Messaging app and social network LINE hit 200 million users worldwide on 21 July, after doubling its user base over the past six months.

The Japanese company said it saw strong growth in South American markets Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Peru, while new users were also added in Europe and Asia.

The user figure is inflated by the fact that LINE counts users with one account but who use the service on several devices as multiple registered users.

The LINE app was first launched in June 2011 and gives users free voice calls and messages on iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Nokia Asha feature phones over 3G and 4G mobile broadband, as well as Wi-Fi.

It hit 100 million users in January 2013, and 150 million at the end of April. The Android version of the app passed 100 million downloads on 18 July.

The LINE platform also includes LINE Camera, which hit 30 million downloads in April, and LINE Game, which reached 100 million downloads in March.

The company said it plans to further localise the LINE experience to reflect a wider range of regions and cultures, and better protect younger users of the service.