Mobile app usage in France - statistics & facts
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Applications allow users to perform an array of tasks on the go, using only their mobile devices. Apps have been cementing their presence within the French mobile market, as the COVID-19 pandemic left users relying on their smartphones to communicate, engage with social media, playing video games, and shop.
According to a 2023 survey, messenger apps, mobile social media, and gaming apps were the most popular categories for users in France. Overall, users in France spent approximately 65 minutes daily on social media apps, making it the most engaging category. Casual games occupied users for around 25 minutes of users' time daily, while travel, shopping, and sports apps were used for less than 15 minutes per day in the examined period.
With over half of the French digital population having bought something on their smartphones in 2022, payment apps were among the most popular finance apps downloaded in the country in 2022. French users downloaded approximately 23.5 million digital wallets and payment apps, as well as 20.6 million banking apps, and around five million cryptocurrency trading apps.
App market and user spending
In June 2023, users in France spent 20.5 percent more money on mobile apps compared to the corresponding month in 2022, while in May 2023 the app market in France experienced a 43 percent year-over-year increase. Advertising and in-app spending were the highest-grossing monetization forms used in the French app market, generating 2.4 billion U.S. dollars and 2.35 billion US. dollars in 2022, respectively. Consistent with what has been observed within the global market, the Apple App Store grossed higher revenues than the Google Play Store since 2017 in France, occupying a 58 percent revenue share within the market in 2022.Downloads and app usage
French users went from accessing four apps daily in 2017 to engaging with nine apps per day in 2022. While this data is indicative of the increase in apps available to consumers, it also points to an acquired familiarity of mobile users with applications. According to a survey conducted among French citizens, 74 percent of respondents reported downloading mobile apps, which was the second most popular activity after navigating the internet and exchanging chat messages. In 2022, French users downloaded over 2.13 billion apps. While this value is below the number of 2020 downloads, it still represents a two percent year-over-year increase from the 2.08 billion downloads registered in 2021. In 2022, mobile gaming apps were the most installed category in France and generated over 1.3 billion downloads, while photo and video apps had 135.5 million downloads for the year.According to a 2023 survey, messenger apps, mobile social media, and gaming apps were the most popular categories for users in France. Overall, users in France spent approximately 65 minutes daily on social media apps, making it the most engaging category. Casual games occupied users for around 25 minutes of users' time daily, while travel, shopping, and sports apps were used for less than 15 minutes per day in the examined period.
App categories: the most used beyond social
Taking a closer look at the social life of the French in 2022, messaging and online media appeared to be a well-established part of consumers’ life. Among social media, TikTok was used for an average of 21 hours monthly, confirming itself as the most popular social media platform as of 2022. The short-video app was particularly popular among younger users, with 66 percent of male kids aged between 11 and 18 years reporting to use the app, compared to 60 percent of female teens.With over half of the French digital population having bought something on their smartphones in 2022, payment apps were among the most popular finance apps downloaded in the country in 2022. French users downloaded approximately 23.5 million digital wallets and payment apps, as well as 20.6 million banking apps, and around five million cryptocurrency trading apps.
