Displaying the user count in WordPress

If your WordPress site has a growing user base, you may want to display the total number of registered users publicly. This can encourage new visitors to sign up and build trust in your community. On ruachost.com, you can achieve this by adding a simple code snippet to your theme.

Why Display User Count?

• Shows social proof and credibility.
• Encourages new registrations.
• Demonstrates site growth and activity.

Steps to Add User Count Functionality

1. Log in to WordPress with an administrator account.

2. In the dashboard, go to Appearance → Theme Editor.

3. In the right sidebar, open Theme Functions (functions.php).

4. Add the following code snippet at the bottom of the file:

   // Display total registered user count
   function display_user_count() {
       $usercount = count_users();
       $result = $usercount['total_users'];
       return $result;
   }
   add_shortcode('user_count', 'display_user_count');

5. Click Update File to save changes.

Using the Shortcode

• Open any post or page where you want the user count to appear.

• Type the shortcode:

  [user_count]

• Save and view the post → The total number of registered users will be displayed.

Important Notes

• Always back up your theme before editing functions.php.
• Use a child theme to preserve changes during updates.
• The shortcode will dynamically update as new users register.