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Which mobile operating system holds the greatest market share?

Android's Worldwide
Market Share
& Understanding
Its Impact.

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Data

A look into Android's market share.

Android Global Market Share by Year (2009-2025)
Year Average Android Market Share (%)
2009 2.2
2010 7.5
2011 18.4
2012 27.4
2013 39.3
2014 52.7
2015 63.9
2016 69.0
2017 72.5
2018 75.2
2019 75.4
2020 73.2
2021 72.1
2022 71.6
2023 70.3
2024 71.7
2025 73.1
Highest Average Market Share:
75.4% (2019)
Period of Rapid Acceleration:
2009-2014
Data Collected:
Average Android Market Share
Data Modifications:
Data has been averaged from market share per month to average market share in a year for clarity and simplicity.
Original Source:
Statcounter.com

Android has dominated the global mobile operating system market for over a decade. From its humble beginnings with less than 1% market share in early 2009, Android has grown to capture and maintain approximately 70-75% of the worldwide mobile OS market. This remarkable growth story reflects the platform's adaptability, openness, and widespread adoption across diverse device manufacturers and price points.

The data to the left showcases Android's yearly market share evolution from 2009 through 2025. Notice the rapid acceleration period boxed in orange from 2009-2014, followed by market stabilization as Android reached maturity. Despite fluctuations due to competitive pressures and market dynamics, Android has consistently maintained its position as the world's leading mobile operating system.

This comprehensive dataset reveals key insights into Android's market dynamics, including rapid initial growth, market maturation around 2015, and ongoing fluctuations that reflect competitive responses and broader technology adoption trends in the mobile ecosystem.

In the present day, Android's marketplace dominance highlights the importance of building applications and services that cater to this vast user base which spans the globe. As we look ahead, understanding Android's market share trajectory will be crucial for developers, businesses, and stakeholders aiming to thrive in the mobile-first world.

This data has been condensed from the original source in order to better illustrate the changes in Android's market share per year as opposed to over the course of individual months (which is a table row difference of 201 rows to just 17). Please consider visiting Statcounter's Website for the original dataset which was built upon to create the average over the course of each year for the displayed data.

Thinking Deeper

Understanding Why?

How is it that Android has come to dominate the mobile operating system market?

Android mascot pointing, representing Android's market dominance
An animation of Android's market share growth from 2010 to 2014.

Prioritization of Being Open

Android's open-source nature has allowed for greater collaboration and innovation among developers. This prioritization of openness has led to a more diverse ecosystem of apps and services, ultimately benefiting users and driving adoption. Most notably, it also allows app developers a wider range of devices to target with their apps, as Android runs on hardware from numerous manufacturers.

Lower Cost Hardware

Android's flexibility has enabled it to be installed on a wide range of devices, including budget-friendly options. This has made smartphones and tablets more accessible to a broader audience, particularly in emerging markets where cost is a significant factor. The availability of affordable Android devices has played a crucial role in expanding its user base globally. The ability for Android devices to be affordable has significantly contributed to the platform's widespread adoption, especially in price-sensitive markets. With this in mind, it is important to note that Android's market share dominance is not solely due to low-cost as there are many premium Android devices as well.

Aggressive Growth Strategy

Android's parent company, Google, has employed an aggressive growth strategy, including partnerships with various device manufacturers and carriers. This approach has helped Android gain significant market share quickly, especially in the early years of its launch.