GITNUXREPORT 2025

Mobile App Download Statistics

Mobile app downloads surged, revenue soared, gaming dominates global market growth.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The average smartphone user has around 80 apps installed but only uses about 30 regularly

Statistic 2

The average time spent on mobile apps globally is approximately 4 to 5 hours per day

Statistic 3

60% of users download apps primarily for entertainment purposes

Statistic 4

A significant percentage of mobile app users (around 80%) abandon an app after just one use if it doesn’t meet their expectations

Statistic 5

Mobile app users spend an average of 4.7 hours per week on social media apps

Statistic 6

By 2025, there will be approximately 7.5 billion smartphone users worldwide, many of whom are active app users

Statistic 7

User retention rate in mobile gaming apps can drop below 30% after the first month

Statistic 8

The average user opens a mobile app approximately 11 times per day

Statistic 9

70% of mobile app users prefer to interact with apps that offer personalized content

Statistic 10

The majority of mobile app downloads happen within the first three days after app launch, with a sharp decline afterward

Statistic 11

Voice-activated app usage increased by 40% in 2022, reflecting rising popularity of voice technology integration

Statistic 12

Mobile app users in emerging markets tend to spend more time per session compared to users in developed countries

Statistic 13

User engagement metrics indicate that push notifications can increase app retention rates by up to 3 times

Statistic 14

The number of mobile app users who enable location-based services has increased by 30% over the past two years, boosting localized app features

Statistic 15

Corporate and enterprise mobile apps account for roughly 25% of global app downloads, often used for productivity and internal communication

Statistic 16

Push notifications sendings have increased by 50% in the last two years, with a strong correlation to increased user engagement

Statistic 17

Android users account for approximately 75% of mobile app downloads

Statistic 18

67% of mobile app revenue comes from iOS devices

Statistic 19

The average cost per app install on iOS is $1.72, whereas on Android it’s $1.69

Statistic 20

80% of mobile app users prefer apps with dark mode features, increasing user interface customization demands

Statistic 21

Over 230 billion mobile app downloads were made worldwide in 2021

Statistic 22

The global mobile app revenue is expected to reach $693 billion by 2023

Statistic 23

iOS generates roughly twice the revenue per app download compared to Android

Statistic 24

Gaming apps account for over 45% of all app downloads globally

Statistic 25

In 2022, mobile gaming generated $87.8 billion in revenue worldwide

Statistic 26

Asia-Pacific holds the largest share of mobile app downloads, accounting for around 50% of global downloads

Statistic 27

The adoption of 5G technology is expected to boost mobile app downloads by 20% by 2025

Statistic 28

The number of mobile app downloads increased by 125% from 2016 to 2021

Statistic 29

Hyper-casual gaming apps account for nearly 80% of all game downloads in 2022

Statistic 30

The App Store and Google Play together comprise over 95% of global app downloads

Statistic 31

Mobile app revenue from in-app advertising is projected to reach $298 billion worldwide by 2024

Statistic 32

The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile apps is approximately $2.50 globally

Statistic 33

Health and fitness app downloads increased by over 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 34

E-commerce app downloads are projected to make up around 20% of total mobile app downloads by 2024

Statistic 35

User ratings significantly influence app downloads, with apps rated 4 stars or higher seeing a 25% higher download rate

Statistic 36

Free apps account for about 94% of all mobile app downloads, with the remaining 6% being paid apps

Statistic 37

In-app purchases account for nearly 50% of total revenue generated by mobile apps

Statistic 38

Mobile app marketing budgets are expected to grow by 25% annually through 2025, indicating increasing competition and investment

Statistic 39

The average click-through rate for mobile app ads is around 1.5%, but can be higher for highly targeted campaigns

Statistic 40

Mobile banking app downloads surged by over 60% during 2020-2022, driven by increased digital banking adoption

Statistic 41

The average lifespan of a mobile app startup is approximately 3 years, highlighting industry volatility

Statistic 42

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) integrated apps saw a 35% increase in downloads in 2022, reflecting rising AR/VR adoption

Statistic 43

The app economy is projected to create over 7 million jobs worldwide by 2025, supporting developers, marketers, and related roles

Statistic 44

Mobile apps optimized for privacy and security attract higher ratings and more downloads, with 65% of users preferring privacy-first apps

Statistic 45

Mobile apps devoted to online education have seen a 45% growth in downloads since 2020, driven by remote learning trends

Statistic 46

The top countries by mobile app downloads in 2022 include India, China, the US, Indonesia, and Brazil, with India leading at around 22%

Statistic 47

Vegetal and plant-based diet apps experienced a 60% increase in downloads during 2021, reflecting consumer health trends

Statistic 48

The top 5 app categories by downloads in 2022 were gaming, social media, video players, weather, and health and fitness

Statistic 49

Cryptojacking and financial technology apps saw a surge in downloads in 2021, growing by 72%

Statistic 50

The Google Play Store contains over 3 million active apps, while the Apple App Store features approximately 2.3 million

Statistic 51

The global market for wearable devices, which often sync with mobile apps, is expected to reach 1.1 billion units by 2025, driving app downloads related to health and fitness

Statistic 52

The average cost to acquire a loyal customer through mobile app marketing campaigns is estimated at $4.50, varying by industry

Statistic 53

The number of app developers worldwide exceeded 3.9 million by 2023, indicating a competitive and growing industry

Statistic 54

Mobile app accessibility improvements have led to a 15% increase in downloads among users with disabilities, emphasizing inclusive design

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Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Over 230 billion mobile app downloads were made worldwide in 2021
The global mobile app revenue is expected to reach $693 billion by 2023
Android users account for approximately 75% of mobile app downloads
iOS generates roughly twice the revenue per app download compared to Android
The average smartphone user has around 80 apps installed but only uses about 30 regularly
67% of mobile app revenue comes from iOS devices
The top 5 app categories by downloads in 2022 were gaming, social media, video players, weather, and health and fitness
Gaming apps account for over 45% of all app downloads globally
In 2022, mobile gaming generated $87.8 billion in revenue worldwide
Asia-Pacific holds the largest share of mobile app downloads, accounting for around 50% of global downloads
The average time spent on mobile apps globally is approximately 4 to 5 hours per day
The adoption of 5G technology is expected to boost mobile app downloads by 20% by 2025
60% of users download apps primarily for entertainment purposes

Mobile app downloads soared to over 230 billion worldwide in 2021, fueling a dynamic industry driven by gaming, social media, and entertainment, with growth propelled by emerging markets, technological advances like 5G and AR/VR, and a global user base approaching 7.5 billion smartphone users.

App Usage and Engagement Patterns

The average smartphone user has around 80 apps installed but only uses about 30 regularly
The average time spent on mobile apps globally is approximately 4 to 5 hours per day
60% of users download apps primarily for entertainment purposes
A significant percentage of mobile app users (around 80%) abandon an app after just one use if it doesn’t meet their expectations
Mobile app users spend an average of 4.7 hours per week on social media apps
By 2025, there will be approximately 7.5 billion smartphone users worldwide, many of whom are active app users
User retention rate in mobile gaming apps can drop below 30% after the first month
The average user opens a mobile app approximately 11 times per day
70% of mobile app users prefer to interact with apps that offer personalized content
The majority of mobile app downloads happen within the first three days after app launch, with a sharp decline afterward
Voice-activated app usage increased by 40% in 2022, reflecting rising popularity of voice technology integration
Mobile app users in emerging markets tend to spend more time per session compared to users in developed countries
User engagement metrics indicate that push notifications can increase app retention rates by up to 3 times
The number of mobile app users who enable location-based services has increased by 30% over the past two years, boosting localized app features
Corporate and enterprise mobile apps account for roughly 25% of global app downloads, often used for productivity and internal communication
Push notifications sendings have increased by 50% in the last two years, with a strong correlation to increased user engagement

App Usage and Engagement Patterns Interpretation

Despite boasting around 80 installed apps, the average user’s fleeting attention—only 30 regularly engaged—and a staggering 80% abandonment after one poor experience highlight that in the crowded app universe, personalization and instant gratification aren’t just preferences—they’re survival skills.

Device and Operating System Insights

Android users account for approximately 75% of mobile app downloads
67% of mobile app revenue comes from iOS devices
The average cost per app install on iOS is $1.72, whereas on Android it’s $1.69
80% of mobile app users prefer apps with dark mode features, increasing user interface customization demands

Device and Operating System Insights Interpretation

While Android dominates app downloads with three-quarters of the total, iOS’s lucrative revenue and slightly higher per-install costs highlight a sharp contrast in user spend and preferences, notably the rising demand for dark mode, signaling developers must balance volume with value and user customization trends.

Market Performance and Revenue Trends

Over 230 billion mobile app downloads were made worldwide in 2021
The global mobile app revenue is expected to reach $693 billion by 2023
iOS generates roughly twice the revenue per app download compared to Android
Gaming apps account for over 45% of all app downloads globally
In 2022, mobile gaming generated $87.8 billion in revenue worldwide
Asia-Pacific holds the largest share of mobile app downloads, accounting for around 50% of global downloads
The adoption of 5G technology is expected to boost mobile app downloads by 20% by 2025
The number of mobile app downloads increased by 125% from 2016 to 2021
Hyper-casual gaming apps account for nearly 80% of all game downloads in 2022
The App Store and Google Play together comprise over 95% of global app downloads
Mobile app revenue from in-app advertising is projected to reach $298 billion worldwide by 2024
The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile apps is approximately $2.50 globally
Health and fitness app downloads increased by over 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic
E-commerce app downloads are projected to make up around 20% of total mobile app downloads by 2024
User ratings significantly influence app downloads, with apps rated 4 stars or higher seeing a 25% higher download rate
Free apps account for about 94% of all mobile app downloads, with the remaining 6% being paid apps
In-app purchases account for nearly 50% of total revenue generated by mobile apps
Mobile app marketing budgets are expected to grow by 25% annually through 2025, indicating increasing competition and investment
The average click-through rate for mobile app ads is around 1.5%, but can be higher for highly targeted campaigns
Mobile banking app downloads surged by over 60% during 2020-2022, driven by increased digital banking adoption
The average lifespan of a mobile app startup is approximately 3 years, highlighting industry volatility
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) integrated apps saw a 35% increase in downloads in 2022, reflecting rising AR/VR adoption
The app economy is projected to create over 7 million jobs worldwide by 2025, supporting developers, marketers, and related roles
Mobile apps optimized for privacy and security attract higher ratings and more downloads, with 65% of users preferring privacy-first apps
Mobile apps devoted to online education have seen a 45% growth in downloads since 2020, driven by remote learning trends
The top countries by mobile app downloads in 2022 include India, China, the US, Indonesia, and Brazil, with India leading at around 22%
Vegetal and plant-based diet apps experienced a 60% increase in downloads during 2021, reflecting consumer health trends

Market Performance and Revenue Trends Interpretation

With over 230 billion downloads in 2021 and a projected revenue of nearly $700 billion by 2023, the mobile app economy—dominated by gaming and fueled by Asia-Pacific’s large user base—continues to grow at a rapid pace, proving that, in the digital age, not downloading an app is almost a political statement.

Market Segments and Industry Categories

The top 5 app categories by downloads in 2022 were gaming, social media, video players, weather, and health and fitness
Cryptojacking and financial technology apps saw a surge in downloads in 2021, growing by 72%
The Google Play Store contains over 3 million active apps, while the Apple App Store features approximately 2.3 million
The global market for wearable devices, which often sync with mobile apps, is expected to reach 1.1 billion units by 2025, driving app downloads related to health and fitness
The average cost to acquire a loyal customer through mobile app marketing campaigns is estimated at $4.50, varying by industry
The number of app developers worldwide exceeded 3.9 million by 2023, indicating a competitive and growing industry
Mobile app accessibility improvements have led to a 15% increase in downloads among users with disabilities, emphasizing inclusive design

Market Segments and Industry Categories Interpretation

With over 5.3 million apps across the Google Play and Apple stores fueling a global developer pool of nearly 4 million and a booming wearable market poised to hit 1.1 billion devices by 2025, the surge in downloads—especially in gaming, social media, and health—highlights both the relentless consumer hunger for entertainment and wellness, and the industry's evolving push for inclusivity, all while marketers spend just a few dollars to turn downloads into loyal users in an increasingly competitive landscape.