WhatsApp and Facebook messenger icons are seen on an iPhone in Manchester , Britain March 27, 2017.

Humanity spent 1.6 trillion hours on mobile apps last year

3.5 trillion

Mobile users will go from spending 1.6 trillion hours using apps in 2016 to 3.5 trillion hours in 2021, according to analytics firm App Annie.

Published   |  Photo by Reuters//Phil Noble
WhatsApp and Facebook messenger icons are seen on an iPhone in Manchester , Britain March 27, 2017.
3.5 trillion

The number of people using smartphone apps is expected to climb from 3.4 billion in 2016 to 6.3 billion over that span.

WhatsApp and Facebook messenger icons are seen on an iPhone in Manchester , Britain March 27, 2017.
3.5 trillion

The bottom line: more money. The global app economy will grow from $1.3 trillion in 2016 to $6.3 trillion in 2021.

WhatsApp and Facebook messenger icons are seen on an iPhone in Manchester , Britain March 27, 2017.
3.5 trillion

Total money spent with apps per country in 2016 and 2021

WhatsApp and Facebook messenger icons are seen on an iPhone in Manchester , Britain March 27, 2017.
3.5 trillion

App revenues come in three big buckets: app store purchases, advertising, and in-app purchases.

WhatsApp and Facebook messenger icons are seen on an iPhone in Manchester , Britain March 27, 2017.
3.5 trillion

Much of that money passes through Apple’s App Store, which is expected to record $40 billion in sales this year.

WhatsApp and Facebook messenger icons are seen on an iPhone in Manchester , Britain March 27, 2017.
3.5 trillion

Google Play is on track to make $21 billion this year, and other Android stores will make $20 billion—putting Android above iOS for the first time.

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