More than 3.9 billion people worldwide use Android currently. Android was initially launched in 2008, but the operating system rolled out in 2011. After the first year of Android OS rollout, the number of users reached 500 million in 2012 and crossed the 1 billion mark in 2014.
| Year | The Number Of Android Users |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 0.5 billion |
| 2013 | 0.7 billion |
| 2014 | 1 billion |
| 2015 | 1.4 billion |
| 2016 | 1.7 billion |
| 2017 | 2 billion |
| 2018 | 2.3 billion |
| 2019 | 2.5 billion |
| 2020 | 2.8 billion |
| 2021 | 3 billion |
| 2022 | 3.3 billion |
| 2023 | 3.5 billion |
| 2024 | 3.6 billion |
| 2025 | 3.9 billion |
Discover fascinating trivia and lesser-known facts about the world's most popular mobile operating system.
From 2009 to 2019, each Android version was named after a dessert in alphabetical order: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo, and Pie. Google ended this tradition with Android 10.
Android reached 1 billion users just 3 years after its initial rollout, the fastest any mobile OS has achieved this milestone.
Nearly 3 out of every 4 smartphones globally run on Android, making it the most popular mobile OS by a significant margin.
Google acquired Android Inc. for just $50 million in 2005. Today, it powers billions of devices worth trillions collectively.
The HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1) was the first commercially available Android phone, launched in October 2008.
Android holds 65% of mobile gaming market share, with users spending an average of 4.2 hours weekly on mobile games.
Google releases monthly security patches for Android, and over 90% of Android vulnerabilities are patched within 90 days.
Android users consume an average of 19.4 GB of mobile data per month globally, with US users averaging 23.5 GB.
Android is built on the Linux kernel and is open source, allowing any manufacturer to use it for free. This openness led to over 24,000 different Android device models being released worldwide.
Key milestones in Android's history
Android Inc. founded by Andy Rubin
Google acquires Android for $50 million
Open Handset Alliance formed
First Android phone (HTC Dream) released
Android becomes #1 smartphone OS in US
Android reaches 500 million users
Android hits 1 billion users
Android reaches 2 billion monthly active devices
Android 12 introduces Material You design
Android surpasses 3.9 billion users
Android has a nearly 45% share lead over iOS worldwide in 2025. While the iPhone holds a 27.04% share, Android continues to dominate the global market with 72.55%.
| Year | Android | iPhone (iOS) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 72.55% | 27.04% |
| 2024 | 71.85% | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 70.26% | 29.02% |
| 2022 | 71.47% | 27.85% |
| 2021 | 71.89% | 27.34% |
| 2020 | 73.06% | 26.28% |
| 2019 | 75.47% | 22.71% |
| 2018 | 75.45% | 20.47% |
| 2017 | 72.63% | 19.65% |
Unlike the global market, iOS dominates in the United States with 58.03% market share. Android holds 41.71% of the US market, showcasing the unique dynamics of the American smartphone landscape.
Android's market share varies dramatically across different regions. While India leads at 95.2%, Japan shows only 34.5% Android adoption.
Samsung dominates the Android vendor market with 30.8% share, followed by Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi (15.9%), Vivo (11.2%), and Oppo (10.1%).
| Company | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Samsung | 30.8% |
| Xiaomi | 15.9% |
| Vivo | 11.2% |
| Oppo | 10.1% |
| Realme | 5.2% |
| Honor | 3.3% |
| Infinix | 3.2% |
| Amazon | 3.1% |
| Huawei | 2.8% |
| Tecno | 2.7% |
| Motorola | 2.3% |
| Others | 9.4% |
Android 14 leads the version distribution with 24.51% market share, showing strong adoption of the latest Android features and security updates.
| Android Version | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Android 14 | 24.51% |
| Android 13 | 22.34% |
| Android 12 | 10.93% |
| Android 11 | 14.18% |
| Android 10 | 9.87% |
| Android 9 (Pie) | 6.42% |
| Older | 11.75% |
The Google Play Store hosts 2.06 million apps, with social media apps dominating the most downloaded list. Instagram leads with 584 million downloads in 2024.
Apps Available on Google Play Store
Downloads in millions
584M downloads
446M downloads
411M downloads
371M downloads
245M downloads
202M downloads
191M downloads
154M downloads
136M downloads
130M downloads
| Rank | Application | Downloads (Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 584M | |
| #2 | TikTok | 446M |
| #3 | 411M | |
| #4 | 371M | |
| #5 | Telegram | 245M |
| #6 | WhatsApp Business | 202M |
| #7 | Temu | 191M |
| #8 | Snapchat | 154M |
| #9 | Threads | 136M |
| #10 | CapCut | 130M |
All statistics on this page are compiled from reputable industry sources and regularly updated to ensure accuracy.