Of the 5.60 billion unique mobile users in the world, an estimated 5.22 billion own a smartphone. Internet usage has increased among these users to 59.1% in 2022, a far cry from 51.1% in 2017.
This is the scope of users you can reach out to. Looking at the smartphone usage statistics of the users can help you determine the best channels to find them. Let’s find out what kind of product or service they would be interested in.
Smartphone Usage Statistics 2023 – 2024
Some of the smartphone usage statistics might give you a clearer picture of how integral smartphone is to its users.
- 58.33% of global web traffic in the first quarter of 2023 was from a mobile device.
- 68% of smartphone users check their phone in the first 15 minutes after waking up.
- 91% of college graduates use a smartphone.
- 99.2% of smartphone users fear leaving their phones.
- 70% of digital media time in the US is dedicated to smartphones.
So, what are the smartphone brands preferred by these users?
21.6% of all smartphone shipments worldwide were from Samsung in 2022, while 18.8% were from Apple.
However, things changed in 2023 when Apple overtook Samsung with a market share of 27.1%. Samsung is behind by a small amount, clocking 26.75% of the market.
According to the reports, 1.82 billion people in the world own a Samsung, while 1.85 billion people own an iPhone. The rest of the smartphone market is dominated by brands like Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi. Notably, the last three are all owned by China.
The fierce competition between all these brands has led to a smartphone market growth of 6.8% from 2023 to 2030. The smartphone market was valued at $607.8 billion in 2022. It is predicted to reach $978.2 billion in valuation by 2030.
Canada is expected to become the fastest adopter of smartphones while Indonesia and Japan are suspected to be the largest.
How many cell phones are there in the world?
16.8 billion mobile devices were in use in 2023, according to Statista. The predictions were made based on 2021 numbers when the global number of mobile phones was 14.91 billion.
It’s expected 18.22 billion mobile devices will be in use by 2025. However, these are the number of mobile phones in use. The number of unique users stands at 5.60 billion in 2023.
Of them, 6.7 billion phones currently in use worldwide are smartphones, according to Ericsson. This isn’t a list of unique smartphone users, as one person could own more than one smartphone.
Indeed, the total smartphone network subscriptions worldwide clocks at 6.4 billion in 2022. By 2028, subscription is expected to reach 7.7 billion. This would mean more than 400 million smartphones in the world aren’t registered to a network service of any kind.
The real smartphone user base is estimated to be 5.22 billion in 2023.
Smartphone Users By Age 2023 – 2024
The highest number of smartphone users is in the 20 to 24 age group, making up 24.5% of users. The next largest number of smartphone users are aged 25 to 29, at 18.8%.
From 30 to 34 and 35 to 39, there are 14% and 9.6% smartphone users respectively. The smartphone user rate steadily decreases as you go up, with 6.6% of global smartphone users in the 40 to 44 age range.
The number is extremely low for users aged 50 to 54 and 55 to 59 at 2.9% and 2.6%.
Yet, 13.5% of teenagers aged 15 to 19 own a smartphone. The global numbers are less than the total of the USA, which is 95%, according to Statista. However, the research only counts how many teenagers have access to a smartphone, and not how many exclusively own one.
Meanwhile, in a country like India, with a rising smartphone user population, 32.7% are in the 25 to 34 year age range. However, the highest number of smartphone users in India is 53% for the 25 to 34 year range.
This drops drastically for users aged 35 to 44 year old, at 11%. Those in the 45 to 54 years range and above 55 barely make up 2.2% and 1.1% of users. Interistingly enough, the gender distribution of smartphone users in India is almost equal at 56% for men and 44% for women.
As such, at a world or country level, smartphone users are mostly Gen Z and Millenials, at 72.8% and 94.4%.
Smartphone Users By Gender 2023 – 2024
According to a GSMA report, the total gender gap in smartphone users worldwide is at 17%. In total, there are 250 million less women compared to men who own a smartphone.
In countries like Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, even if the person owns a smartphone, they might not be connected to the internet, especially in the case of women.
As such, 43% of women and 40% of men in Ethiopia do not use the internet even though they know what it is. An additional 10% of men and 16% of women have no idea about the internet.
Meanwhile, 60% of male users and 54% of female users are Android users worldwide. For iOS users, the distribution is 31% of female users and 28% of male users. This means 3% more women own iPhones than men.
Two primary reasons for the preference of women for the iPhone come down to user experience and promised privacy from Apple. Plus, the iPhone is more receptive to social media, which isn’t the case for Android.
Smartphone Users By Country 2023 – 2024
Source: Statista
China has the highest number of smartphone users in the world, at 974 million. India has the second-highest amount of smartphone users at 659 million as of 2022.
Considering the former and latter are countries with the highest number of population in the world, the numbers are expected.
The smartphone penetration rate in China is at 74.5% and 71% in India. There is less difference than expected between the smartphone user rates of the two countries since China is assumed to be more technologically advanced.
However, smartphones in India are more affordable, along with a cheaper internet connection, which is facilitating the growth. It is expected smartphone users in India will reach 96% by 2040.
Currently, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi have an almost equal share of the Indian smartphone market. None of them are Indian smartphone brands. Whereas smartphone brands in China are dominated by in-house productions, along with a good dose of iPhones.
In fact, China accounted for 24% of iPhone sales in 2023, overtaking Apple’s home country, USA.
Speaking of the USA, it’s the country with the third highest number of smartphone users in the world at 310 million. The total smartphone adoption rate in the USA is at 92%. The revenue from smartphone sales in 2023 in the country is expected to be $102 billion in 2023 alone.
Apple and Samsung are the two leading brands in the country. Over 53.1% of Americans are iPhone users.
The only other country with a similar domination of its home smartphone brand is South Korea, with 69% of adults owning a Samsung. Around 23% of South Koreans have switched to Apple. LG, Xiaomi, and Huwaei make up the other three popular brands in the country at 2.05%, 0.58%, and 0.1%.
Contrary to expectations, the total number of smartphone users in the U.K barely reached 55.46 million. However, the UK’s smartphone penetration rate is at 78.9%.
When it comes to the global smartphone penetration rate, it was at 69.4% in 2022. The sub-Saharan African countries have the lowest smartphone adoption rate at 64%.
Smartphone Users in The US 2023 – 2024
95% of the US adults aged 18 to 49 own a smartphone. 95% is also the number of adults who own a cell phone in the US. An approximate 98% of women and 97% of men in the US own a phone.
Yet, only 61% of adults over the age of 65 own a smartphone. However, this smartphone adoption rate for older adults is bigger than in any other country.
As of 2021, 85% of adult males and 75% of adult females own a smartphone in the US. And so, when it comes to the gender gap between female and male phone or smartphone owners, it is maintained even in the US. The only exception is the iPhone, which more women prefer than men.
Pew Research Center calculates the smartphone ownership rate at 96% for adults aged 18 to 29 in the US. More importantly, a total 100% in the age range own a cell phone.
95% of US adults between 30 to 49 own a smartphone, while 83% of adults aged 50 to 64 own one.
Even when it comes to ethnicity, it doesn’t affect the use of smartphones in the US. 85% of White people, 83% of Black people, and 85% of Hispanic people are smartphone users. In fact, when it comes to owning a cellphone, 99% of Black people have one, compared to 97% of White people.
Everyone in a US Hispanic household has a cell phone.
When it comes to area-based smartphone distribution, 89% of Urban folks, 84% of Suburban folks, and 80% of rural people own a smartphone. This isn’t a surprising discovery by any means, as lifestyle determines the importance of smartphones.
Urban folks have to use smartphones even for office purposes, whether they want to or not.
We see the same pattern in income distribution, where 96% of smartphone users have a household income upward of $75,000. Then, the ones in $50,000 to $74,999 income range have a smartphone adoption rate of 85%.
83% of smartphone users earn between $30,000 to $49,999 in the US. Meanwhile, the lowest number of smartphone users in terms of income in
the US still has a distribution rate of 76%. Their earning is less than $30,000 per annum.
From the $30,000 to $74,000 yearly income range, 97% own a smartphone.
For college graduates in the US, 93% have a smartphone. It is unclear whether it is because they want one or need one due to schoolwork. Those enrolled in some sort of degree program also have a smartphone ownership rate of 89%.
However, for US citizens who graduated high school or didn’t finish high school, about 75% use a smartphone.
Smartphone Screen Size Statistics 2023 – 2024
Source: Antutu
730 million smartphones with a screen size of 5.5” to 6” were forecasted to be shipped. This number grew from 710 million in 2021. In 2018, 650 million smartphones had a screen size of 5.5” to 6”. This is the most popular screen size.
The next popular screen size is 6” to 7”. While a mere 295 million were shipped in 2018, it doubled to 465 million in 2019. By 2022, screen sizes of 6” to 7” were common in 660 million smartphones shipped.
30.7% of the global smartphones have a screen size of 6.7” if we break it down. This is the most common screen size, after which smartphones usually have a 6.6” inch screen for 15% of production.
However, these statistics are mostly based on Android screen size, which is the common phone OS type.
iPhone has a specific screen size for its model type. If an iPhone screen is 5.4”, it’s an iPhone mini. All iPhone Pro Max models have a 6.7” inch screen, while iPhone regular and iPhone Pro are both 6.1” inch.
The iPhone screen size actually has a huge impact on purchase decisions. Users who prefer their phone to fit into their pocket opt for iPhone Regular and Pro, despite wanting the iPhone Pro Max at times.
When it comes to mobile screen resolution, 11.02% of phones have a resolution of 360 X 800. As of September 2023, the next common resolution size is 390 X 844 at 7.93%.
How often do people check their phones?
According to Reviews.org, the average American checks their phone 144 times per day. Another study by Ausrion suggests Americans reached out for their phone at least 352 times per day. This means their hands would move to their phone every 2 minutes and 43 seconds.
Even more interesting is that 75% of Baby Boomers and 76% of Gen Xers consider it a necessity to check their phone. Compared to them, 71% of Gen Zs and 68% of Millennials consider their smartphone a necessity.
On a global level, the Deloitte report finds 20% of global smartphone users look at their phone more than 50 times per day. This means people check their phone every 20 minutes.
Argentina, South Korea, and Brazil seem to have the highest amount of smartphone users with phone addiction at 42%, 36%, and 33%, respectively.
40% of smartphone users actually reach for their phone in the middle of the night, after they have gone to sleep if they wake up all of a sudden.
Additionally, 80% of consumers in China and 65% of smartphone users in India have used the phone to pay for a product. 65% of Chinese users and 55% of Indian users have also used their smartphones to pay for a service. These are the two countries where payment through apps is almost the norm.
We also have the RescueTime app report of 2021, which finds the average smartphone user spends 3 hours and 15 minutes on the phone. The more addicted user spends 4 hours and 30 minutes every day.
The Zenith company reported the average screen times of American smartphone users to be 3 hours and 30 minutes. From predictions, this number is supposed to reach 4 hours by 2023.
Another report suggests 48% of US smartphone users devote 5 to 6 hours of their day to their smartphone. Their direct opposite are the smartphone users who spend less than 1 hour on the phone, who only make up 5% of the user base.
Another 7% spend 1 to 2 hours on the phone, while 22% spend about 3 to 4 hours. Only 18% have managed to get their screen time over 6 hours.
This means over 50% of US adults failed to curb their smartphone addiction. However, it might be unfair to call it an addition of the bat. Many use the phone for work, school, and other important stuff rather than using it for entertainment or out of habit.
A good percentage also listens to podcasts, which register as smartphone use, but the user is not connected to their phone the entire time.
Although, 94% do admit to allotting most of their smartphone time to games. 92% use the smartphone for games, and 83% use it for entertainment, which includes Netflix, YouTube, etc.
However, when it comes to the country with the highest screen time, the Philippines wins by 32.53%. The screen time for an average smartphone user in the Philippines is 5 hours and 47 minutes.
This is interesting since the Philippines isn’t even a country with the highest number of smartphone users. It is a country with a median age of 25 years, which could contribute to increased smartphone use.
Not far behind is Thailand and Brazil, with a registered smartphone time of 5 hours 28 minutes and 5 hours 25 minutes. Again, these are countries with particularly younger populations.
So, what are these people doing on their smartphones?
88% of smartphone users spend time texting, 70% on email, and another 51% on WhatsApp.
Another study reveals 83% use their smartphone to take photos, 76% to search the Internet, and 73% for directions. Surprisingly, 71% use their smartphone globally for online shopping, while 67% use it for social media.
For millennials in the USA, 78% watch a video once a week on their smartphone.
About 64% use their smartphone for social media in the US, which is the second most popular activity. Music listening appeals to 62%, playing games to 54%, and online surfing to find products are preferred by 44%.
Only 32% use it for local news, and 23% for national use.
While the general activities people do on their smartphone remains consistent across countries, priorities change based on the culture of the country.
Final Thoughts
85% of the global population owns a smartphone. About 90.90% of the total world population operates a feature phone.
This means even when they do not have a smartphone, they still have an internet connection. The smartphone usage rate is also growing at a rate of 4.6%. Meanwhile, unique users are increasing by 2.7% every year.
According to current predictions, smartphone users will increase by 12% by 2026. With the increase in smartphone users, there will be more ways you can reach out to them as they search, use social media, and shop from their phones.
Mobile phone optimization should be one of your biggest priorities.