India dominates mobile app downloads in 2024, leads global mobile trends

India has emerged as the global leader in mobile app downloads, cementing its position at the forefront of the mobile app industry, according to Sensor Tower's "State of Mobile 2025" report. The country recorded the highest number of downloads, driven by an expanding digital economy, affordable smartphones, and widespread internet accessibility.
Key insights from the report highlight the growing influence of Indian users in shaping global app trends. While global app downloads saw a 1% decline year-over-year, India bucked the trend, showcasing sustained growth, particularly in sectors like finance, entertainment, and social networking.
Moreover, Indian consumers are spending more time on mobile apps, with significant growth in categories such as AI chatbots, fintech, and e-commerce. Digital wallet apps like PhonePe and Google Pay reported substantial gains, reflecting India's rapid adoption of digital payments. Notably, AI apps, including ChatGPT, experienced exponential growth, driven by an increased interest in generative AI technology.
India's dominance underscores its critical role in the global app ecosystem. As the country continues to innovate, businesses and developers worldwide are expected to prioritize India in their strategies, recognizing its vast and dynamic user base.

Other Notable Trends

App Downloads: India was the 1 market globally for app downloads in 2024
. However, the overall growth of app downloads declined by 1% year-over-year
.
In-App Purchase (IAP) Revenue: Despite the download decline, India experienced a surge in IAP revenue in the mobile market. Globally, IAP revenue grew by 12.5%, reaching $150 billion
.
Time Spent: Indians spent a considerable amount of time on mobile apps in 2024
. The report indicates an average of >500 hours were spent per person, worldwide
.
Mobile gaming saw a rebound, with in-app purchase revenue climbing 4% year-over-year, particularly in the Strategy, Puzzle, and Action genres

Social Media: Time spent on social media apps in India grew by 16% year-over-year, contributing significantly to the global increase
.
Finance: Downloads of finance apps in India increased by 8% year-over-year
. Digital Wallets and P2P payments led the way in this sector, including apps such as PhonePe and Paytm
.
Retail: The retail app market in India is primarily driven by domestic publishers. However, there is increasing competition from foreign retail apps

Food & Drink: The fast food and casual dining subsector of food and drink apps saw a 24% growth in downloads between 2021 and 2024
Grocery delivery apps also surged in the second half of 2024, with Zepto seeing almost 300% growth in India compared to the first half of 2024

AI: AI Chatbot apps have gained popularity in India with a 112% YoY increase for ChatGPT downloads

Travel: Travel apps such as Uber and Google Maps were popular in India

AI Integration: Many apps in India are integrating AI features with over 3,000 apps mentioning AI for the first time in 2024

Mobile Advertising: Advertisers are adapting their strategies, with some travel advertisers shifting ad spend to YouTube, where more than 90% of world travelers in the US accessed YouTube

Looking Ahead
The Indian mobile market is dynamic, with shifting consumer behavior and preferences. The growth in non-gaming app revenue indicates an important trend to watch. The growth of AI in mobile apps should also be closely monitored, with AI Chatbots being a subgenre to watch