Discover key mobile gaming statistics for 2026, including how many people play worldwide, the biggest markets, and the most popular games.
Mobile gaming is now the largest segment of the global games industry, accounting for over half of all revenue worldwide. 1
This report covers the latest mobile gaming statistics for 2026, including market size, downloads, player trends, and emerging industry shifts.
SellCell Key Findings:
- Mobile gaming revenue reached $108 billion in 2025. 1
- Mobile accounts for 55% of global gaming revenue. 1
- There are 3.6 billion gamers worldwide. 2
- Global gaming market value reached $197 billion in 2025. 3
- Mobile game downloads total 49–50 billion annually. 4
Mobile gaming is no longer in rapid expansion – it’s now a mature market driven by engagement and monetization rather than new user growth.
What Is Mobile Gaming?
Mobile gaming refers to the playing of video games on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. These games are specifically designed and optimized for the smaller screens and touch interfaces of mobile devices, offering a portable and accessible gaming experience. Mobile gaming encompasses a wide range of genres, from casual and hyper-casual games that are easy to pick up and play for short durations, to more complex and immersive games that rival the graphics and gameplay of traditional console or PC games. The availability of diverse gaming apps on app stores has led to the widespread adoption of mobile gaming as a popular form of entertainment, reaching a broad audience of players across different age groups and demographics.
One notable aspect of mobile gaming is its adaptability to various business models, including free-to-play with in-app purchases, subscription services, and premium paid games. This flexibility in monetization has contributed to the industry’s growth, allowing developers to reach a global audience while offering players a range of choices in how they access and enjoy games on their mobile devices. Overall, mobile gaming represents a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector within the broader video game industry, continually pushing technological boundaries and reshaping how people engage with games in the digital age.
Mobile Gaming Market Size & Revenue
Mobile gaming continues to dominate the global industry, even as growth stabilizes.
Latest data:
- $108 billion mobile gaming revenue in 2025 (+7.7% YoY) 1
- 55% of total gaming revenue 1
- Global games market: $197B 3
What’s changed?
- Growth has slowed compared to pandemic-era highs
- The market is stabilizing rather than rapidly expanding
- Growth is now driven by higher spending per player, long-term live-service games and strong “evergreen” titles
- This aligns with broader industry trends where spending is increasing within existing ecosystems rather than from new users entering the market. 2
- The global games market is expected to exceed $200 billion in 2026, with mobile continuing to account for more than half of total revenue. 18
Number of Mobile Gamers Worldwide
Mobile is now the most widely used gaming platform globally, particularly in mobile-first regions.
Latest data:
Estimates vary depending on methodology. Broader figures include anyone who plays at least once a year (around 3.0 billion), while ‘active’ user data is closer to 1.7–1.8 billion. 2 19
What’s changed?
- Player growth is slowing
- Market penetration is high in developed regions
- Future growth will come primarily from emerging markets and increased engagement per user
Mobile Game Downloads
Mobile game downloads remain high—but are declining slightly. Despite this, overall player engagement and spending continue to increase, reflecting a shift toward retention and monetization rather than new installs. 20
Latest data:
What’s changed?
- Fewer downloads does not indicate a shrinking market
- Revenue and engagement are still increasing
- The industry has shifted from user acquisition to retention and monetization
Mobile vs Console vs PC Gaming
Mobile gaming dominates globally, but other platforms are evolving differently.
2025 revenue breakdown:
What’s changed?
- Mobile remains the largest segment
- PC is growing quickly (+10% YoY) 3
- Console growth is steady
- Gaming is becoming increasingly cross-platform, with ecosystems spanning mobile, PC, and console.
Mobile Gaming by Region
Mobile gaming growth varies significantly by region.
Latest data:
- China and the USA account for 50% of global gaming revenue 2
Regional trends:
Asia-Pacific
- Largest gaming market globally
- Strong mobile-first user base
North America & Europe
- Higher revenue per user
- Slower growth
Emerging markets
- Fastest-growing player bases
- Lower monetization (currently)
Future growth will be driven by emerging markets, while revenue remains concentrated in established economies.
Mobile Gaming Data: Who Plays Mobile Games Most?
Now that we know what mobile gaming is, we can start to look at the statistics around the cultural phenomenon. Mobile gaming is growing increasingly popular, and people are playing a wide variety of games on their smartphones.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games Worldwide?
| Number of Mobile Gamers Worldwide, Year-on-Year | |
|---|---|
| Year | Number of Mobile Gamers (Billions) |
| 2018 | 1.27 |
| 2019 | 1.39 |
| 2020 | 1.66 |
| 2021 | 1.8 |
| 2022 | 1.64 |
| 2023 | 1.67 |
| 2024 | 1.71 |
| 2025 | 1.76 |
| 2026* | 1.8 |
| 2027* | 1.85 |
| 2028* | 1.9 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- In 2018, the number of mobile gamers was sitting at 1.27 billion. This jumped to 1.39 billion in 2019, and 1.66 billion in 2020.
- In 2021, during COVID, the number of mobile gamers peaked at its highest figure, with 1.80 billion mobile gamers. This is likely driven by pandemic restrictions such as lockdowns, with many people trying new ways to kill time.
- In 2022, the figure dropped back down to 1.64 billion, and in 2023, rose again slightly to 1.67 billion.
- The number of mobile gamers is estimated to reach 1.9 billion by 2028, growing steadily on the 2023 figure.
- It’s important to note that the figures above are based on ‘Active Monthly Users’ or ‘Regular’ mobile gamers. Larger industry bodies such as Newzoo often report significantly higher numbers (e.g., 3.0 billion for 2025) because they include every person who plays a game on a mobile device at least once a year.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in the US?
| Mobile Games in the United States – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in million users | |
| 2017 | 132.2 |
| 2018 | 133.9 |
| 2019 | 136.6 |
| 2020 | 150.5 |
| 2021 | 155.9 |
| 2022 | 150.2 |
| 2023 | 157.1 |
| 2024* | 164.0 |
| 2025* | 170.1 |
| 2026* | 176.0 |
| 2027* | 182.0 |
| 2028* | 187.9 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- The US trends are very similar to the global trends, unsurprisingly. 2017 saw the lowest number of mobile gamers, with 132.2 million people engaging with the pastime.
- A slight increase to 133.9 million in 2018, then 136.6 million in 2019, gave way to a spike in 2020, when 150.5 million people were playing mobile games.
- 2021 shows the highest figure yet for the US; 155.9 million. This number dropped back down to 150.2 million in 2022.
- However, 2023 saw another sharp increase in the number of US mobile gamers, when it reached 157.1 million.
- By 2028, experts predict that there will be an estimated 187.9 million mobile gamers in the USA.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in the UK?
| Mobile Games in the United Kingdom – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in million users | |
| 2017 | 19.6 |
| 2018 | 20.2 |
| 2019 | 21.1 |
| 2020 | 24.5 |
| 2021 | 25.8 |
| 2022 | 23.2 |
| 2023 | 26.0 |
| 2024* | 27.3 |
| 2025* | 28.2 |
| 2026* | 29.2 |
| 2027* | 30.2 |
| 2028* | 31.1 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- Likewise, the UK sees similar peaks and troughs between 2017 and 2023. In 2017, there were 19.6 million mobile gamers. By 2020, this figure hits 24.5 million.
- In 2021, 25.8 million people had taken up mobile gaming. However, in 2022, this figure dropped below 2020’s figure, plummeting to 23.2 million.
- By 2028, we expect that the UK will house 31.1 million mobile gamers, following the rise to 26.0 million mobile gamers in 2023.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in Canada?
| Mobile Games in Canada – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in million users | |
| 2017 | 9.9 |
| 2018 | 10.1 |
| 2019 | 10.3 |
| 2020 | 11.3 |
| 2021 | 11.7 |
| 2022 | 11.3 |
| 2023 | 11.8 |
| 2024 | 12.3 |
| 2025 | 12.8 |
| 2026* | 13.2 |
| 2027* | 13.7 |
| 2028* | 14.1 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- Despite Canada’s size, mobile gaming numbers are relatively low. In 2017, there were only 9.9 million mobile gamers in Canada; even lower than the significantly smaller UK!
- By 2020, this figure had increased to 11.3 million, and then 11.7 million in 2021.
- 2022 saw the (now) predictable drop in mobile gamer numbers; there were 11.3 million in this year. 2023 saw a slight increase to 11.8 million, the highest count for Canada to date.
- This figure is expected to grow to 14.1 million by the time we hit 2028.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in Mexico?
| Mobile Games in Mexico – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in million users | |
| 2017 | 30.5 |
| 2018 | 32.2 |
| 2019 | 34.5 |
| 2020 | 42.5 |
| 2021 | 45.8 |
| 2022 | 45.6 |
| 2023 | 48.7 |
| 2024 | 51.4 |
| 2025 | 53.7 |
| 2026* | 56.0 |
| 2027* | 58.2 |
| 2028* | 60.5 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- Mobile gaming is a big deal in Mexico. In 2017 the country contained a massive 30.5 million mobile gamers, rising to 32.2 million in 2018, and 34.5 million in 2019.
- 2020 saw Mexico’s mobile gamer figure rising to 42.5 million, and then again it reaches a peak of 45.8 million in 2021.
- A slight drop in numbers to 45.6 million in 2022 gave way to a leap in numbers in 2023, surpassing the high of 2021 with a figure of 48.7 million.
- This is expected to rise to 60.5 million Mexican mobile gamers by 2028.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in Spain?
| Mobile Games in Spain – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in million users | |
| 2017 | 8.9 |
| 2018 | 9.0 |
| 2019 | 9.2 |
| 2020 | 10.6 |
| 2021 | 11.0 |
| 2022 | 9.8 |
| 2023 | 11.0 |
| 2024 | 11.5 |
| 2025 | 12.0 |
| 2026* | 12.5 |
| 2027* | 12.9 |
| 2028* | 13.3 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- Spain shares a similar mobile gamer count to Canada. In 2017 there were 8.9 million Spanish mobile gamers.
- This number increased very slightly to 9.0 million in 2018, and 9.2 million in 2019.
- This spiked to 10.6 million in 2020. By 2021, there were 11.0 million mobile gamers.
- Despite a slight decrease to 9.8 million in 2022, 2023’s figures saw a recovery in the numbers back to 11.0 million in Spain.
- By 2028, it is anticipated that Spain will be home to 13.3 million mobile gamers.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in France?
| Mobile Games in France – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in million users | |
| 2017 | 15.6 |
| 2018 | 15.8 |
| 2019 | 16.2 |
| 2020 | 18.3 |
| 2021 | 19.0 |
| 2022 | 16.9 |
| 2023 | 18.9 |
| 2024* | 19.8 |
| 2025* | 20.5 |
| 2026* | 21.3 |
| 2027* | 22.0 |
| 2028* | 22.7 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- Mobile gaming is more popular in France than it is in Spain. In 2017 there were 15.6 million French mobile gamers. This rose slightly to 15.8 million in 2018, and by 2019 it was at 16.2 million.
- In 2020, the number of French mobile gamers jumped to 18.3 million, and then in 2021 reached its highest to date—19.0 million.
- 2022 saw a drop, falling to 16.9 million gamers. However, 2023 saw a recovery to 18.9 million.
- France is expected to have 22.7 million mobile gamers come 2028.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in Italy?
| Mobile Games in Italy – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in million users | |
| 2017 | 14.2 |
| 2018 | 14.6 |
| 2019 | 15.1 |
| 2020 | 17.4 |
| 2021 | 18.2 |
| 2022 | 16.4 |
| 2023 | 18.4 |
| 2024 | 19.2 |
| 2025 | 19.9 |
| 2026* | 20.6 |
| 2027* | 21.3 |
| 2028* | 21.9 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- In 2017, the number of mobile gamers in Italy had reached 14.2 million. This rose to 14.6 million in 2018, and then to 15.1 million in 2019.
- 17.4 million Italian people played mobile games in 2020.
- This figure hit an even higher 18.2 million in 2021, before dropping down to 16.4 million in 2022. In 2023, we see Italy’s figure jump back up to 18.4 million.
- By 2028, we expect the number of Italian mobile gamers to increase to 21.9 million.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in Germany?
| Mobile Games in Germany – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in million users | |
| 2017 | 14.9 |
| 2018 | 15.1 |
| 2019 | 15.3 |
| 2020 | 16.9 |
| 2021 | 17.4 |
| 2022 | 15.4 |
| 2023 | 17.0 |
| 2024 | 17.7 |
| 2025 | 18.3 |
| 2026* | 18.8 |
| 2027* | 19.4 |
| 2028* | 19.9 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- In 2017, Germany had 14.9 million mobile gamers, rising through 15.1 to 15.3 million in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
- In 2020, this figure rose to 16.9 million mobile gamers, and then again in 2021 it hit its highest to date—17.4 million.
- This dropped to 15.4 million in 2022, only to rise back up to 17.0 million mobile gamers in Germany, in 2023.
- Experts predict the number of German mobile gamers will hit 19.9 million by 2028.
Mobile Gaming Statistics: How Many People Play Mobile Games in China?
| Mobile Games in China – Number of Users (2017-2028) | |
|---|---|
| in billion users | |
| 2017 | 0.4 |
| 2018 | 0.4 |
| 2019 | 0.5 |
| 2020 | 0.5 |
| 2021 | 0.6 |
| 2022 | 0.5 |
| 2023 | 0.6 |
| 2024 | 0.6 |
| 2025 | 0.6 |
| 2026* | 0.6 |
| 2027* | 0.7 |
| 2028* | 0.7 |
| *2026 – 2028 are forecasted numbers | |
- China has the most mobile gamers of any country we have looked at.
- In 2017 and 2018 there were 0.4 billion mobile gamers in China. This rose to 0.5 billion in 2019 and was the same again in 2020.
- In 2021, this rose to 0.6 billion, but dropped again in 2022 to 0.5 billion. In 2023, we see China’s mobile gaming population rise to 0.6 billion again.
- In 2025 there are 0.6 billion mobile gamers in China. Based on current trends, this will increase to 0.7 billion by 2028.
What Age Groups Have the Most Mobile Gamers?
Now we can see how the data stacks up globally, what about across age groups?
| Share of active mobile gamers worldwide, by age group | |
|---|---|
| Share of gamers | |
| Gen Alpha + Z (10-22) | 79% |
| Millennials (23-38) | 72% |
| Gen X (39-50) | 68% |
- As one might expect, the most popular age group for playing mobile games is Gen Z and Gen Alpha. 79% of people in this age group play or have played mobile games.
- 72% of Millennials (ages 23-38) will reach for their smartphone for a quick mobile gaming session.
- And Gen X isn’t far behind, with 68% of people aged 39-50 playing mobile games on their smartphone.
Which Mobile Games Are the Most Popular?
We have established that mobile gaming is a very popular hobby all over the world. But what mobile games are people playing most?
Leading iOS Games by Daily Active User Count
| Worldwide Leading iOS Gaming Apps by Daily Active Users (2026) | |
|---|---|
| Game Title | Daily Active Users (Millions) |
| Roblox | 35 |
| Free Fire | 29 |
| Candy Crush Saga | 16 |
| Honor of Kings | 15 |
| Royal Match | 2.9 |
| Fortnite | 2.4 |
| Monopoly GO! | 2.4 |
| Minecraft | 2.1 |
| PUBG Mobile | 1.9 |
| Block Blast! | 1.9 |
- As the chart above shows, Roblox is the most popular game on iOS in 2026 with 35 million daily active users of the game. For more information on Roblox, check SellCell’s Roblox statistics article.
- Free Fire is the second most popular iOS game.
- Candy Crush Saga is still a very popular game despite its publisher releasing it in 2012. It still has 16 million active users a day.
Leading iOS Games by Downloads
iOS mobile game download statistics vary when compared to DAU count.
| Worldwide Leading iOS Gaming Apps by Downloads (2025) | |
|---|---|
| Game Title | Number of Downloads (Millions) |
| Block Blast | 89 |
| Roblox | 63 |
| Township | 39 |
| Clash Royale | 37 |
| Subway Surfers | 36 |
| PUBG Mobile | 34 |
| Color Block Jam | 30 |
| Whiteout Survival | 30 |
| Delta Force | 29 |
| Last War: Survival | 29 |
- The most popular iOS game in the world, by downloads, is Block Blast; an addictive mobile puzzle game. It had 89 million downloads via the app store in 2025.
- Roblox takes second place with 63 million downloads in 2025.
- Township is in third position with 39 million downloads in 2025.
Leading Android Games by Daily Active User Count
| Worldwide Leading Android Gaming Apps by Daily Active Users (2026) | |
|---|---|
| Daily active users in millions | |
| Roblox | 81 |
| Free Fire | 69 |
| Candy Crush Saga | 37 |
| Honor of Kings | 35 |
| Royal Match | 6.9 |
| Fortnite | 5.6 |
| Monopoly GO! | 5.6 |
| Minecraft | 4.9 |
| PUBG Mobile | 4.5 |
| Block Blast! | 4.2 |
- Roblox is also the most popular game on Android, by daily active user count. It knocks iOS out of the park, with 81 million daily active users.
- Free Fire is significantly more popular on Android as well; it has 69 million DAUs and is the second most popular game on the Play Store in 2026.
- Candy Crush Saga is third on the list. Again, it gets more DAUs than the iOS version, with 37 million.
Leading Android Games by Downloads
| Worldwide Leading Android Gaming Apps by Downloads (2025) | |
|---|---|
| Game Title | Number of Downloads (Millions) |
| Free Fire | 218 |
| Block Blast | 213 |
| Roblox | 199 |
| Subway Surfers | 159 |
| Pizza Ready | 130 |
| Ludo King | 129 |
| My Talking Tom 2 | 95 |
| Hole.io | 93 |
| FPS Strike Ops | 93 |
| Vita Mahjong | 91 |
- Free Fire is the most popular Android game, with an incredible 218 million downloads via the Google Play Store in 2025.
- Block Blast steals second place, with 213 million downloads in 2025.
- Roblox takes third position with 199 million downloads in 2025.
How Much Money Does Mobile Gaming Generate?
Mobile gaming is big business. Given that a lot of games require payment to download, and then involve in-app purchases and microtransactions, the industry generates billions of dollars.
Mobile Gaming Revenue, Worldwide (2026 Statistics)
| Mobile Gaming Revenue in USD (Billions) Per Year (2005-2025) | |
|---|---|
| Year | Revenue in USD (Billions) |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 43 |
| 2017 | 53 |
| 2018 | 68 |
| 2019 | 76 |
| 2020 | 86 |
| 2021 | 93 |
| 2022 | 90 |
| 2023 | 92 |
| 2024 | 98 |
| 2025 | 108 |
- Mobile gaming revenue grew dramatically from $2B in 2005 to $108B in 2025, showing long-term exponential growth.
- Early growth (2005–2009) was slow due to limited technology before smartphones became widespread.
- Rapid expansion (2010–2021) was driven by smartphones, app stores, and the rise of free-to-play monetization.
- A brief slowdown occurred around 2022–2023, reflecting post-pandemic market stabilization.
- Growth resumed by 2025, indicating a mature but still expanding market dominated by mobile gaming.
Mobile Gaming: It’s Here to Stay
Mobile gaming is incredibly popular. The mobile gaming industry is still on an upward trajectory, and continues to grow, although the market is now more mature than in previous years.
Sources
- MobileGamer.biz
- Newzoo.com
- Newzoo.com
- Icon-Era.com
- Statista.com – Worldwide
- Statista.com – United States
- Statista.com – United Kingdom
- Statista.com – Canada
- Statista.com – Mexico
- Statista.com – Spain
- Statista.com – France
- Statista.com – Italy
- Statista.com – Germany
- Statista.com – China
- Statista.com – By Age Group
- GameStats.fyi – iOS/Android Games by DAU & Worldwide Revenue
- BusinessOfApps.com – iOS/Android Games by Downloads
- Icon-Era.com
- PocketGamer.biz
- Maf.ad
Our content is created in good faith and reviewed regularly - if you spot an error, please contact corrections@sellcell.com. Read our Editorial Policy