Mobile apps have become the backbone of the digital economy, generating $167 billion in consumer spending in 2025 alone, with users devoting an average of 3.6 hours every day inside them.
From AI assistants and social platforms to mobile payments, apps now shape how billions of people work, shop, and connect.
In this report, you will find the most up-to-date mobile app statistics covering:
- Market size
- Downloads
- Revenue
- Usage trends
- Platform comparisons
- Future trends
Highlights and key statistics
Here are the key statistics that highlight the most relevant trends in mobile apps:
- The global app market is worth $298 billion and will cross $1 trillion by 2034.
- Users spent $167 billion on apps in 2025 – roughly $318,000 every minute.
- The average person spends 3.6 hours a day inside mobile apps.
- More than 50% of all internet traffic now comes from mobile devices.
- iOS generates 70% of all app revenue, despite Android having far more users.
- US consumers alone spent $55.5 billion on apps last year, up 18%.
- Non-gaming apps outsold games for the first time ever in 2025.
- Subscriptions now account for 96% of all money spent inside apps.
- Google Play recorded 139 billion downloads in 2025; more than 4x the App Store.
- Apple’s App Store earned nearly twice as much revenue as Google Play.
- Games make up nearly a third of all app downloads worldwide.
- The typical app loses 95% of its users within the first 30 days.
- ChatGPT became the most downloaded app on the planet in 2025, ahead of Instagram and TikTok.
- Time spent in AI apps grew more than 5 times over in a single year.
- By 2030, Asia is expected to claim 70% of the global app download market.
Market growth drivers
Several forces are driving mobile app market growth and the numbers behind them can’t be ignored.
#1: There are more than 7 billion smartphones in use worldwide
With the global population now at around 8.3 billion, smartphones are in the hands of most people worldwide.
In many developed markets, smartphone penetration is already above 90%, which makes mobile the primary digital platform.
#2: China leads the world with 975 million active smartphone users
With close to 1 billion active smartphone users, China dwarfs every other market, having 1.5x more users than India, and more than 3x the United States.
Yet the most surprising part is how much room remains. China’s penetration sits at just 68.4%, while the US has already reached 81.6%. Markets like India (46.5%) and Nigeria (38.1%) are still in early stages.
#3: More than half of internet users now go online through mobile devices
In December 2025, 54% of consumers worldwide used mobile devices to access the internet. In North America, the figure was almost the same at 53%.
This confirms that mobile remains the main way people connect, browse, and use digital services in everyday life.
#4: Global mobile subscriptions have reached 8.9 billion
Mobile connectivity already spans close to 9 billion subscriptions worldwide, powering always-on app usage across emerging economies
According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, that number is set to grow by another 500 million over the next few years, reaching more than 9.4 billion by 2030.
#5: Generative AI apps are becoming a major force in mobile
AI is now built into a growing number of everyday apps. In the first half of 2025 alone, users downloaded generative AI apps 1.7 billion times and spent $1.9 billion on in-app purchases, making the category one of the fastest-rising segments in mobile.
#6: 5G networks carried 43% of mobile data traffic by end-2025
Nearly half of global mobile data traffic already runs on 5G, and that share is expected to reach 80% by 2030.
As coverage expands, 5G will play a bigger role in how people stream, browse, and use apps on their phones. It will also support more advanced experiences, including AR/VR, cloud gaming, and real-time features that were far more limited on 4G.
Market size, spending, and monetization
Smartphone growth and mobile connectivity tell only part of the story. To see where the app market is heading, look at revenue, regional leaders, and monetization trends.
#7: Global mobile app market will reach $378 billion by the end of 2026
The mobile app market keeps expanding as app-based services become more common and smartphone use continues to rise worldwide.
Its total value reached $298.4 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow by another 26.7% in 2026, reaching nearly $400 billion.
Long-term forecasts put the market above $1 trillion by 2034, growing at 15.1% per year and more than tripling in under a decade.
#8: Asia Pacific dominates with a 33% share of the total mobile app market
Asia Pacific is the largest regional market, with roughly one-third of global share. It ranks ahead of:
- North America (30%)
- Europe (27%)
- Latin America (6%)
- The Middle East & Africa (4%)
The region’s lead comes from its large and growing mobile user base, while North America remains close behind thanks to much higher average revenue per user.
#9: Asia, North America, and Europe are set to generate 92% of global app spending in 2030
Asia ($130.1 billion), North America ($92.2 billion), and Europe ($43.8 billion) are projected to see a combined $266 billion in consumer spend across iOS and Android in 2030.
These three regions will remain well ahead of the rest, although their share is expected to edge down from 94% in 2023 as smaller markets expand more quickly.
Central America is forecast to post the fastest growth, followed by South America, Africa, and the Middle East
Note: These numbers cover iOS, Google Play, and third-party Android stores in China.
#10: Consumer spending on apps and games reached $167 billion in 2025
In 2025, users spent roughly $318,000 every minute across iOS and Google Play. That’s an 11.1% jump from the previous year.
The growth is particularly striking given that the market was already considered mature, showing that users are not just downloading more apps, but increasingly willing to pay for them.
#11: iOS generated 70% of all global app consumer spending
Despite Android having a larger worldwide user base, Apple’s iOS was responsible for 70% of total app consumer spending in 2025.
iPhone users consistently spend more on apps and subscriptions, making iOS the priority platform for any developer focused on revenue.
#12: US consumers spent more than $55 billion on apps in 2025
The United States remains the most valuable single market for app revenue, with consumer spending jumping 18% year-over-year to $55.5 billion in 2025.
#13: Non-gaming apps brought in $85 billion in 2025, beating games for the first time
Consumers spent a combined $167.4 billion on non-gaming apps and games in 2025. Of that, $85.6 billion went to non-gaming apps, compared with $81.8 billion for games. Year over year, spending on apps increased by 21%, while games saw just 1% growth.
As reported in Sensor Tower’s State of Mobile 2026, generative AI helped drive that increase, but growth was visible across most app categories.
Note: Figures combine iOS and Google Play, with iOS only for China. The numbers show gross spending, before app store fees are deducted.
#14: Subscriptions now drive 96% of all app spending on iOS and Google Play
Subscriptions have become the dominant revenue model, accounting for 96% of every dollar spent by consumers across both major app stores.
For developers, this means recurrin