Top Google Play Store Statistics 2023 – Exploring the key Insights

Everyone loves Google services, and these services are affecting the lives of users and businesses around the globe. Things started with the invention of the wheel and now come down to the moment where everything is available to users with just a few clicks away.  

What started with the Android market is popularly known as the Google play store.   

In this article, we will look at the top Google play store statistics in 2023 that will blow your mind. 

What is Google Play Store? 

Google play store is an online hub that offers consumers various types of digital content. It’s not a platform for apps only. You can find multiple types of content, ranging from music, books, movies, etc. 

Play Store was launched mainly for Android users. The Google Play store currently consists of 2 million apps and games for billions of people worldwide. Some apps on the Google play store are free, while others cost money; some apps have in-app advertisements.   

Google keeps removing low-quality apps from the play store if it fails to meet the current operating system update requirements. Though the Google Play store has a greater number of users when it comes to consumer spending, the app store outperforms the best.  

Key Google Play Store Statistics 

1. Total Number of apps on Google Play Store  

Do you know that millions of users intend to use Google? The reason is pretty simple. Google is considered a trusted platform. How many apps are there on the Google play store?   

Research studies from Statista suggest that during the third quarter of 2022, the number of apps on the Google play store was 3.55 million. The number of apps does not remain the same always as Google keeps removing low-quality apps from the Google play store.  

As of 2023, the total number of apps on the Google Play store reached 2.59 million.   

2. Total Number of apps released per day and month  

The Number of app releases on the Google play store has reduced significantly. According to Statista, the number of apps released on the play store as of 2019 was 134.5 thousand. As of May 2023, the Google play store released 90 thousand mobile apps. 

To be precise, the average number of apps published on the play store daily is 2411.  

Take a Look At: Mobile App Development Trends

3. Total Number of app downloads annually  

With the increasing number of smartphone users, the Number of mobile app downloads has also increased significantly in the last 2 years. From the below-mentioned graph, you can see there is a positive curve. 

In 2016, the number of app downloads on the play store was 55 million, and in 2021, there were 110 billion mobile apps, as released by Statista.  

4. Total Number of apps with 4 or above ratings  

Most people are inclined towards downloading mobile apps because most apps have got higher ratings on the play store.  

According to a report published by Statista, around 143,260 apps available on the Google Play store have an average rating of 4.5. From the below-mentioned graph, less than 500 thousand Android apps had ratings. On the contrary, 2.2 million apps had less than three user ratings on the play store. 

5. Users are projected to spend $60 billion by 2023 

According to the Sensor Tower Report, user spending on the play store is projected to increase by $60 billion in 2023 from $53 billion in 2022.   

6. Price Distribution  

According to the report from Statista, around 38.5 thousand apps cost less than a dollar in the Google play store. Furthermore, 26.6 thousand apps cost between $1 and $2, followed by 2303 apps priced between 9-10 USD.  

7. Free and paid app downloads  

There are 2 kinds of apps – free apps and paid apps. Research studies indicate that the apple play store has more paid apps than free apps. This is because Apple users are more inclined toward making in-app purchases. Therefore, startups prefer to choose IOS over Android.   

Free Android Apps  

As of March 2023, 97% of Android apps were available for free download, so how do Google app developers make money out of apps? Free apps are going to fetch you, wide users.   

App developers earn a major chunk of their revenue through free apps. How is it even possible?  

98% of app developers earn revenue by conducting app monetization strategies such as data monetization, premium model, freemium model, etc.   

Even freemium apps account for 94% of the market share as of 2021. That’s why App developers intend to develop Android apps.

Paid Android apps  

Talking about paid apps, you might have one or two paid apps on your smartphone today. Research studies from Statista say that the play store comprises 97% free and 3% paid apps. Free apps remained higher than paid apps in Google play store. 

8. Global usage of play store apps  

Statista said there were around 7.1 billion mobile app users in 2021. It means that most of the population uses mobile devices worldwide. In 2025, the number of mobile app users is projected to increase by 7.49 billion.   

Countries like China, India, and the United States are mobile-first markets as there has been an increasing number of mobile app users.   

According to a report from Apps Business, Android dominates the global market share, accounting for 70% of smartphone usage.  

From the above graph, we know that the maximum Number of users rely on Android, which means that users spend maximum time with it. It’s because everything is available at their fingertips.  

9. Most popular App categories in Google Play  

Research studies from Statista suggest that gaming apps were the most popular category of apps in the play store, accounting for 13.8 percent of apps available worldwide.   

Subway Surfers is the most downloaded gaming app in 2022, with 304 million downloads.  

10. Leading Android apps in the Google play store  

As of September 2022, TikTok was the most downloaded app in the Google play store worldwide, accounting for 24 million downloads from Android users. While Instagram is the second leading play store app, generating almost 21 million downloads.   

Wrapping up  

After going through Google play store statistics 2023, you will get an idea not only about Google’s success but also the top apps operating on the play store.  

The App Store is indeed the premium player in the app industry. Still, several research studies indicate that the Google play store is the leading player in the market by looking at app downloads and usage statistics. 

If you are thinking of embarking on your journey by launching an app on the Google play store, contact our team of experts. They are there to turn your app vision into a live app.