguous to be used reliably in a work context. Their meanings may not be universally understood, which increases the risk of misinterpretation – a key concern when employees are cautious about maintaining professionalism.

Evolving “Emoji Dialects”

The workplace emoji lexicon is constantly evolving. New emojis enter the standard nearly every year, and social trends often redefine existing icons. Different teams, generations, and cultures develop their own “emoji dialects,” creating subtle variations in how symbols are used and interpreted. Awareness of these patterns is essential for effective emoji usage in business communication.

The psychology behind emojis in teams

We’ve already seen the weight emojis carry in workplace communication, which ones are most popular, and who is using them. But numbers only tell part of the story. Understanding emojis is a bit like archaeologists trying to decrypt ancient hieroglyphs. The symbols are simple, yet their meaning can shift depending on context, culture, and the viewer’s perspective. To grasp their true impact, we need to look behind the icons at the psychology, emotional cues, and subtle social signals that emojis convey. According to productivity statistics, they do more than decorate messages; they shape tone, influence perception, and help teams navigate complex communication, especially in remote or hybrid settings. 💬

🧠 Emojis as emotional signals

Because of their rich emotional meanings, emojis are often used to express emotions in online communication. In general, users tend to use emojis in positive messages while using them less in sad or angry messages. This reflects a universal desire to convey warmth, friendliness, and clarity when words alone may feel flat or ambiguous.

Since the pandemic pushed much of the workforce into remote settings, emojis have become even more important. Dr. Moitree Banerjee, a University of Chichester psychologist, encouraged Britain’s remote workers to use more ideograms and smileys to compensate for losing up to 93% of non-verbal communication cues from body language and tone of voice. According to a University of Chichester psychologist, emojis help employees decode the tone of emails. In the world of cyber psychology, emojis are called quasi-nonverbal cues – ideal for conveying attitude, emotion, and expression in written messages.

By acting as tiny non-verbal cues, emojis help colleagues pick up on tone, social signals, and subtle nuances. They fill in gaps left by plain text, making messages easier to interpret and reducing the risk of misunderstanding.

🌟 Leadership, engagement, and psychological safety

When leaders use emojis strategically, they communicate that employees are valued as individuals rather than just task performers, helping reduce the sense of objectification. This approach boosts engagement, sparks creativity, and fosters a sense of appreciation.

Moreover, emojis help teams establish a shared emotional language. This reduces misunderstandings, increases psychological safety, and encourages open communication. Teams exposed to positive emoji use are more likely to speak up, share ideas, and collaborate, creating a connected and dynamic workplace.

✨ Emojis as tools for better communication

Emojis are more than playful decorations. They are functional tools that help:

• Convey intent and emotion in text-based communication
• Build a shared emotional language within teams
• Reduce misunderstandings and encourage psychological safety
• Boost engagement and collaboration
• Highlight appreciation and recognition efficiently

Are emojis beneficial or destructive to communication?

Emojis in team chats and business emails are never purely “good” or “bad” – their impact depends on how and when they’re used. On one hand, they can enhance connection, tone and efficiency. On the other, they can harm credibility, cause misunderstanding or even undermine your professional standing. Below we review both sides and then offer practical tips on how to get the balance right.

When emoji usage benefits teams and businesses

Emojis can enhance communication in several key ways:

• Clarifying tone and intent: A quick 👍 or 👏 can signal agreement or appreciation, preventing misinterpretation in text-heavy conversations.
• Boosting engagement and morale: Positive emojis help create a sense of connection and belonging, especially for remote and hybrid teams. Studies show that thoughtful emoji use by leaders can increase employee engagement and make team members feel valued.
• Speeding up collaboration: Emojis convey common reactions or acknowledgments, cutting down on long emails and follow-ups.
• Building emotional intelligence: Teams that adopt a shared “emoji language” often report smoother collaboration and fewer misunderstandings.

When emoji usage can backfire

• Emojis do not always land as intended, especially in formal or external communications. Studies show that while emojis can increase perceptions of warmth, they often decrease perceived competence. 
• Interpretation also varies widely across cultures, generations, and individual experiences. An emoji that seems playful to one recipient may feel passive-aggressive or unprofessional to another.
• In situations where there is no shared understanding or clear context, emojis can introduce ambiguity rather than clarity. If the sender and receiver are not aligned on their “emoji dialect,” messages are more likely to be misread or misinterpreted, potentially causing confusion or even conflict.

The human side of the digital expression

In modern teams, emojis have become a natural part of communication. A quick 👍 from a manager can mark a task as done, a 🎉 celebrates milestones, and a simple 🙂 or 😊 can soften feedback, making it feel personal and approachable. These small symbols carry surprisingly big influence in shaping how messages are received.

Generations and cultures continue to shape emoji meanings. New symbols appear every year, and each generation invents new interpretations. That’s why sometimes decoding a colleague’s message can feel like translating ancient hieroglyphs 🏺.

Tracking emoji use goes beyond curiosity – it reveals how tone, emotion, and understanding shift across teams and industries. It shows what makes messages clear, what causes confusion, and how thoughtful use can make digital communication more engaging and human.

For business communicators, the lesson is clear: emojis are more than decoration – they reflect and reinforce company culture. When used thoughtfully, they promote warmth, clarity, and connection, helping employees feel valued and included. Misused or overused, they can confuse and undermine professionalism. Paying attention to how your team “speaks emoji” helps messages land in a way that aligns with your company’s values and culture.

💡 Pro tip for teams: Tools like Chanty make it easy to add personality while supporting your company culture. Within the app, you can react to messages with emojis, use GIFs to bring energy to chats, and keep interactions lively while staying professional. This helps your team maintain engagement, clarify tone, and reinforce your culture – even in remote or digital-first settings.

So, next time you’re about to hit “send,” ask yourself: what story does your emoji tell today? 😉