More than 86% of the population around the globe owns a smartphone, as it has become an essential part of our day-to-day lives.
In this article, I have stated the latest facts and figures related to smartphone usage and its adoption in different fields and areas in recent times.
So what’s the wait for? Let’s start with top picks first and then move to in-depth stats.
Smartphone Usage Statistics 2024 (Top Picks)
Discover intriguing statistics on smartphone usage, shedding light on trends, habits, and the evolving digital landscape in 2024.
- The number of smartphone users is expected to reach 7.1 billion in 2024.
- 94.40% of millennials have smartphones in the United States.
- 91% of college graduates have smartphones.
- Almost half of the people in the United States spend 5 to 6 hours on smartphones daily as of 2024.
- Smartphones make up 70% of digital media time in the United States.
- 78% of the millennials in the United States watch videos on smartphones at least once weekly as of 2023.
- Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, texting increased by 37%.
- Cell phone usage is expected to grow by 2-3% YoY by 2025.
- In 2023, Smartphone app usage time in the United States has increased by 25% since 2019.
- In 2023, m-commerce accounts for 73% of e-commerce.
- Mobile devices drive 65% of e-commerce traffic.
- Smartphone users touch their phones an average of 2,617 times daily in the United States.
- 72% of teenagers check their phone messages and notifications after waking up.
- 99.2% of smartphone users have symptoms of nomophobia.
- As of January 2024, mobile phones account for 56.1% of global web traffic.
How Many Smartphone Users Are There?
- The number of smartphone users is anticipated to reach 7.1 billion in 2024.
This indicates that a whopping 85% of the world’s population owns smartphones.
The number of smartphone users increased by 4.2% compared to the previous year. As of 2022, there were approximately 6.6 billion smartphone users worldwide.
Between 2016 and 2023, the global smartphone user base grew at an average annual rate of 9.5%.
According to industry experts, smartphone users are expected to reach 7.7 billion by the end of 2027. Below are some additional insights into smartphone users from 2016 to 2017 that I have gathered.
| Year | The Number Of Smartphones Users |
| 2016 | 3.7 billion |
| 2017 | 4.4 billion |
| 2018 | 5.1 billion |
| 2019 | 5.6 billion |
| 2020 | 5.9 billion |
| 2021 | 6.3 billion |
| 2022 | 6.6 billion |
| 2023 | 6.8 billion |
| 2024* | 7.1 billion |
| 2025* | 7.3 billion |
| 2026* | 7.5 billion |
| 2027* | 7.7 billion |
*Projected
- 82.2% of people own Smartphones in the United States as of 2023.
As of 2022, the percentage of smartphone users in the United States has increased to 76.5%, a 3.8% rise from the previous year.
In 2010, the percentage of people in the United States who owned smartphones was only 20.2%. The table below displays the smartphone penetration rate in the United States from 2010 to 2023.
| Year | Smartphone Penetration Rate In The United States |
| 2010 | 20.20% |
| 2018 | 69.60% |
| 2019 | 71.40% |
| 2020 | 72.20% |
| 2021 | 72.70% |
| 2022 | 76.50% |
| 2023 | 82.20% |
- The United Kingdom has the second-highest smartphone penetration rate worldwide.
As we previously discussed, the United States has the highest smartphone penetration rate in the world, with 82.2% of the population using smartphones.
Oberlo reports that the United Kingdom boasts a smartphone penetration rate of 79.8%, while France and Germany follow closely with 78.8% each. Here is a list of the top 5 countries with the highest smartphone penetration rate.
- The United States- 82.2%
- The United Kingdom- 79.8%
- France- 78.8%
- Germany- 78.8%
- Italy- 77%
In developing economies, smartphone adoption rates are much lower. For example, only 55.4% of the Brazilian population owns a smartphone, dropping to 35.4% in India. In Nigeria, less than one in five people (19.7%) are smartphone users.
Smartphone Users Demography Statistics
In this section, you will find all the essential statistics regarding Smartphone User Demography.
- 94.40% of millennials have smartphones in the United States.
Based on data from eMarketers, Millennials have the most significant percentage of smartphone users at 94.40%. Following Millennials, Gen X has the second-highest percentage of smartphone users at 88.80%.
Provided below is a comprehensive analysis of smartphone usage by generation.
- Millennials- 94.40%
- Gen X- 88.80%
- Gen Z- 72.80%
- Gen Alpha- 17%
- Baby Boomers- 68.10%
- 96% of people aged between 18 to 29 years old own smartphones.
According to Pew Research Center, individuals between the ages of 18 and 29 make up the most significant percentage of smartphone owners at 96%.
The second largest age group that owns smartphones is individuals between the ages of 30 and 49, at 92%. This data provides insights into the prevalence of smartphone usage among different age groups.
- 18 to 29 years old- 96%
- 30 to 49 years old- 92%
- 50 to 64 years old- 79%
- More than 65 years old- 53%
- 91% of college graduates have smartphones.
According to Pew Research Center, smartphone ownership is most common among college graduates, with 91% owning a smartphone.
The following highest smartphone ownership rates are among those who have had some college education (85%), high school graduates (72%), and those who did not complete high school (66%).
- 82% of the increase in smartphone users registered among Gen Z due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
According to GlobalWebIndex, there has been a significant increase in the usage of smartphones among Gen Zs, with 82%. This was followed by millennials, with a 72% increase.
Furthermore, there has been a rise in smartphone usage among Generation X and Baby Boomers, with rates of 66% and 43%, respectively.
How Much Time People Spent On Smartphones?
- Almost half of people spend 5 to 6 hours on smartphones daily in the United States.
This accounts for over 132 million users. On the other hand, only 5% of smartphone users use their smartphones for less than one hour daily.
Seven percent use their smartphones for one to two hours daily, which equates to 13.76 million and 19.27 million smartphone users, respectively.
Here is a table showing the daily time spent on smartphones in the United States as of 2023.
| Daily Hours Spend On Smartphones | The Percentage of Smartphone Users | The Number Of Smartphone Users |
| Less than 1 hour | 5% | 13.76 million |
| 1 to 2 hours | 7% | 19.27 million |
| 3 to 4 hours | 22% | 60.56 million |
| 5 to 6 hours | 48% | 132.13 million |
| More than 6 hours | 18% | 49.55 million |
- Smartphones make up 70% of digital media time in the United States.
Notably, most digital media consumption on smartphones is focused mainly on games, with 94%.
Here are some more insights into it.
- Games- 94%
- Social Media- 92%
- Entertainment- 83%
However, education (77% share) and government remain the only two forms of digital media that still primarily rely on desktops.
- Philippines spend over 5 hours 30 minutes daily on smartphones.
According to Exploding Topics, seven countries have a daily phone screen time that exceeds 5 hours. Additionally, 18 nations have been identified as exceeding the average daily screen time of 3 hours and 43 minutes.
The global average daily time spent on smartphones is 3 hours and 43 minutes.
Among the countries examined, only 1 European nation, Turkey, exceeded the worldwide average with a daily screen time of 4 hours and 16 minutes. Meanwhile, 4 South-East Asian countries comprised the top 10.
The following is the complete breakdown of the top 20 nation’s daily smartphone use in hours and minutes:
| Top Country | The Average Daily Time Spend On Smartphones |
| Philippines | 5 hours 47 minutes |
| Thailand | 5 houses 28 minutes |
| Brazil | 5 hours 25 minutes |
| Colombia | 5 hours 9 minutes |
| South Africa | 5 hours 9 minutes |
| Argentina | 5 hours 4 minutes |
| Nigeria | 5 hours 4 minutes |
| Indonesia | 4 hours 56 minutes |
| Malaysia | 4 hours 49 minutes |
| Mexico | 4 hours 37 minutes |
| Saudi Arabia | 4 hours 35 minutes |
| The United Arab Emirates | 4 hours 35 minutes |
| Ghana | 4 hours 34 minutes |
| Egypt | 4 hours 25 minutes |
| Turkey | 4 hours 16 minutes |
| Taiwan | 4 hours 12 minutes |
| India | 4 hours 5 minutes |
| Kenya | 3 hours 51 minutes |
| Global Average | 3 hours 43 minutes |
| Romania | 3 hours 41 minutes |
| Russia | 3 hours 39 minutes |
What Activities Do Users Do On Smartphones?
- 83% of people use smartphones for emails and capturing images.
According to the same study, 76% of respondents primarily use their smartphones for surfing the Internet, while 73% use them for mapping or navigation. The survey also yielded additional findings, which are outlined below.
| Smartphone Activity | Share Of Respondents |
| Emails | 83% |
| Taking Photos | 83% |
| Surfing the Internet | 76% |
| Maps/Directions | 73% |
| Online Shopping | 71% |
| Check/Post Social Media | 67% |
| Listening To Music/Podcasts | 66% |
| Watch Short Videos (Clips/Messages) | 65% |
| Online Banking | 60% |
| Video Calls | 59% |
| Taking Videos | 58% |
| Reading news | 58% |
| General purpose apps | 57% |
| Playing Games (Apps) | 52% |
| Watch long videos (Movies/TV) | 44% |
| Online Video Gaming | 35% |
- 78% of the millennials in the United States watch videos on smartphones at least once weekly as of 2023.
Social media is also a popular activity, with 64% of millennials using it. Furthermore, 62% of millennials listen to music on their smartphones, and 54% play games. Here are some other leading smartphone activities that millennials enjoy:
| Smartphone Activities | Share Of Respondents |
| Watch Videos | 78% |
| Use social networks | 64% |
| Listen to Music | 62% |
| Play Games | 54% |
| Research Products/Services to buy online | 44% |
| Get Weather Information | 43% |
| Do Online Banking | 40% |
| Purchase Products or Services | 38% |
| Research Products/Services to buy offline | 32% |
| Get Local News | 32% |
| Get National News | 23% |
| Read Magazine Content | 19% |
| Read Newspaper Content | 16% |
| Online Investing | 13% |
| Get Sports News/Information | 12% |
| Online Dating | 5% |
- 43% of users update their social media daily in the United States.
Based on data from Statista, 44% of smartphone users in the United States make phone calls between 1 to 3 times daily, while 30% respond to text messages.
It’s important to note that over half of smartphone users take photos or record videos daily, and 48% listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks.
This provides a comprehensive insight into smartphone usage habits.
| Smartphone Activities | Once A Day | 1 to 3 times per day | 4 to 7 times per day | 8 to 10 times per day | More than ten times a day | Don’t know/No opinion |
| Update Social Media | 43% | 27% | 10% | 5% | 6% | 9% |
| Makes Phones Calls | 24% | 44% | 17% | 7% | 6% | 4% |
| Respond To Text Messages | 16% | 30% | 19% | 13% | 18% | 4% |
| Take Photos or Record Videos | 51% | 27% | 8% | 3% | 4% | 7% |
| Listen To Music, Podcasts, Audiobooks | 48% | 23% | 8% | 4% | 5% | 12% |
| Watch Movies, Television, or Other Video Content | 49% | 22% | 9% | 3% | 5% | 11% |
| Use GPS Navigation | 63% | 18% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 12% |
- Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, texting increased by 37%.
Many activities were increased on Smartphones, such as texting by 37, video calling by 32%, etc. Here is a more insight into it.
- Texting- 37%
- Video Calling- 32%
- Browsing Social Media- 36%
- Using Shopping Apps- 23%
What Are The Latest Smartphone Usage Trends?
There are numerous smartphone usage trends happening today. However, I have compiled a list of some of the most significant ones you should know.
- Cell phone usage is expected to grow by 2-3% YoY by 2025.
Although it may not appear significant, this translates to nearly one billion new users. There are currently 6.8 billion smartphone users worldwide as of 2023, projected to grow to 7.34 billion by 2025.
- Smartphone app usage time in the United States has increased by 25% since 2019.
Overall, there has been a 30% increase in smartphone app usage time globally, more than 5% higher than in the United States.
India leads in smartphone app usage time, with 80%, followed by Russia at 50%. Here are some additional insights:
- Global- 30%
- The United States- 25%
- India- 80%
- Russia- 50%
- Indonesia- 45%
- Turkey- 45%
- Since 2016, there has been a 50% increase in smartphone users worldwide.
In 2016, global smartphone users were only 3.67 billion, accounting for 45% of the total population.
However, as of 2023, the number of smartphone users worldwide has risen significantly and now stands at 85% of the total population.
What Are The Statistics On Mobile E-commerce?
The percentage of e-commerce done on mobile devices is more significant than any other type of device. Mobile e-commerce is experiencing a surge in popularity today. Let’s review the key statistics related to mobile e-commerce.
- 35% of mobile users use mobile retail apps multiple times a week.
According to a survey of mobile users on retail app usage, 21% reported using these apps multiple times daily, while 22% reported using them once daily.
A larger group, 35% of mobile users, reported using retail apps multiple times a week. Here are some additional insights into this group.
- Not very often- 3%
- Once a week- 19%
- Multiple times a week- 35%
- Once a day- 22%
- Multiple times a day- 21%c
- In 2023, m-commerce accounts for 73% of e-commerce.
It’s worth noting that m-commerce accounted for 39.1% of the e-commerce market in the year being discussed, representing a significant increase from the 52.4% recorded in 2016.
Given the growing dependence on mobile devices, it’s reasonable to expect that this percentage will continue to rise in the coming years.
- 55% of buyers make mobile purchases after seeing products on social media.
It’s been found that retailers with a social media presence earn 32% more sales than their competitors, who, conditionally, up to 90% of people will purchase from brands they follow on social media.
- 40% of sales of Cyber Monday are attributed to mobile devices.
Overall, shoppers spend almost $10.70 billion on Cyber Monday. Although 40% is a significant portion, the remaining 60% is typically attributed to purchases made on desktop devices.
Comparatively, 48% of the online sales during Black Friday 2022 were made through smartphones.
- Mobile devices drive 65% of e-commerce traffic.
Although mobile traffic accounts for most of the traffic, it’s important to remember that desktop traffic generates more sales.
While mobile and desktop traffic makes up 65% and 35%, respectively, sales are divided at 53% and 47%, respectively.
- 88% of mobile shoppers had a negative shopping experience at least once.
The majority of these issues can be grouped into the following categories: navigation (51%), small images (46%), security concerns (41%), and the checkout process (26%).
As a result of these experiences, 36% of customers abandoned their carts.
- The number of mobile shoppers in the United States is set to increase to 187 million by 2024.
Currently, the number of mobile shoppers in the United States is 167.8 million. This indicates that in the next three years, the number of mobile shoppers in the United States is expected to grow by a minimum of 11%, despite a mere 0.4% average annual increase in the population.
- The mobile payments market will grow 33% annually and reach $4,574 billion by 2023.
Allied Research Market’s report shows that the mobile payments market was worth $601 billion in 2016. The Asia Pacific region was the main driver of the 33.63% CAGR.
If we look at it by sector, the market for mobile payments in hospitality and transportation applications is projected to experience the highest growth rate during the forecast period.
Reliance And Addictiveness Of Smartphone Statistics
Nowadays, it’s become clear that a vast majority of smartphone users exhibit symptoms of nomophobia. This demonstrates just how deeply ingrained smartphones have become in our lives.
Below are some concerning and significant statistics that highlight the extent of our reliance on and addiction to smartphones.
- Smartphone users touch their phones an average of 2,617 times daily in the United States.
Additionally, for frequent users, that number can sometimes exceed 5,000.
Although this figure includes instances where one frantically searches their pockets for fear of a misplaced phone, smartphone owners, on average, tend to unlock their device at least 150 times daily.
- The average smartphone users touch their phone after every 10 to 12 minutes in the United States.
According to Zippia’s study, it has been found that the average smartphone users check their phone at least 96 times per day in the United States. This rather alarming statistic begs the question of how much time Americans spend on their devices.
Moreover, the same study indicates that 66% of smartphone users in the United States check their phones as many as 160 times daily. It suggests that many of the population are highly addicted to their devices.
- Over a quarter of Americans (27%) in households earning less than $30,000 per year use their smartphones for internet access.
Although most Americans depend on their smartphones for internet access, there is a growing trend among wealthier individuals to do the same.
Specifically, 11% of individuals earning between $30,000 to $99,999 rely on their smartphones as their primary internet access, compared to only 6% of those earning $100,000 or more.
- 28% of 18-29-year-olds have a smartphone but not broadband.
According to the data, the largest group of smartphone-only users without broadband are aged between 18 and 29, representing 28% of the total.
Only 11% of people aged between 30 and 49 are in this category. The percentage of those aged between 50 and 64 increases slightly to 13%, while it remains at 12% for those over 65.
- 72% of teenagers check their phone messages and notifications after waking up.
Notably, many teenagers have a strong attachment to their phones. Based on a Finance Online report, most teenagers, specifically 7 out of 10, habitually check their phones first thing in the morning to read messages and notifications.
The study also indicates that 56% of teenagers experience loneliness, distress, or anxiety without their phones. The following is a list of additional findings from this study.
- 72% of teenagers check phone messages and notifications after waking up.
- 56% of teenagers feel lonely, upset, or anxious without phones.
- 54% of teenagers admitted to spending too much time on their smartphones.
- 47% of parents say their kids are addicted to their smartphones.
- 27% of teenagers are at risk of depression.
- 76.19% of teachers say smartphones are distracting students in class.
Based on Slick Text’s findings, nearly half (45%) of students confess to being online all the time, even in class.
In addition, nearly half of students (49%) reported being distracted by phones and other devices. Furthermore, one-fifth of students (20%) admitted to using their smartphones in class for non-academic activities.
- 20% of children have smartphones by the age of 8.
According to Finance Online, it is common for children to have access to smartphones at a young age, with approximately 20% having one by the time they are eight years old.
On average, members of Generation Z receive their first mobile phone at 10.3 years old.
While It is worth noting that 53% of children in the United States own a smartphone by the time they reach 11 years of age.
- 99.2% of smartphone users have symptoms of nomophobia.
According to finance online, it was found that 99.2% of users experience some level of anxiety and fear when they accidentally leave their phones. This is commonly referred to as nomophobia.
Out of the total percentage of 99.2%, 37% experience mild symptoms of nomophobia, 50% have moderate symptoms, and 13% are severe cases.
Moreover, 89% of college students report experiencing moderate to severe nomophobia, while 66% of adults in the United States are affected. These statistics are a cause for alarm across the board.
- Nomophobia increases the chance of smartphone dependency by 11.7 times.
Users with nomophobia are over ten times more likely to use their phones in places where it is prohibited.
Additionally, they are 14 times more likely to be at risk of danger when using their smartphones, such as when driving or crossing the road.
- Smartphone addiction increases the risk of developing suicide factors by 71%.
Teenagers who spend 5 hours or more on their mobile devices each day are 71% more likely to develop risk factors for suicide than those who use their devices for only an hour.
Here are some more things that are considered to be dangerous smartphone addictions.
- Increase in the likelihood of developing suicide risk factors: 71%
- Percentage of users who look at their smartphones while driving: 55.4%
- Percentage of teens who were involved in an accident due to their smartphones: 21%
- Percentage of parents who spend more time with their phones than their children: 17.3%
What Are The Mobile Data Traffic Statistics?
Each user consumes a certain amount of internet data when using a smartphone. This action will provide some essential statistics about mobile data traffic.
Let’s get into it.
- The average smartphone user uses 19.08 GB of internet monthly as of 2023.
Based on Statista’s data, smartphone users consumed an average of 1.86 GB of internet data in 2016. Over the next seven years, this figure increased by 17.22 GB.
According to expert predictions, smartphone users will consume an average of 45.91 GB per month by the end of 2028.
The table below displays the average data consumption of smartphone users from 2016 to 2028.
| Year | Internet Data Consumption/Per Month |
| 2016 | 1.86 GB |
| 2017 | 2.52 GB |
| 2018 | 4.76 GB |
| 2019 | 6.57 GB |
| 2020 | 9.10 GB |
| 2021 | 11.81 GB |
| 2022 | 14.99 GB |
| 2023 | 19.08 GB |
| 2024* | 23.10 GB |
| 2025* | 28.12 GB |
| 2026* | 33.77 GB |
| 2027* | 40.05 GB |
| 2028* | 45.91 GB |
*Projected
- Globally, 77.49-exabyte mobile data traffic came in 2022.
According to the Statista report, global mobile data traffic reached 77.49 exabytes in 2022, an increase of 20.69 exabytes from 2021 and 11.51 exabytes from 2017. Here are some additional insights:
| Year | Mobile Data Traffic/Per Month |
| 2017 | 11.51-exabytes |
| 2018 | 19.01-exabytes |
| 2019 | 28.56-exabytes |
| 2020 | 40.77-exabytes |
| 2021 | 56.80-exabytes |
| 2022 | 77.49-exabytes |
What Are Mobile Traffic Statistics?
Today, mobile traffic surpasses desktop or tablet traffic and continues to grow.
Let’s review some critical statistics about mobile traffic.
- More than 56.1% of global web traffic comes from smartphones in 2024.
According to Oberlo, Over the past decade, the proportion of global web traffic on mobile phones has significantly increased. As of June 2023, mobile phones accounted for 51.52% of all web traffic, with the average percentage for 2023 so far being 56.86%.
Looking back to 2012, we’ll see that this figure was only 10.88%. However, just five years later, in 2017, the mobile traffic had increased to 54.09%. Here are some more insights into it.
- 2012- 10.88%
- 2013- 17.02%
- 2014- 28.97%
- 2015- 37.24%
- 2016- 45.91%
- 2017- 54.09%
- 2018- 53.01%
- 2019- 52.26%
- 2020- 53.07%
- 2021- 56.53%
- 2022- 59.66%
- 2023- 56.86%
If you want to know more about mobile internet traffic, check out this article.
- 58.33% of total traffic came from mobile devices worldwide in the Q1 of 2023.
Based on data from Statista, mobile traffic decreased by 0.83% from Q4 2022 to Q1 2023, going from 59.16% to 58.33%.
From Q1 of 2015 to Q1 of 2023, the highest mobile traffic of all time, 59.54%, was observed in Q3 of 2022.
Here is a table showing the mobile traffic worldwide from Q1 of 2015 to Q1 of 2023.
| Quarter | Mobile Traffic |
| Q1 of 2019 | 48.71% |
| Q2 of 2019 | 49.91% |
| Q3 of 2019 | 51.51% |
| Q4 of 2019 | 52.60% |
| Q1 of 2020 | 51.92% |
| Q2 of 2020 | 51.53% |
| Q3 of 2020 | 50.81% |
| Q4 of 2020 | 52.20% |
| Q1 of 2021 | 54.80% |
| Q2 of 2021 | 55.09% |
| Q3 of 2021 | 55.78% |
| Q4 of 2021 | 54.40% |
| Q1 of 2022 | 55.79% |
| Q2 of 2022 | 58.99% |
| Q3 of 2022 | 59.54% |
| Q4 of 2022 | 59.16% |
| Q1 of 2023 | 58.33% |
