Page disclosed the number in a press release issued for Google's fourth quarter. "I am super excited about the growth of Android, Gmail, and Google+, which now has 90 million users globally – well over double what I announced just three months ago," Page says.
"By building a meaningful relationship with our users through Google+ we will create amazing experiences across our services. I’m very excited about what we can do in 2012 – there are tremendous opportunities to help users and grow our business.”
Google's last official estimate for Google+'s user base was 40 million, in October. In December, Paul Allen, a Google+ watcher, claimed the network had 62 million users. In early January, Experian Hitwise predicted that Google+ would hit 400 million users by the end of 2012.
Google didn't disclose the source of its latest figures. In a call with analysts Thursday afternoon, Page also declined to predict how many Google+ users there would be at the end of 2012.
The Google co-founder and CEO also engaged in some sleight of hand in his comments, according to some observers -- stating that Google+ users are "very engaged with our products -- over 60% of them engage daily, and over 80% weekly."
That could just mean 60% of Google+ users check their Gmail or go to a Google Map once a day. Page didn't specify. (Check out the entirety of his remarks, which Page posted on Google+, here.)
Google+, which was introduced in June 2011, has exhibited impressive growth. However, Facebook, may hit 1 billion users by August, according to one analyst. Google+ is also reported to be getting closer scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission after the company introduced "Search plus Your World," an initiative that combines Google+ data with Google searches.