Market (Mobile)·Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Sensor Tower
Global mobile app downloads reached 144.2 billion in 2021, with Q4 alone contributing 36.1 billion installs, a 2.7% year-over-year increase.
Meta and Google maintained market dominance as the world’s top publishers, each surpassing 600 million downloads in the fourth quarter.
Business app installs remained significantly elevated, more than doubling 2019 pre-pandemic levels, while Medical apps also sustained higher-than-normal activity.
China reclaimed its position as the leading market for App Store installs, while India maintained its top position on the Google Play platform.
Garena Free Fire was the most downloaded mobile game of 2021, leading a gaming sector that remains a primary driver of global download volume.
The travel sector saw a robust recovery by the end of 2021, with U.S. vacation rental and online travel agency apps exceeding pre-pandemic download figures.
Emerging trends in 2021 included the rise of NFT-focused mobile applications and the integration of blockchain features into established cryptocurrency platforms.
Global mobile app downloads reached 144.2 billion in 2021, with Q4 alone contributing 36.1 billion installs, a 2.7% year-over-year increase.
Meta and Google maintained market dominance as the world’s top publishers, each surpassing 600 million downloads in the fourth quarter.
Business app installs remained significantly elevated, more than doubling 2019 pre-pandemic levels, while Medical apps also sustained higher-than-normal activity.
China reclaimed its position as the leading market for App Store installs, while India maintained its top position on the Google Play platform.
Garena Free Fire was the most downloaded mobile game of 2021, leading a gaming sector that remains a primary driver of global download volume.
The travel sector saw a robust recovery by the end of 2021, with U.S. vacation rental and online travel agency apps exceeding pre-pandemic download figures.
Emerging trends in 2021 included the rise of NFT-focused mobile applications and the integration of blockchain features into established cryptocurrency platforms.