Brazil leads the world in mobile engagement, with users spending an average of 5.4 hours daily on apps in 2021.
The mobile economy saw 10.3 billion total downloads and a 63% increase in consumer spending over two years, reaching $1.13 billion.
Gaming is a primary market driver, accounting for 4.5 billion downloads and $571 million in revenue, with Free Fire maintaining dominance in the battle royale genre.
Finance app downloads surged 91% over two years as underbanked populations increasingly adopted neobanks like Nubank and PicPay.
Social, photo, and video applications dominate user attention, capturing 70% of all mobile time spent in the country.
Shopping app usage grew 45% year-over-year, with international publishers securing over 50% of the market share in this sector.
Health and fitness app downloads rose 30% over two years, while the broader app ecosystem expanded to include essential income-generating business and delivery platforms.
Brazil solidified its position as a global leader in mobile engagement throughout 2021, with users averaging 5.4 hours daily on apps, the highest rate in the world. This intense engagement fueled 10.3 billion new downloads and a 63% increase in consumer spending over two years, totaling $1.13 billion. The gaming sector acted as a primary catalyst for this expansion, contributing 4.5 billion downloads and $571 million in revenue. While Arcade and Action titles gained momentum, Free Fire remained a dominant force in the market, reflecting a strong national preference for the battle royale genre alongside short-form video platforms like TikTok.
Beyond entertainment, the digital landscape underwent a structural shift toward financial and essential services. Finance app downloads surged by 91% over two years as a large underbanked population transitioned to neobanks such as Nubank and PicPay. This digital adoption extended to the retail and food sectors, where shopping app usage grew 45% year-over-year and food delivery sessions reached record peaks. International publishers captured over half of the shopping app market, signaling a highly competitive environment for domestic and overseas developers alike.
Social engagement and utility apps also saw significant deepening of user habits. Social, photo, and video apps captured seventy percent of all mobile time, with live streaming and video-heavy communication driving record engagement. Health and fitness downloads rose 30% over two years, while the sports and travel sectors rebounded toward pre-pandemic levels. The diversification of the app economy was further evidenced by the rise of income-generating business tools and delivery driver platforms, illustrating that mobile devices have become central to both the personal lives and economic livelihoods of Brazilian consumers.
