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Android’s Latest Statistics 2024: How Many People Have Androids? 

September 06, 2023
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

In this article, we’ll delve deep into Android’s market share and its dominance in developing countries and answer the critical question: How many people have Androids?

Key Takeaways

AnDroid’s Top insights 

  1. Android leads globally with a 70.8% market share in Q2 2023.
  2. iOS dominates the U.S. market with a 56.92% share.
  3. Developing countries significantly boost Android’s global reach.
  4. Samsung is Android’s top vendor, with a 24.16% market share.
  5. Google Play Store offers over 2.59 million apps as of June 2023.
  6. 97% of Android apps are free as of July 2023.
  7. Android phone shipments peaked at 1.57 billion in 2022.
  8. Android sales have slightly declined, reaching 83.32% in 2021.
  9. Android offers a diverse range of devices for all budgets.

Android Statistics: Overview

Take a look at a few facts about the huge market share of Android:

  1. Android has a 70.8% market share, outpacing iOS’s 28.4%.
  2. Over 3.3 billion active users in 190+ countries use Android.
  3. Sales reached 1.57 billion Android devices in 2022, up from 0.98 billion in 2021.
  4. The Android app store offers 2.67 million apps; 96.9% are free, and 3.1% are paid.
  5. Android phones are targets for 97% of smartphone malware.
  6. Three-quarters of global smartphones run on Android.
  7. Samsung leads Android device manufacturing with a 34% market share, followed by Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei.
  8. The latest Android version, released on April 10, 2023, is ‘Android 12.0.0_r46 (SSV1.210916.062)’.

About Android

how many people have androids

Android is an open-source operating system that utilizes Linux as its foundation. There are Android overview information:

  • Launch date: 23 September 2008
  • HQ: Menlo Park, California
  • People: Hiroshi Lockheimer (SVP Platforms & Ecosystems), Sundar Pichai (CEO, Alphabet), Andy Rubin (Android founder)
  • Business Type: Subsidiary
  • Owner: Alphabet
  • Industry: Mobile

How Many People Use Android?

When pondering the question of how many Android users in the world, you might be astounded by the answer. According to estimates, Android is set to finish 2023 with approximately 3.6 billion users worldwide. This represents an impressive growth of about 9% from the 3.3 billion users in 2022, amounting to an increase of nearly 300 million users in just one year.

If we flash back to 2012, Android had only 500 million users. The journey from half a billion to 3.6 billion reveals a jaw-dropping growth rate of around 620%.

The following historical data paints a vivid picture:

  • 2012: 0.5 billion
  • 2013: 0.7 billion
  • 2014: 1 billion
  • 2015: 1.4 billion
  • 2016: 1.7 billion
  • 2017: 2 billion
  • 2018: 2.3 billion
  • 2019: 2.5 billion
  • 2020: 2.8 billion
  • 2021: 3 billion
  • 2022: 3.3 billion
  • 2023: An estimated 3.6 billion (Based on regression analysis data)

Source: Business of Apps

What Percentage Of Phones Use Android?

how many people have androids

The global smartphone landscape tells an interesting tale, especially when you look at the percentage of Android users. According to the latest stats from Statcounter, the global percentage of phones that use Android looks like this:

  • Android: 71.74%
  • iOS: 27.63%
  • Samsung: 0.35%
  • Unknown: 0.12%
  • KaiOS: 0.11%
  • Windows: 0.02%

Source: Stats counter

You might find it surprising, but Android hasn’t always held the lion’s share. There was a time, based on stats spanning the last 15 years when iOS had a larger global share. However, Android began filling the void as other mobile platforms like Symbian and BlackBerry faded away, eventually claiming the top spot.

Android Market Share

The stage is set, and once again, Android steals the show with its commanding market presence. As of Q2 2023, Android holds a 70.8% market share worldwide, leaving Apple’s iOS with 28.4%.

While growth has somewhat plateaued in mature markets, Android has made impressive strides in developing nations. Specifically, Android enjoys over 85% market share in countries like Brazil, India, Indonesia, Turkey, and Vietnam.

To offer a clearer perspective, here are the Android market share percentages in recent times:

YearAndroid 
Q2 202370.8%
Q1 202371.44%
Q4 202271.8%
Q3 202271.64%
Q2 202271.72%
Q1 202270.78%
Q4 202170.62%
Q3 202172.47%
Q2 202172.58%
Q1 202171.88%
Q4 202072.22%
Q3 202074.43%
Q2 202072.38%
Q1 202073.27%
Q4 201975.56%
Q3 201976.18%
Q2 201975.52%
Q1 201974.66%

Source: Statista. 

Android Market Share US

While Android enjoys the lion’s share of the global mobile OS market, the picture is slightly different in the United States. Here, iOS has consistently held sway, leaving Android in the second spot. For the current year, Android’s market share in the US stands at 42.65%, while iOS leads with 56.92%.

To get a sense of Android’s positioning in the U.S. market over the last year, consider these monthly statistics:

TimeMarket Share
August 2023 42.65%
July 202342.49%
June 2023 42.15%
May 2023 37.6%
April 2023 39.63%
March 2023 42.75%
February 2023 42.61%
January 2023 41.85%
December 202243.75%
November 202243.9%
October 202245.2%
September 202244.24%
August 202242.67%

Source: Statcounter 

Android vs iOS Market Share

how many people have androids

Android and iOS are the two titans of the mobile OS world. They’ve been duking it out for supremacy for years, but how do they stack up against each other now? Android, globally speaking, has managed to edge out iOS for a while. As of the second quarter of 2023, Android holds a commanding 70.8% of the mobile operating system market, while iOS trails behind at 28.4%.

To gain a comprehensive understanding, let’s walk through the market shares for both Android and iOS over the past few years

QuarterAndroidiOS
Q2 202370.8%28.4%
Q2 202272.1%27.2%
Q1 202271.7%27.5%
Q4 202170 %29.2%
Q3 202172.2%26.9%
Q2 202172.1%27%
Q1 202171.9%27.4%
Q4 202072.9%26.5%
Q3 202074%26%
Q2 202074%26%
Q1 202070%30%
Q4 201974%26%
Q3 201976%24%
Q2 201977%23%
Q1 201975%25%
Q4 201879%21%
Q3 201883%17%
Q2 201885%15%
Q1 201881%19%

Source: Statista

Android Shipment Statistics

Android’s market presence is further illustrated by its shipping statistics. Despite experiencing a slowdown in device turnover during the mid-2010s, Android saw a significant boost in 2022, when OEM partners managed to ship a record-breaking 1.57 billion units. 

A yearly overview of Android shipments:

  • 2022: 1.57 billion
  • 2021: 0.98 billion
  • 2020: 1.05 billion
  • 2019: 1.3 billion
  • 2018: 1.33 billion
  • 2017: 1.28 billion
  • 2016: 1.25 billion
  • 2015: 1.2 billion
  • 2014: 1 billion
  • 2013: 0.8 billion
  • 2012: 0.6 billion

Source: Statista

Android Vendor Market Share

The Android market isn’t just about the OS; it’s also about the companies that bring the software to life through hardware. Samsung currently dominates the field, holding 24.16% of the market share in terms of shipments. Xiaomi has also secured a strong foothold, occupying the second spot with an 11.1% market share.

CompanyMarket Share. 
Samsung 24.16%
Xiaomi 11.1%
Oppo5.85%
Vivo5.38%
Huawei4%
RealMe 3.77%
Motorola2.12%

Source: StatCounter  

Key takeaways

  • Samsung leads the pack, holding almost a quarter of the Android market share.
  • Xiaomi has risen to prominence, solidifying its position as a key player in the Android market.
  • Lesser-known brands like Oppo and Vivo are also making their presence felt, taking up almost 6% of the market share each.

Android Apps

how many people have androids

From a modest beginning, the Google Play Store has experienced significant growth over the years. As of June 2023, the app marketplace houses 2.59 million applications, making it a colossal ecosystem that fuels the Android platform.

Month, YearNumber of Apps on Google Play Store
June 20232,597,819
March 20232,673,292
December 20222,694,114
September 20222,683,925
June 20222,654,747
March 20222,591,578
December 20212,605,000
September 20212,783,000
June 20212,886,000
March 20212,980,000
December 20202,950,000
September 20203,040,000
June 20202,960,000
March 20202,870,000
December 20192,800,000
September 20192,800,000
June 20192,700,000
March 20192,600,000

Source: Statista

Quick Points:

  • The Play Store surpassed 1 million apps in July 2013.
  • A decline in app numbers is observed from its peak, suggesting a possible curation or deletion of apps.
  • As of June 2023, the Play Store is just shy of reaching 2.6 million apps.

Most Downloaded Android Apps:

  • TikTok: Over 1 billion downloads
  • Instagram: Nearly 70 million downloads
  • Facebook: Approximately 38.5 million downloads

Top Revenue-Generating Android Apps:

  • Disney+: $70.59 million
  • Max: Stream HBO, TV & Movies: $50.73 million
  • TikTok: $38.09 million
  • Google One: $27.34 million
  • Peacock TV: $25.2 million
  • Twitch: $25.08 million
  • Crunchyroll: $22.19 million

As of July 2023, a whopping 96.96% of all apps on the Play Store are free, making the percentage of Android users overwhelmingly inclined toward free applications

The increasing tilt towards free apps is a trend that has been largely consistent over the past few years.

Month, YearPaid  AppsFree Apps
July 20233.04%96.96%
April 20233.1%96.9%
June 20223.2%96.8%
March 20223.3%96.7%
December 20213%97%
October 20213.1%96.9%
August 20213.1%96.9%
March 20213.3%96.7%
January 20213.3%96.7%
September 20203.5%96.5%
June 20203.6%96.4%
March 20203.7%96.3%
December 20193.8%96.2%
October 20194%96%
August 20194%96%
June 20194.4%95.6%

Source: Statista. 

Android Devices

In 2021, Android held an 83.32% share of smartphone sales worldwide, a small but noticeable decrease compared to the previous years. This was the second year in a row to witness a dip in Android’s sales, creating a subtle but palpable shift in the market dynamics.

Year-wise Android Market Share in Smartphone Sales:

  • 2021: 83.32%
  • 2020: 85.17%
  • 2019: 87.4%
  • 2018: 86.6%
  • 2017: 85.9%
  • 2016: 84.8%

Source: Statista

Despite recent setbacks, it’s worth stepping back and examining Android’s journey over the years. Starting with a meager 3.9% of the smartphone market in 2009, the “percentage of Android users” in the smartphone sales market skyrocketed to peak levels in the late 2010s. By 2019, Android accounted for an astonishing 87.4% of all smartphones sold globally.

Milestone Years for Android Sales:

  • 2009: 3.9%
  • 2010: 22.7%
  • 2011: 46.66%
  • 2012: 66.4%
  • 2013: 78.5%
  • 2014: 80.7%

Source: Statista

How Many People Have Androids: FAQs

Global Statistics: As of the second quarter of 2023, Android has a global market share of 70.8%.

U.S. Statistics: In the United States, Android’s market share as of August 2023 is 42.65%.

As of the second quarter of 2023, 70.8% of smartphones around the world run on the Android operating system. This figure highlights Android’s significant global presence as the leading mobile operating system, far surpassing its closest competitor, iOS.

Yes. iOS’s global market share is 28.4%, lower than Androids by 42.4%.

As of the latest data, there are approximately 3.3 billion Android smartphones and 900 million iPhones in active use globally. Combining these figures gives us around 4.2 billion smartphones in total, which implies that a substantial portion of the world’s population is using either an Android or an iPhone.

Various reports and social media posts suggest that he has used an iPhone, but it’s not clear if that remains the case.

Android’s global popularity stems from its open-source nature, affordability, and customization options. Its flexibility allows for a wide range of devices, making it accessible to users with various budgets. Deep integration of Google services and a vast app ecosystem on the Google Play Store add to its appeal. These features, coupled with strong performance capabilities and user-friendly interfaces, make Android especially popular in both developed and emerging markets.

How Many People Have Androids: Conclusion (2023)

From Android’s significant market share globally to its extensive app ecosystem, it’s clear that billions of people rely on Android smartphones. Despite some market fluctuations, Android remains a leading player in the mobile industry, answering the question of just how many people have Androids worldwide.


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.