GITNUXREPORT 2025

Mobile App Industry Statistics

Mobile app revenue nears $935 billion, dominating digital media consumption worldwide.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

More than 70% of mobile app revenue comes from in-app purchases and in-app advertising

Statistic 2

The average cost to acquire a mobile app user through advertising is around $2.50

Statistic 3

The average cost for developing a simple mobile app is between $10,000 and $50,000

Statistic 4

The demand for cross-platform app development frameworks increased by 25% in 2023

Statistic 5

On average, it takes about 4 to 6 months to develop and launch a mobile app

Statistic 6

The average number of updates per mobile app is about 3.5 per year

Statistic 7

Mobile app development is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% from 2023 to 2028

Statistic 8

The number of mobile app developers worldwide exceeded 2.8 million in 2023

Statistic 9

The top 10 app categories account for over 80% of all app downloads

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Gaming apps constitute the largest share of app downloads, making up nearly 30% of total downloads in 2023

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The number of mobile app downloads worldwide reached 230 billion in 2021

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Over 80% of mobile apps are downloaded from the Google Play Store

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The total number of downloadable apps from the Apple App Store surpassed 200 billion in 2022

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The global mobile app revenue is projected to reach $935 billion by 2023

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There are over 4.8 million apps available across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store combined

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The revenue from mobile gaming is expected to total $116 billion in 2023

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The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile apps is approximately $57 globally

Statistic 18

Android holds about 71% of the global mobile OS market share, while iOS holds around 29%

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The number of active iOS devices reached nearly 1 billion in 2022

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In 2023, mobile apps are expected to generate over $140 billion solely from in-app advertising revenue

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The top 10 countries by app store spending account for approximately 65% of total mobile app revenue

Statistic 22

In 2023, consumer spend on mobile apps in the U.S. reached around $70 billion

Statistic 23

The rise of mobile commerce has led to over 50% of online sales being made through mobile devices in 2023

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Mobile app advertising spend is expected to surpass $290 billion globally in 2024

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The revenue per user for subscription-based apps is significantly higher than free apps, with an average of $72 annually

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The majority of mobile apps are designed for smartphones, with over 85% being optimized for mobile devices

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The most lucrative app categories include gaming, dating, and shopping, generating billions in revenue annually

Statistic 28

In 2023, the worldwide mobile app advertising market size was valued at approximately $276 billion

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User spending on mobile apps is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 12% until 2026

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The number of mobile app users in China exceeded 800 million in 2023, making it the largest single market

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The average revenue per app user differs significantly by country, with the U.S. averaging around $84, while India averages $22

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The average smartphone user has more than 80 apps installed on their device

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Mobile apps generate 89% of the total time spent on digital media

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The average session duration for mobile apps is about 4.2 minutes

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65% of mobile users open an app more than 11 times per month

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50% of all app downloads are abandoned within the first 30 days

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The fastest-growing app category in 2023 is health & fitness, with a growth rate of over 20%

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Nearly 79% of mobile apps are abandoned after three days of inactivity

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About 60% of mobile app users prefer to access content via apps instead of mobile websites

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Mobile apps’ average retention rate after 30 days is around 20%

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The average app session length for social media apps is approximately 6 minutes

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The proportion of mobile apps offering personalized experiences has increased by over 30% in the past three years

Statistic 43

90% of mobile app users prefer apps with integrated payment options

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Key Highlights

  • The global mobile app revenue is projected to reach $935 billion by 2023
  • There are over 4.8 million apps available across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store combined
  • The average smartphone user has more than 80 apps installed on their device
  • Mobile apps generate 89% of the total time spent on digital media
  • The top 10 app categories account for over 80% of all app downloads
  • Gaming apps constitute the largest share of app downloads, making up nearly 30% of total downloads in 2023
  • The revenue from mobile gaming is expected to total $116 billion in 2023
  • More than 70% of mobile app revenue comes from in-app purchases and in-app advertising
  • The number of mobile app downloads worldwide reached 230 billion in 2021
  • The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile apps is approximately $57 globally
  • Android holds about 71% of the global mobile OS market share, while iOS holds around 29%
  • The number of active iOS devices reached nearly 1 billion in 2022
  • In 2023, mobile apps are expected to generate over $140 billion solely from in-app advertising revenue

The mobile app industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with revenues projected to hit nearly $935 billion in 2023, driven by over 4.8 million apps, widespread consumer engagement, and a booming gaming and mobile commerce market that collectively reshapes how we connect and spend in the digital age.

Advertising and Monetization

  • More than 70% of mobile app revenue comes from in-app purchases and in-app advertising
  • The average cost to acquire a mobile app user through advertising is around $2.50

Advertising and Monetization Interpretation

With over 70% of revenue hinging on in-app purchases and advertising, and a modest $2.50 needed to attract each user, the mobile app industry's economic dance balances on a tight budget and a well-choreographed monetization strategy.

App Development and Trends

  • The average cost for developing a simple mobile app is between $10,000 and $50,000
  • The demand for cross-platform app development frameworks increased by 25% in 2023
  • On average, it takes about 4 to 6 months to develop and launch a mobile app
  • The average number of updates per mobile app is about 3.5 per year
  • Mobile app development is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% from 2023 to 2028
  • The number of mobile app developers worldwide exceeded 2.8 million in 2023

App Development and Trends Interpretation

With over 2.8 million developers crafting apps that cost between $10,000 and $50,000 and requiring up to six months to launch, the mobile app industry’s rapid 11.5% CAGR and 25% surge in cross-platform frameworks underscore both its burgeoning growth and the necessity for strategic innovation in a fiercely competitive market.

App Popularity and Downloads

  • The top 10 app categories account for over 80% of all app downloads
  • Gaming apps constitute the largest share of app downloads, making up nearly 30% of total downloads in 2023
  • The number of mobile app downloads worldwide reached 230 billion in 2021
  • Over 80% of mobile apps are downloaded from the Google Play Store
  • The total number of downloadable apps from the Apple App Store surpassed 200 billion in 2022

App Popularity and Downloads Interpretation

With gaming reigning supreme among the 230 billion global downloads in 2021—primarily fueled by Google’s dominance and Apple’s staggering 200 billion apps—it's clear that in the mobile app universe, entertainment and convenience truly rule the digital kingdom, accounting for over 80% of downloads across the top categories.

Market Size and Revenue

  • The global mobile app revenue is projected to reach $935 billion by 2023
  • There are over 4.8 million apps available across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store combined
  • The revenue from mobile gaming is expected to total $116 billion in 2023
  • The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile apps is approximately $57 globally
  • Android holds about 71% of the global mobile OS market share, while iOS holds around 29%
  • The number of active iOS devices reached nearly 1 billion in 2022
  • In 2023, mobile apps are expected to generate over $140 billion solely from in-app advertising revenue
  • The top 10 countries by app store spending account for approximately 65% of total mobile app revenue
  • In 2023, consumer spend on mobile apps in the U.S. reached around $70 billion
  • The rise of mobile commerce has led to over 50% of online sales being made through mobile devices in 2023
  • Mobile app advertising spend is expected to surpass $290 billion globally in 2024
  • The revenue per user for subscription-based apps is significantly higher than free apps, with an average of $72 annually
  • The majority of mobile apps are designed for smartphones, with over 85% being optimized for mobile devices
  • The most lucrative app categories include gaming, dating, and shopping, generating billions in revenue annually
  • In 2023, the worldwide mobile app advertising market size was valued at approximately $276 billion
  • User spending on mobile apps is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 12% until 2026
  • The number of mobile app users in China exceeded 800 million in 2023, making it the largest single market
  • The average revenue per app user differs significantly by country, with the U.S. averaging around $84, while India averages $22

Market Size and Revenue Interpretation

With mobile app revenue soaring past $935 billion in 2023 amid an ocean of over 4.8 million apps and a global user base surpassing a billion iOS devices, the industry proves that in the mobile economy, whether you're gaming, shopping, or scrolling, there's huge money—and even bigger competition—to be made.

User Behavior and Engagement

  • The average smartphone user has more than 80 apps installed on their device
  • Mobile apps generate 89% of the total time spent on digital media
  • The average session duration for mobile apps is about 4.2 minutes
  • 65% of mobile users open an app more than 11 times per month
  • 50% of all app downloads are abandoned within the first 30 days
  • The fastest-growing app category in 2023 is health & fitness, with a growth rate of over 20%
  • Nearly 79% of mobile apps are abandoned after three days of inactivity
  • About 60% of mobile app users prefer to access content via apps instead of mobile websites
  • Mobile apps’ average retention rate after 30 days is around 20%
  • The average app session length for social media apps is approximately 6 minutes
  • The proportion of mobile apps offering personalized experiences has increased by over 30% in the past three years
  • 90% of mobile app users prefer apps with integrated payment options

User Behavior and Engagement Interpretation

Despite over 80 apps cluttering our devices and a mere 4.2-minute engagement window, the mobile app industry continues to thrive—fuelled by relentless personalization, a booming health & fitness sector, and users' preference for apps over websites, even as half of all downloads are abandoned within the first month.