In the world of desktop devices, browsers have replaced multiple apps. You could even say that browsers have become the new OS. However, quite the opposite is seen in the world of mobile devices. The number of apps has only increased, and the statistics on mobile app downloads are spot-on. In this guide, I collected some of the trending mobile app download statistics for 2024.
Mobile App Download Statistics
First, I shall give you an overview of how big this sector is by listing some general statistics on mobile apps and download patterns:
- In 2023, a total of 257 billion applications and games were downloaded from various app storefronts.
- This number has kept rising following COVID-19. The global app downloads were only 204 billion as of 2019.
- China accounted for the highest number of application downloads, followed by India and the United States.
- Market research predicts that app downloads will reach 352.9 billion by the end of 2024, marking a new increase.
- Of this total, Google Play is expected to be the leading storefront, accounting for more than 70% of global app downloads.
- As anticipated, free apps remain the most popular choice among users, contributing to 98% of global downloads.
- Health and fitness-based applications have seen rising popularity in recent years and are projected to reach a valuation of $189 billion by 2025.
- Subscription-based applications are downloaded and used more than paid applications. These apps generate a considerable amount of revenue from subscriptions as well.
- Despite the higher app downloads, not many users stick to applications. It is estimated that users are likely to uninstall most apps within a month.
- Games are the most downloaded type of apps on most marketplaces. However, most marketplaces also have a dedicated section for games.
Breakdown of Global App Downloads
While the global app downloads keep growing, not all spaces grow equally. Here are a few statistics on the number of app downloads in different regions.
- Application usage is most popular in the Asia-Pacific region, with China accounting for the majority of app downloads.
- China is responsible for 50% of global app downloads. India ranks second, contributing 14% of global app downloads.
- Japan is also one of the places where the number of apps downloaded per day is high. However, in Japan, gaming and e-commerce applications have taken the stage with their impact.
- The Americas, too, have a growing market for mobile applications. A total of over 12 billion apps were downloaded in 2023 in the United States.
- Among the most downloaded apps, apps from categories such as social media and gaming are the most popular. 35% of total app downloads in North America were social media apps.
- Like the United States, Canada is also a place where e-commerce and productivity apps have become more popular.
- In Europe, the UK is one of the places where mobile app downloads are the highest. It is reported that users in the UK contributed to 8.2 billion downloads in 2023 alone.
- Russia has also seen an increasing demand for downloads. In 2023, 400 million first-time downloads were spotted in the country, and the gaming and social media apps were in high demand.
- In countries like Germany and France, health and fitness apps have become more popular over the last five years.
- Following the COVID-19 situation, many education apps are also being downloaded more than other apps. It is partly due to the shift to remote learning and work.
- The Middle East is also contributing substantially to global app downloads. In this region, fintech and entertainment apps have become the popular options.
- The app retention rates and usage are also higher in the Middle East and Africa, where people spend close to 5 hours every day on applications.
- Gaming and social apps have also become popular in Egypt, where a 10% growth was registered last year.
- Media apps and e-commerce apps have also become popular in Australia, whereas New Zealand has contributed to the growth of education apps.
App Usage vs. Downloads
There are differences between downloaded apps and their usage. As I said, app retention is a different metric altogether.
- Even though people are downloading more apps, the majority of these apps are deleted within 30 days. This rate of abandonment is marked at 70%.
- Even though games are the most popular app download category, these apps do not score well when it comes to consistent usage.
- On the other hand, social media apps are used as much as they are downloaded. These apps have a high retention rate as well.
- App usage metrics are different regions as well. For instance, in places like Indonesia, users tend to spend a considerable amount of time on specific apps, often marking 60-80% of total device use.
- The retention rates of an average Android/iOS app download are interesting. Only 4 iOS users are likely to use an app 30 days after the installation.
- Multiple factors contribute to the usage patterns of various apps. For instance, notifications can be used to improve app usage, but they can also cause quick uninstall patterns.
- Mobile games have another story because these apps tend to retain users for the first week. But, in most cases, there is a steep decline after a week.
- Statistics also show that paid apps have recorded better retention than free ones. It is reported that 12% of paid apps are still used even after 3 months.
- Fitness and social media apps record high retention rates and usage in the first week, but they are abandoned quickly after.
- Compared to older users, Millennials and Gen Z users are more likely to abandon the apps they install. Most times, a slow and poorly designed app is a reason.
Leading App Categories in Downloads
Applications from different categories show different rates of downloads and retention.
- Games, also known as gaming apps, are the most popular app category in terms of downloads. It is reported that 55.6 billion games were downloaded in 2023.
- Considering the increasing market for mobile games and their growth, it is estimated that 2024 will witness higher numbers.
- While Action and Strategy games are popular, hyper-casual games are the most downloaded type of games on both market fronts.
- Social media apps are the second-most downloaded app category, where apps like Instagram and TikTok dominate the number of downloads.
- E-commerce apps are also some of the most downloaded apps in many markets. In particular, apps like Temu and Amazon were quite popular in 2023.
- Within the gaming category, which contributes the most to app downloads, titles like Subway Surfers and Roblox are some popular options.
- When it comes to health and fitness apps, which are popular in European markets, apps like Strava, MyFitnessPal, and Nike Training Club have retained their dominance.
- Finance apps like PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App are also popular in terms of downloads, especially in markets like North America.
- Food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats are also widely downloaded across markets. More so, regional players are also becoming popular in these markets.
- Within the productivity category, which has become high in demand over markets, apps like Zoom, Slack, and Microsoft Teams are at the top position.
Factors Driving Mobile App Growth
Multiple factors determine the growth of mobile apps and increasing downloads in various categories and markets.
- The increasing usage of smartphones remains one of the major factors driving the growth of mobile applications and their downloads.
- It is projected that there will be 6.8 billion smartphone users across the globe by 2024, and this is likely to increase the number of downloads as well.
- The penetration of these smartphone devices is also high in developing markets, including India and many countries in South America. These new devices and users are expected to impact the number of downloads further.
- E-commerce platforms are also expected to play a role in the increasing demand for applications, a trend observed across multiple continents and markets.
- More importantly, subscription-based models are likely to drive demand for applications and downloads, as people are more likely to retain these applications, particularly when they are paying for a service.
- Remote work and learning platforms are also increasing the demand for mobile applications, as people tend to use their mobile devices over desktop ones.
- AI-driven recommendations are becoming popular in increasing the downloads of specific applications because users are now receiving better-tailored suggestions for the apps they need.
- Push notifications also play an essential role in this, as they can not only increase app engagement but also improve the popularity of other applications.
- Additionally, the adoption of fintech solutions is contributing to mobile app growth, as mobile devices are becoming the go-to option for accessing mobile banking and other applications, such as PayPal.
- Finally, 5G connectivity, which provides faster internet for many users, is another reason why applications are becoming more popular than ever.
App Monetization and Its Impact on Downloads
Apps generate a considerable amount of revenue, thus keeping their development in an active phase. But how do they function?
- Though there are fewer Apple devices, Apple’s App Store is responsible for 67% of total revenue from app purchases and subscriptions.
- Contrary to what we may think, free applications are the most significant source of revenue among all app categories. These applications, while not charging users directly, generate substantial income through advertisements and subscriptions.
- In terms of app monetization, in-app purchases are also becoming more popular than paid applications. Subscriptions and one-time purchases within apps have become popular and have driven the growth of the app development industry.
- In-app advertising remains one of the most prominent aspects of app monetization, with the overall revenue from this market expected to reach $362 billion in 2024.
- Additionally, the freemium model for applications has become the go-to option for balancing monetization and accessibility.
The Future of App Download Trends
- It is projected that there will be 352.9 billion app downloads by the end of 2024, aligning with the patterns observed over the past 2–3 years.
- The increasing adoption of 5G technology and expanding network penetration are expected to boost the number of app downloads annually.
- Although app downloads have been on the lower side in markets like India and Southeast Asia, these regions are likely to experience growth due to the rising number of mobile devices.
- The growing prevalence of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) apps is also expected to impact the number of annual downloads. Similarly, the integration of AI and machine learning within applications is likely to contribute to increased downloads.
- Super apps, which combine the functionality of multiple apps, are also anticipated to become very popular in the coming years.
Conclusion
As you have seen, the world of smartphone apps has only grown in the past decade. As one can understand from market estimates, the number of downloads will only increase as technologies like AI, VR, and AR are set to take the stage. However, whether these ideas will be reflected in the desktop sector is a question that needs to be answered over time.
1 Comment
It’s crazy how many apps people download these days.