The global number of smartphone users in was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 1.8 billion users (+42.62 percent). After the fifteenth consecutive increasing year, the smartphone user base is estimated to reach 6.1 billion users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of smartphone users of was continuously increasing over the past years.Smartphone users here are limited to internet users of any age using a smartphone. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of smartphone users in countries like the Americas and Asia.

How many smartphone mobile network subscriptions are active worldwide? The number of smartphone mobile network subscriptions worldwide reached almost seven billion in 2023, and is forecast to exceed 7.7 billion by 2028. China, India, and the United States are the countries with the highest number of smartphone mobile network subscriptions. Smartphone unit sales levelling off The smartphone market still has high growth potential, with the smartphone penetration rate remaining lower than 70 percent in many highly populated markets, in particular China and India. Global smartphone revenue reached 481 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, but was expected to have fallen to 463 billion in 2022. Despite stagnating sales, the increasing average selling price of smartphones is expected to support the market over the coming years. Leading smartphone vendors The leading smartphone vendors today are Samsung and Apple. These technology companies account for about half of all smartphone shipments worldwide.

This statistic shows the number of smartphone users in the U.S. from 2009 to 2040. For 2022, the number of smartphone users in the United States is estimated to reach 307 million.

Smartphone users - additional information

Advances in telecommunication technology have been significant in recent years. These advances have led to a level of connectivity never seen before. The number of smartphone users in the US has risen steadily over the last several years and forecasts estimate that smartphone penetration in North America will also continue to rise steadily into the future. The United States is one of the leading countries in the world with respect to adoption of smartphone technology.

In America the most popular smartphone brands are Samsung and Apple, while the most popular smartphone operating systems / platforms with respect to market share are none other than Google Android and Apple’s own operating system, iOS. Other operating systems, such as Symbian, Blackberry OS, Bada and Windows have struggled to maintain a foothold in the market as iOS and Android clearly dominate the field.

The first official smartphones came onto the market in the early 1990s. Initially a smartphone was classified by its ability to offer features like e-mail capability, internet access, QUERTY keyboards, personal digital assistant functions and perhaps a built-in camera. As of today, smartphones have progressed even more and we typically classify smartphones as having a high definition touchscreen, various apps, navigation tools and high-speed internet on the go. More recently sales of smartphones have even exceeded that of traditional feature phones as smartphone usage has continued to rise.

The global smartphone penetration rate was estimated at 71 percent in 2024, up from 2023. This is based on an estimated 6.7 billion smartphone subscriptions worldwide and a global population of around 7.4 billion. Regional differences in smartphone penetration Throughout the world, the smartphone penetration rate in the general population varies greatly. For example, in North America and Europe, the smartphone adoption rate stands at roughly 86 and 82 percent, respectively. Whereas in Sub-Saharan Africa, the same rate only stands at 55 percent as of late 2023, showing a roughly 30 percent difference in adoption rates between the highest and lowest ranked regions. Global smartphone shipments The number of global smartphone shipments saw a drop in recent years. However, the number of shipments is expected to recover to previous levels in the upcoming years. Most recently, Samsung and Apple have been leading the share of smartphone shipments worldwide, with other competitors such as Xiaomi and Oppo are catching up. Most of the top contributors to the smartphone market are concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region, which is also the region is the one with the most smartphone sales to end users as a whole.

In 2022, the number of smartphone users in China amounted to almost 1.04 billion. According to the forecast, the user number was expected to increase to around 1.18 billion by 2026. With around 6.6 billion people who use smartphones around the world, China accounts for over 15 percent of total users.

From copycats to global players

Over the past decade, Chinese smartphone manufacturers evolved from cheap alternatives to established, global brands. At the beginning of the 2010s, the market was still dominated by traditional cell phone vendors like Nokia and Sony. Halfway through the decade, Chinese manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, and OPPO entered the market. Aided by the popularity among domestic consumers, these brands became integral parts of the global industry.

Like a Swiss army knife

Along with user base growth, the significance of the smartphone in Chinese every day life increased as well. Today, Chinese citizens use the smartphone for everything. From paying for groceries using mobile payment services, ordering take out, to finding a taxi, all require smartphone. Furthermore, during the pandemic, the Chinese government introduced digital health codes to monitor the citizen’s risk status.

The number of smartphone users in Germany has only grown in recent years, amounting to 62.6 million smartphone owners in 2021. In 2009, this number was 6.3 million. Android in the lead Mobile devices have taken the world by storm since they arrived on the market and today daily life is practically unimaginable without them. However, at the same time studies are conducted to determine the effect prolonged usage has on health. Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic and countries all over the world practice quarantine and social distancing, relying on smartphones for interpersonal communication has increased dramatically. Android phones were considerably more popular with German consumers than iOs. Not cheap In recent years, the sales volume of smartphones in Germany has decreased, amounting to almost 21.4 million devices sold in 2024. This may also be due to rising prices. In 2023, on average, a new smartphone cost 701 euros.

The number of smartphone users in Japan amounted to almost 86.6 million in 2022. It was forecast to reach more than 95 million by 2028.

Domestic smartphone market

Japan was one of the first countries to develop a mobile phone culture, being home to inventions such as the world’s first camera phone in 1999 as well as the nowadays ubiquitous emojis. The largest mobile phone operators in the country are NTT Docomo, au by KDDI, and SoftBank. Rakuten Mobile joined as the fourth proper mobile network operator (MNO) in 2020. As for mobile phone types, Japanese consumers show a clear preference for smartphones, which make up the majority of monthly domestic mobile phone shipments. The popularity of smartphones in Japan goes hand in hand with an increasing usage of streaming services as well as other forms of mobile entertainment.

Popularity of smartphone gaming

Home to global gaming industry giants such as Nintendo and Sony, Japan also boasts a very competitive mobile gaming market. A survey regarding the frequency of playing smartphone games showed that a majority of smartphone gamers play games on a daily basis. The most commonly played smartphone game genres are puzzle games, location-based games, and role-playing games (RPGs) of various kinds. Dating back to as early as 1999, when NTT Docomo made RPGs such as “Dragon Quest” and “Final Fantasy” available for download on its platform, this genre has been among the more popular ones.

This statistic shows the smartphone penetration as share of the population in the United States from 2010 to 2021. In 2018, 69.6 percent of the U.S. population used a smartphone.

Smartphone penetration in the U.S. - additional information
Almost two-thirds of Americans are predicted to own a smartphone by 2017, more than a threefold increase since 2010. A smartphone is a mobile phone that uses an identifiable open Operating System (OS) and has more advanced computing capability and connectivity than a basic phone. The OS is supported by third party applications (commonly known as apps) written by the developer community.

The operating system must be able to support a multitasking environment and user interface that can handle multiple applications at the same time. Two of the most popular operating systems on the market are made by Google (Android) and Apple (iOS) who had a combined stake of over 90 percent of the smartphone market share worldwide at the end of 2016.

The popularity of the smartphone has risen immensely since Apple introduced its first iPhone in 2007, with 43.5 percent of all Americans forecast to own an iPhone by 2016. The first iPhone was notably different from other smartphones at the time because it used a large touchscreen for direct finger input, rather than the need for a stylus, keypad, or keyboard.

The first smartphone to use the Android OS was the HTC Dream released in 2008. Although numbers of people using this OS were low at first, it has since grown to be the most used operating system, with an estimated 107.7 million Americans projected to own an Android phone by 2016.

China is leading the ranking by number of smartphone users , recording 859.38 million users. Following closely behind is India with 700.58 million users, while Seychelles is trailing the ranking with 0.05 million users, resulting in a difference of 859.33 million users to the ranking leader, China. Smartphone users here are limited to internet users of any age using a smartphone. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

The statistic shows the total number of mobile phone users worldwide from 2015 to 2020. In 2019 the number of mobile phone users is forecast to reach 4.68 billion.

Mobile phone users worldwide - additional information

The number of mobile phone users in the world is expected to pass the five billion mark by 2019. In 2016, an estimated 62.9 percent of the population worldwide already owned a mobile phone. The mobile phone penetration is forecasted to continue to grow, rounding up to 67 percent by 2019. China was predicted to have just over 1.4 billion mobile connections in 2017, while India was forecast to reach over one billion. By 2019, China is expected to reach almost 1.5 billion mobile connections and India almost 1.1 billion.

Most of the mobile market growth can be attributed to the increasing popularity of smartphones. By 2014, around 38 percent of all mobile users were smartphone users. By 2018, this number is expected to reach over 50 percent. The number of smartphone users worldwide is expected to grow by one billion in a time span of five years, which means the number of smartphone users in the world is expected to reach 2.7 billion by 2019. Samsung and Apple are leading smartphone vendors, with about 18 percent of the market share each.

The statistic shows the share of the population in the United States that uses a smartphone in the United States from 2018 to 2025. In 2025, 87.08 percent of the population in the United States is forecast to use a smartphone.

Smartphone user penetration - additional information
A smartphone can be defined as a mobile device that uses an identifiable operating system and has a more advanced technological capability than a basic mobile phone. The number of U.S mobile users who have a smartphone is set to more than triple between 2011 and 2017 to almost 80 percent of all mobile users. This means that the number of overall smartphone users is forecast to top 200 million by 2017.

The smartphone penetration rate of mobile users is similarly high in the United Kingdom, with over 80 percent expected to own a smart device by 2017. However the smartphone market is set to grow at a slower rate in China with just under half of mobile users forecast to own a smartphone in 2017. The percentage is even lower in India where 32 percent of mobile phone users are predicted to use a smartphone by 2017.

Android phones and iPhones remain the most popular choice for smartphones with the two respective Operating Systems holding of 90 percent of the market sales in the U.S. in 2013. This trend looks set to continue with two new competing smartphones on the market, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (Android) and the iPhone 6 (iOS), both unveiled in 2014.

In 2020, the number of smartphone users in Mexico was estimated at nearly 81 million. This is an increase of about five percent from the 77 million users registered the previous year.

An upward trend Smartphones have come to account for almost all mobile phones used in Mexico, and their prevalence keeps on growing. By the end of 2021, it is expected that close to 65 percent of the country's population will be smartphone users. While several brands are vying for dominance of the Mexican market, Korean manufacturer Samsung continues to be the most used smartphone brand, holding a 32 percent share. Not far behind, however, U.S.-based Motorola followed, with a 20 percent market share.

5G: ready, set, not just yet 5th generation technology (5G) is the latest version of wireless broadband cellular technology used by network providers. Countries across the globe are adopting this technology to improve mobile communication through higher capacity, faster speed, and lower latency, among others. According to a survey conducted in early 2020, 39 percent of Mexican mobile users interviewed said they would be willing to switch to a 5G network as soon as it became available in their region. Despite their willingness, a transition to this technology entails new expenditures on devices capable of supporting it, which remains a luxury for many . In fact, at the time, less than 10 percent of Mexicans already had a 5G mobile network.

As of 2022, the penetration rate of smartphones in China reached almost 72 percent. According to the forecast, almost 83 percent of people in China are going to use a smartphone by 2027. The total number of smartphone users in 2022 exceeded one billion.

The master key

In Chinese everyday life, there is no way around not using a smartphone. Over the past decade, the smartphone has evolved from a communication device into not only a multi-tool but also the key to accessing everyday services. From paying for groceries and the restaurant bill to booking train tickets and managing personal finances. As more and more services are only available online, life without a smartphone has become increasingly difficult.

Technology exclusion and social isolation

Because of the growing significance of the smartphone, people without access to them or those unable to use them are at risk of being excluded from vital services and social interactions. These may include the elderly population, finding it difficult to adapt to the new technology. It could also be online applications without sufficient accessibility for persons with disability, and those who cannot afford to purchase a smartphone or live in regions without a comprehensive internet connection. Therefore, as the country moves online, inclusion must be a part of the development.

The number of smartphone users in Italy was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 5.8 million users (+12.05 percent). After the fifteenth consecutive increasing year, the smartphone user base is estimated to reach 53.92 million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of smartphone users of was continuously increasing over the past years.Smartphone users here are limited to internet users of any age using a smartphone. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of smartphone users in countries like Greece and Malta.

The number of smartphone users in the United Kingdom was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 2.8 million users (+4.92 percent). After the fifteenth consecutive increasing year, the smartphone user base is estimated to reach 59.72 million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of smartphone users of was continuously increasing over the past years.Smartphone users here are limited to internet users of any age using a smartphone. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

The smartphone penetration in Mexico was forecast to decrease between 2024 and 2029 by in total 3.5 percentage points. This overall decrease does not happen continuously, notably not in 2026. According to this forecast, in 2029, the penetration will have decreased for the third consecutive year to 60.89 percent. Notably, the smartphone penetration of was continuously increasing over the past years.The penetration rate refers to the share of the total population.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).

This forecast shows the number of smartphone users in France from 2018 to 2024. For 2020, the number of smartphone users in France is estimated to reach 47.18 million, with the number of smartphone users worldwide forecast to exceed 2 billion users by that time. From 2018 to 2024 the number of smartphone users in France is expected to grow by close to four million users. This equates to a growth in the share of users by 26.26 percent. The data was calculated in July 2018 and covers all individuals of any age who own one or more smartphones and use at least one of those devices every month.

The leading operating system on the the French market is Android with a 75.6 percent market share followed by Apple's iOS with a 18.8 percent share. Most individuals without a smartphone still owned a regular mobile phone and only 7 percent of the population did not own either. The most common smartphone owned in January 2017 was the Apple iPhone 7 followed by the iPhone 7 Plus. The three most common activities carried out weekly with a smartphone were the use of search engines, checking email accounts, and visiting social networks.

According to a survey of smartphone users conducted between July 2022 and June 2023 in selected countries worldwide, an average of 75 percent of smartphone users reported using their smartphone to chat and send messages, while around seven in 10 reported sending e-mails. Accessing their online banking was the third most popular activity on average for global respondents, while around 62 percent of respondents reported listening to music on their mobile devices. Watching videos was also among the most popular activities on the smartphone, with 61 percent of respondents reporting consuming video content using their mobile devices.

The smartphone penetration in Brazil was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 19.3 percentage points. The penetration is estimated to amount to 97 percent in 2029. Notably, the smartphone penetration of was continuously increasing over the past years.The penetration rate refers to the share of the total population.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more information concerning Singapore and Turkey.

The number of smartphone users in Spain was forecast to increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 2.6 million users (+6.15 percent). This overall increase does not happen continuously, notably not in 2029. The smartphone user base is estimated to amount to 44.82 million users in 2029. Notably, the number of smartphone users of was continuously increasing over the past years.Smartphone users here are limited to internet users of any age using a smartphone. The shown figures have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).