Global Mobile Internet Usage Hits 5.3 Trillion Hours in 2025
Global internet users on smartphones collectively spent 5.3 trillion hours across mobile applications and websites in 2025, highlighting the world’s growing dependence on mobile devices.
This is according to the State of Mobile 2026 report released by Sensor Tower, a leading provider of mobile app market intelligence.
The figure, which excludes third-party Android stores in China and select other markets, represents a 3.8% increase compared to 2024.
What 5.3 Trillion Hours Really Means
To put the scale into perspective, the 5.3 trillion hours spent online in 2025 translate to approximately 605 million years of collective human time.
According to the report, the average person globally spent just under 600 hours online during the year, equivalent to about 25 days. This breaks down to an average of 3.6 hours per day per user, covering iOS and Android users across 80 countries, excluding China.
How Sensor Tower Compiled the Data
Sensor Tower explained that its market insights team generated download and in-app purchase (IAP) revenue estimates using its proprietary mobile app intelligence platform.
The data was compiled from iOS App Store and Google Play download and revenue estimates spanning January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2025, providing a long-term view of mobile usage trends.
149 Billion App Downloads Recorded in 2025
The report also revealed that 149 billion new app downloads were recorded globally in 2025. Although this reflects a modest 0.8% year-on-year growth, it still translates to roughly 284,000 app downloads every minute.
The sustained download activity underscores continued demand for mobile experiences, including news, gaming, social media, and productivity applications.
Average User Now Engages With 34 Apps Monthly
Sensor Tower found that the average mobile user interacted with 34 apps per month in 2025, representing a 5.4% year-on-year increase.
On a daily basis, users accessed an average of 10 unique apps, demonstrating how deeply embedded mobile applications have become in everyday life.
Social Media Dominates Time Spent on Mobile
Mobile users spent nearly 2.5 trillion hours on social media apps across iOS and Android in 2025, marking a 5% increase year-on-year.
The report attributes this growth to sustained smartphone adoption and lingering shifts in digital behaviour driven by the pandemic era.
Leading apps by time spent include:
- TikTok
- WhatsApp Messenger
- Google Chrome
- JioHotstar
- WhatsApp Business
- Google Maps
Other top-ranked apps include Truecaller, Spotify, ChatGPT, PLAYit, Gmail, WEBTOON, Zoom, and CapCut.
AI Apps Record Explosive Growth
Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the fastest-growing drivers of mobile engagement in 2025.
Sensor Tower noted that AI Assistants became a top-10 app subgenre by time spent, recording a 426% year-on-year growth. This reflects a shift in how users rely on AI for information, task management, and productivity.
While AI Companion apps have yet to enter the top 20 globally, the report said they are “gaining significant traction,” now ranking 23rd worldwide after a 68% increase in time spent.
Generative AI Usage Nearly Triples in One Year
Time spent in Generative AI apps reached 48 billion hours in 2025, representing approximately 3.6 times the total recorded in 2024 and nearly 10 times the level seen in 2023.
The data highlights how quickly AI-powered tools are becoming a core part of mobile internet usage, reshaping how people interact with their smartphones.
Mobile Internet Use Continues to Deepen
Overall, the State of Mobile 2026 report shows that global mobile internet usage continues to expand, driven by social platforms, entertainment apps, and the rapid mainstream adoption of artificial intelligence.
As smartphones remain the primary gateway to the internet for billions of people, time spent on mobile apps and websites is expected to grow further in the coming years.
