Mobile devices have fundamentally transformed how we access the internet. What started as less than 1% of web traffic in 2009 has exploded to over 62% in 2025. Today, smartphones are the primary gateway to the internet for billions of people worldwide.
Whether you're a marketer optimizing for mobile, a developer building responsive sites, or simply curious about digital trends, these statistics reveal just how dominant mobile has become — and where it's headed next.
Key Takeaways
- 62% of global web traffic comes from mobile devices in 2025
- 5.78 billion people use smartphones worldwide (70% of global population)
- Mobile traffic has grown from 0.7% (2009) to 62% (2025)
- 88% of mobile time is spent in apps, only 12% in browsers
- Mobile accounts for 78% of e-commerce traffic and 57% of sales
- Africa has the highest mobile traffic share at 73.6%
- The US is more balanced: 47% mobile vs 50% desktop
What Percentage of Internet Traffic Is Mobile in 2025?
1. Mobile devices generate 62% of global web traffic in 2025
As of mid-2025, mobile devices account for approximately 62% of all website traffic worldwide. Desktop accounts for about 36%, while tablets make up the remaining 2%.
2. Mobile traffic hit a peak of 62.99% in Q3 2024
The third quarter of 2024 saw mobile traffic reach its highest recorded percentage. Since early 2020, mobile web traffic has consistently stayed above 50%.
3. Desktop traffic has declined 7.2% year-over-year globally
Desktop usage continues its steady decline, now holding just a 38.1% share of global traffic. The shift to mobile is accelerating as smartphones become more powerful and internet speeds improve.
4. Tablet traffic has dropped to just 1.84% in 2025
Tablets, once seen as the future of computing, now account for less than 2% of web traffic. Larger smartphone screens have largely replaced the need for tablets among many users.
How Has Mobile Traffic Changed Over Time?
5. Mobile traffic grew from 0.72% in 2009 to 62% in 2025
The growth of mobile internet traffic is one of the most dramatic shifts in technology history. In just 16 years, mobile went from a tiny fraction to the dominant form of internet access.
| Year | Mobile Share | Desktop Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0.72% | 99.28% |
| 2015 | 35% | 65% |
| 2016 (Q4) | 50.77% | 49.23% |
| 2020 | 52% | 48% |
| 2024 | 58.54% | 39.41% |
| 2025 | 62.45% | 35.71% |
6. Mobile first surpassed desktop in Q4 2016
The historic crossover happened in the fourth quarter of 2016, when mobile reached 50.77% compared to desktop's 49.23%. This marked the beginning of the mobile-first era.
Historic Shift: Mobile internet traffic has increased 86x since 2009, transforming from a novelty to the dominant way humans access the web.
7. Mobile has held above 50% of traffic since 2020
Since the beginning of 2020, mobile web traffic has consistently remained above 50%, with the gap between mobile and desktop widening each year.
How Many People Use Mobile Internet Worldwide?
8. 5.78 billion people use mobile phones in 2025
The number of unique mobile phone users has reached 5.78 billion, representing 70.1% of the world's total population. This includes both smartphones and feature phones.
9. There are 7.4 billion smartphones in the world
The total number of smartphones exceeds the world's population because many people own multiple devices. This represents a 29% increase from 5.59 billion smartphones in 2019.
10. 4.69 billion people own a smartphone in 2025
Smartphone ownership increased by 440 million new users between 2024 and 2025 alone. The number of smartphones is growing at an annual rate of 3.5%.
11. 96.2% of internet users access the web via mobile phones
Nearly all internet users (96.2%) access the web through mobile devices at least occasionally, with 94.1% specifically using smartphones.
12. 4.6 billion people are connected to mobile internet
According to GSMA, approximately 57% of the world's population now has mobile internet connectivity — a number that continues to grow each year.
Which Countries Have the Highest Mobile Traffic?
13. Sudan has the highest mobile traffic share at 89.56%
Sudan leads the world in mobile internet traffic share, with nearly 9 out of 10 web visits coming from mobile devices. This reflects limited desktop infrastructure and mobile-first adoption.
14. Nigeria sees 87% of web traffic from mobile devices
As of January 2024, mobile phones accounted for 87% of all web page views in Nigeria, making it one of the most mobile-dominant internet markets in the world.
15. Africa has the highest regional mobile traffic share at 73.6%
The African continent leads all regions in mobile traffic, followed by Asia at 69%. Limited fixed broadband infrastructure has made mobile the default internet access method.
16. Asia accounts for 69% mobile traffic — home to 2.93 billion internet users
Asia has the largest number of internet users worldwide at 2.93 billion. China alone has 1.1 billion mobile internet users, while India has about 1.05 billion.
| Country | Mobile % | Desktop % |
|---|---|---|
| China | 68.2% | 30.3% |
| Brazil | 63.5% | 35.8% |
| France | 62.7% | 35.1% |
| UK | 54.7% | 40.6% |
| US | 47.3% | 50.2% |
| Germany | 42.4% | 55.6% |
| Japan | 44.2% | 55.8% |
17. Latin America mobile use jumped from 63% to 69% in one year
Latin America saw one of the fastest regional growth rates, driven by increasing smartphone penetration and improved mobile network coverage.
Which Countries Prefer Desktop Over Mobile?
18. The US has a balanced split: 47.3% mobile vs 50.2% desktop
Unlike most of the world, the United States maintains a relatively even split between mobile and desktop traffic. High desktop usage at work and strong home broadband contribute to this balance.
19. Germany favors desktop at 55.6% vs 42.4% mobile
Germany is one of the few major economies where desktop traffic still exceeds mobile. Strong workplace computer usage and privacy concerns about mobile apps contribute to this trend.
20. Japan prefers desktop at 55.8% vs 44.2% mobile
Despite being a technology leader, Japan's desktop usage remains higher than mobile for web browsing. However, Japanese mobile app usage is among the highest globally.
21. Canada, Belgium, and Portugal see less than 43% mobile traffic
These countries maintain strong desktop preferences, with Belgium and Portugal among the lowest mobile traffic shares in the developed world.
How Much Time Do People Spend on Mobile?
22. The global average mobile screen time is 4 hours 37 minutes per day
As of 2025, people spend an average of nearly 5 hours daily on their smartphones. This represents a significant portion of waking hours dedicated to mobile devices.
23. US adults spend 4h 39m on mobile vs 2h 20m on desktop daily
Americans spend twice as much time on their phones as on computers. Mobile has become the dominant screen for both work and leisure activities.
24. Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia spend 5+ hours in apps daily
These countries rank among the highest for mobile app usage, with users spending more than 5 hours per day inside applications.
How Is Mobile Time Split Between Apps and Browsers?
25. 88% of mobile time is spent in apps, only 12% in browsers
The vast majority of mobile internet time is spent within native applications rather than web browsers. This has major implications for businesses and developers.
26. Web browsing accounts for just 1.4% of total mobile activity
Traditional mobile web browsing continues to decline as users prefer app-based experiences for social media, shopping, banking, and entertainment.
27. In-app browsers handle 31% of mobile web sessions
When users do browse the web on mobile, nearly one-third of sessions happen through in-app browsers (like those in Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn) rather than dedicated browser apps.
For Businesses: Apps convert 157% better than mobile websites. If mobile is a major channel for your business, a dedicated app could significantly boost conversions.
What Is the Mobile Share of E-Commerce?
28. Mobile accounts for 57% of global e-commerce sales in 2024
More than half of all online purchases are now made on mobile devices. This figure is expected to reach 59% in 2025 and 63% by 2028.
29. Mobile drives 78% of e-commerce traffic
While mobile accounts for 57% of sales, it drives an even larger 78% of all e-commerce website visits. The gap between traffic and sales reflects lower mobile conversion rates.
30. Global mobile e-commerce sales reached $2.07 trillion in 2024
Mobile commerce is projected to reach $3.35 trillion by 2028 and may surpass $4 trillion globally in 2025, representing massive growth potential.
31. US mobile retail sales hit $564 billion in 2024 (up 14.8% YoY)
American consumers spent over half a trillion dollars shopping on mobile devices in 2024, with mobile accounting for 44.1% of US online sales.
32. Mobile cart abandonment rate is 84.8% — 14% higher than desktop
Despite high traffic, mobile shoppers abandon their carts more frequently than desktop users. Smaller screens, checkout friction, and security concerns contribute to this gap.
33. 29.9% of online shoppers buy via smartphone at least weekly
Nearly one-third of global online shoppers make mobile purchases every week, demonstrating how routine mobile shopping has become.
What Are the Most Popular Mobile Browsers?
34. Chrome dominates mobile browsing with 66.75% market share
Google Chrome is the clear leader in mobile browsers, holding over two-thirds of the market. Its integration with Android devices drives this dominance.
35. Safari holds 23% of mobile browser market share
Apple's Safari browser maintains a strong second place, used primarily by iPhone owners. Safari's share closely mirrors iOS's smartphone market share.
36. Samsung Internet Browser has 6.5% market share
Samsung's proprietary browser comes pre-installed on Galaxy devices and has built a loyal user base, particularly in markets where Samsung phones are popular.
Which Countries Have the Highest Mobile Internet Penetration?
37. UAE, Ireland, Norway, and Saudi Arabia lead with 99% mobile penetration
These four countries have achieved near-universal mobile internet access, with 99% of their populations connected to mobile internet.
38. Bahrain ranks first in mobile internet penetration at 98%
The small Gulf nation has one of the world's highest rates of mobile internet connectivity, followed closely by the UAE at 96%.
39. US mobile internet penetration is 91.8%
More than 9 in 10 Americans have mobile internet access. The US has 308.67 million mobile internet users, up 4.79% year-over-year.
40. UK mobile internet penetration reaches 97.8%
The United Kingdom has one of the highest mobile internet penetration rates in Europe, with nearly all residents having mobile connectivity.
What Does the Future of Mobile Traffic Look Like?
41. Mobile e-commerce share is projected to reach 63% by 2028
The shift to mobile shopping shows no signs of slowing. By 2028, nearly two-thirds of all online purchases will be made on mobile devices.
42. 74% of the world's population (6 billion people) will use the internet in 2025
According to ITU estimates, internet access continues to expand globally, up from 60% in 2020. Most new users are connecting via mobile devices.
43. Smartphone growth rate remains strong at 3.5% annually
The number of mobile connections associated with smartphones reaches 7.38 billion, accounting for 87% of all mobile phones in use worldwide.
Mobile Internet Traffic Statistics Summary
| Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Global mobile traffic share (2025) | 62% |
| Global desktop traffic share | 36% |
| Mobile users worldwide | 5.78 billion |
| Total smartphones in use | 7.4 billion |
| Average daily mobile screen time | 4h 37m |
| Time spent in apps vs browser | 88% vs 12% |
| Mobile e-commerce sales (2024) | $2.07 trillion |
| Mobile share of e-commerce | 57% |
| Top mobile browser (Chrome) | 66.75% |
| Highest mobile traffic country | Sudan (89.6%) |
Sources
- Statista - Global Mobile Traffic Share
- StatCounter - Desktop vs Mobile Market Share
- DataReportal - Digital Around the World
- DemandSage - Mobile Internet Traffic Statistics
- Mobiloud - Mobile Internet Traffic Percentage
- TechJury - Mobile Internet Traffic Analysis
- Capital One Shopping - Mobile E-Commerce Statistics
- BankMyCell - Global Smartphone Statistics