UK mobile gaming by age 2023

A September to November 2023 survey of UK adults aged 16 years and older found that 51 percent of respondents aged between 16 and 24 years ever played games on their mobile phone, down from a 58 percent gaming penetration among the same age group in 2020. In 2020, mobile gaming saw gains across all age groups, with mobile gamers aged 35 to 44 years experiencing the biggest growth of 24 percentage points. Overall, gaming uptake increased in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Mobile phone gaming penetration in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2012 to 2023, by age group

Characteristic	16-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65+	55+	65-74	75+
2023	51%	45%	43%	40%	28%	11%	-	-	-
2022	53%	47%	50%	34%	27%	10%	-	-	-
2021	50%	50%	47%	47%	28%	11%	-	-	-
2020/21	58%	51%	51%	45%	26%	12%	-	-	-
2019	47%	32%	27%	24%	11%	-	7%	-	-
2018	40%	41%	19%	19%	12%	-	-	4%	1%
2017	41%	31%	26%	17%	12%	-	-	5%	3%
2016	40%	27%	27%	18%	6%	-	-	4%	1%
2015	44%	47%	28%	27%	9%	-	-	5%	1%
2014	49%	40%	35%	22%	9%	-	-	5%	0%
2013	40%	32%	19%	17%	8%	-	-	2%	0%
2012	31%	19%	18%	8%	3%	-	-	1%	0%

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Release date

January 2024

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2012 to November 2023

Number of respondents

3,643 respondents

Age group

16 years and older

Method of interview

Online panel

Supplementary notes

* n (2007) = 2,905; n (2009) = 1,824; n (2010) = 2,117; n (2011) = 1,823; n (2012) = 1,805; n (2013) = 1,642; n (2014) = 1,890; n (2015) = 1,841; n (2016) = 1,846; n (2017) = 1,875; n (2018) = 1,882; n (2019) = 1,479; n (2020/21) = 3,105; n (2022) = 3,651; n (2023) = 3,643.

2022 wave: interviews were conducted between September 23 and November 9, 2022
2021 wave: interviews were conducted between October 16 and December 13, 2021
2020/21 wave: interviews were conducted between October 6, 2020 and January 23, 2021.

2021 methodology: interviewing conducted using a mix of post-to-online and online panels. Paper questionnaires could also be requested by postal respondents and were returned by post. Any break column with a base size lower than 100 has been removed as margins of error become too great. Data is tested at the 99% confidence level.

Original survey question: Do you ever play games at home or elsewhere in any of these ways? (MULTI CODE) On a mobile phone or smartphone

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