Did you know that nearly a third of our waking hours are now spent gazing at the little screens in our hands?
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, global smartphone users spent an average of 4 hours and 39 minutes per day on mobile apps
- US adults averaged 4 hours 33 minutes daily on mobile apps in Q2 2023
- Android users worldwide spent 4.5 hours daily on apps in 2023
- TikTok had 1.5 billion monthly active users in Q4 2023
- YouTube app reached 2.5 billion MAU globally in 2024
- WhatsApp had 2 billion MAU in 2023
- 18-24 year olds represent 40% of TikTok US users in 2023
- Women make up 56% of Instagram global users 2023
- 25-34 age group is 31% of Facebook users worldwide 2023
- iOS users 55% higher income than Android globally 2023
- Android held 71% global app market share in 2023
- iOS generated 60% of app revenue despite 29% downloads 2023
- Global mobile app downloads grew 11% YoY to 257 billion in 2023
- App revenue reached $171 billion worldwide in 2023
- Time spent in apps increased 15% since 2020 globally
Global app usage remains high across diverse demographics and regions worldwide.
Daily Usage
- In 2023, global smartphone users spent an average of 4 hours and 39 minutes per day on mobile apps
- US adults averaged 4 hours 33 minutes daily on mobile apps in Q2 2023
- Android users worldwide spent 4.5 hours daily on apps in 2023
- iOS users averaged 4.2 hours per day on apps in 2024 Q1
- In Brazil, daily app usage reached 5 hours 12 minutes in 2023
- UK mobile users spent 3 hours 45 minutes daily on apps in 2023
- Gen Z in the US averaged 5.2 hours daily on apps in 2023
- In India, app usage averaged 4 hours 55 minutes per day in 2023
- South Korea led with 5 hours 8 minutes daily app time in 2023
- Average weekly app sessions globally hit 28 in 2023
- Chinese users spent 6.5 hours daily on apps in 2023
- In 2024, global daily app opens reached 9.5 per user
- Millennials averaged 4.1 hours daily on apps in the US 2023
- Japan app users spent 3 hours 50 minutes daily in 2023
- In 2023, 85% of mobile time was spent in apps vs browsers
- Australia daily app usage was 4 hours 10 minutes in 2023
- Global average app time grew 10% YoY to 4.8 hours in 2024
- Boomers in US spent 2.8 hours daily on apps 2023
- Indonesia app usage averaged 5.5 hours daily in 2023
- In Q1 2024, daily app time in Europe was 4 hours 15 minutes
- US iPhone users spent 5 hours 5 minutes daily on apps in 2023
- Global kids under 13 averaged 2.5 hours daily on apps 2023
- In 2023, 70% of app time was social/gaming
- Canada daily app usage hit 4.2 hours in 2023
- In 2024, average sessions per day globally 32
- Saudi Arabia app time 5.3 hours daily 2023
- US Android users 4 hours 20 minutes daily apps 2023
- Global 16-24 year olds 5.1 hours daily apps 2023
- In 2023, app time share in total media 50% globally
- France daily app usage 3 hours 55 minutes 2023
Daily Usage Interpretation
The data shows we are not just living our lives through our phones; we are now officially subletting our attention to them, with entire nations and generations clocking in for part-time jobs as professional app users.
Demographics
- 18-24 year olds represent 40% of TikTok US users in 2023
- Women make up 56% of Instagram global users 2023
- 25-34 age group is 31% of Facebook users worldwide 2023
- In US, 91% of 18-29 year olds use YouTube app 2023
- Urban users 65% of app downloaders globally 2023
- Males 52% of gaming app users worldwide 2023
- Hispanics in US 80% smartphone app penetration 2023
- 35-44 year olds 28% of LinkedIn app users 2023
- Females 61% of Pinterest users globally 2023
- Gen Z 45% of Snapchat DAU in US 2023
- Income >$100k 35% more likely to use fitness apps 2023
- 65+ age group 25% of WhatsApp users India 2023
- African Americans 85% daily app users US 2023
- Students 70% use education apps weekly 2023
- Rural India 55% female app users growth 2023
- Boomers 15% of TikTok users globally 2023
- High-income users 40% subscription app spenders 2023
- 50-64 age 22% Facebook app users US 2023
- Males 60% of finance app users worldwide 2023
- LGBTQ+ users 2x social app engagement 2023
- Parents 75% use kid-tracking apps 2023
- Asia 60% under 35 app users 2023
- Females 55% health app users globally 2023
- College grads 50% more productivity app use 2023
- Low-income 30% higher free app reliance 2023
- Veterans 65% use wellness apps US 2023
Demographics Interpretation
This vivid tapestry of app usage data paints a world where our digital tribes—segmented by age, gender, location, and passion—are less about random scrolling and more about curated, identity-driven campfires where everyone, from TikTok teens to WhatsApp grandparents, is seeking their own specific version of connection, utility, and escape.
Platforms
- iOS users 55% higher income than Android globally 2023
- Android held 71% global app market share in 2023
- iOS generated 60% of app revenue despite 29% downloads 2023
- China Android 95% market share app usage 2023
- US iOS 58% app revenue share Q4 2023
- Android users open apps 15% more daily than iOS 2023
- iOS app retention day 30 at 35% vs Android 25% 2023
- Gaming apps 50% more downloads on Android globally 2023
- Social apps iOS DAU 20% higher per user 2023
- Emerging markets Android 90% app penetration 2023
- iOS average session length 4 min vs Android 3.5 min 2023
- Android India 99% market share app ecosystem 2023
- US Android app installs grew 5% YoY 2023
- iOS subscription apps 2x revenue per user Android 2023
- Android video apps 40% more time spent globally 2023
- iOS shopping apps conversion 25% higher 2023
- Global Android MAU 3.8 billion vs iOS 1.5 billion 2023
- Finance apps Android 70% downloads Latin America 2023
- iOS productivity apps 30% higher engagement 2023
- Android crash rate 2x iOS in gaming 2023
- Europe iOS 45% revenue share apps 2023
- Android e-commerce apps 60% market share APAC 2023
- iOS health apps 55% female users vs Android 45% 2023
- Global app downloads Android 90 billion vs iOS 30 billion 2023
- iOS AR apps 3x downloads per capita 2023
- Android navigation apps dominate 80% emerging markets 2023
Platforms Interpretation
Apple users are the premium retail therapy customers who spend lavishly in curated boutiques, while Android is the bustling global marketplace where everyone shops more often but leaves with cheaper goods in hand.
Top Apps
- TikTok had 1.5 billion monthly active users in Q4 2023
- YouTube app reached 2.5 billion MAU globally in 2024
- WhatsApp had 2 billion MAU in 2023
- Instagram app downloads hit 400 million in 2023
- Facebook app had 3.05 billion MAU in Q1 2024
- Snapchat reached 414 million DAU in Q4 2023
- WeChat app users 1.3 billion MAU in China 2023
- Telegram surpassed 800 million MAU in 2023
- CapCut app had 500 million MAU in 2023
- Spotify app streamed 100 billion tracks monthly in 2023
- Google Maps app had 1 billion+ installs in 2023
- Netflix app 260 million paid subscribers 2023
- Uber app rides 9.4 billion globally in 2023
- Candy Crush Saga 3 billion downloads lifetime 2023
- Gmail app 1.8 billion users 2023
- Duolingo app 83 million MAU in 2023
- Threads app reached 100 million users in 5 days 2023
- PUBG Mobile 1.3 billion downloads 2023
- Shazam app 100 million searches daily 2023
- Tinder app 75 million MAU in 2023
- Zoom app peaked at 300 million daily users in 2023
- Roblox app 70 million DAU 2023
- LinkedIn app 310 million MAU 2023
- Among Us app 500 million downloads 2023
- Pinterest app 482 million MAU 2023
- DoorDash app 37 million DAU 2023
- Twitter/X app 540 million MAU 2023
Top Apps Interpretation
If our civilization is ever unearthed by future archaeologists, their best guess will be that humanity was a single organism eternally busy curating a profile, swiping through life, and ordering snacks for delivery while lost in a video.
Trends
- Global mobile app downloads grew 11% YoY to 257 billion in 2023
- App revenue reached $171 billion worldwide in 2023
- Time spent in apps increased 15% since 2020 globally
- Gaming apps 24% of total app revenue in 2023
- Non-gaming apps revenue up 20% YoY 2023
- Subscriptions 15% of app monetization globally 2023
- India app market grew 30% to 26 billion downloads 2023
- AI-integrated apps downloads surged 70% in 2023
- Social commerce via apps up 25% globally 2023
- Metaverse apps users doubled to 300 million 2023
- Short-form video apps dominated 40% time share 2023
- Privacy-focused apps grew 18% downloads 2023
- Cross-platform apps usage up 22% 2023
- E-sports betting apps revenue +35% 2023
- Health & fitness apps sessions +28% post-pandemic 2023
- Web3 apps active wallets 50 million 2023
- Voice assistant app integrations tripled 2023
- Sustainable shopping apps +40% growth 2023
- Remote work apps retention +12% 2023
- Creator economy apps revenue $20 billion 2023
- App abandonment day 1 dropped to 70% with personalization 2023
- Latin America app spend +25% YoY 2023
- Super apps like WeChat 2.5 billion MAU growth 2023
- NFT marketplace apps peaked then -50% 2023
Trends Interpretation
Despite our collective gripes about screen time, we've clearly decided that our phones are now the command center for everything from our wallets and work to our workouts and whims, doubling down on digital life even as trends like NFTs prove we'll flirt with anything shiny once.
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