Global eCommerce app downloads jump 45% since 2019 as emerging markets reshape mobile shopping

Global demand for mobile shopping continues to accelerate, with annual eCommerce app downloads rising from 4.36 billion in 2019 to 6.35 billion in 2025—an increase of more than 45%. The growth, which reflects a compound annual rate of 6.5%, underscores how mobile-first consumption and new digital retail formats are reshaping the global commerce landscape.

According to Sensor Tower’s latest report, this year’s holiday season is unfolding amid a notable shift: emerging markets are now driving most of the worldwide increase in eCommerce downloads. Asia remains the largest contributor to overall volume, while Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East have become the fastest-growing regions. In contrast, North America and Europe have plateaued as their markets reach maturity.

Within the APAC region, India continues to lead download expansion, supported by rapid adoption in major cities and ongoing investment in logistics infrastructure. Southeast Asia maintains steady momentum, while China’s app ecosystem, now saturated, increasingly competes on retention tools and service upgrades. Japan and South Korea remain stable but are seeing early traction in AI-enhanced commerce and membership-based shopping ecosystems.

Temu once again ranked first globally in both downloads and monthly active user growth. Its audience gains across Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East have kept it at the front of the global rankings. The platform surpassed 1.2 billion cumulative downloads as of October 2025, and reached a record 530 million monthly active users in August.

India’s Blinkit emerged as the fastest-growing platform in 2025, topping worldwide download growth charts. The company’s 10-minute delivery model and integration with local lifestyle services have fueled a 165% year-over-year increase in downloads from January to October. Blinkit’s core users are concentrated among urban professionals aged 25 to 34, though women—who now account for 40% of its audience—represent a significant expansion opportunity.

In China’s iOS ecosystem, Douyin Mall led eCommerce app rankings in both downloads and download growth. Short-form video integration and personalized recommendations continue to contribute to its rapid expansion, positioning it as a major gateway for brands seeking visibility in China’s competitive retail environment.

South Korea saw a sharp rise in Naver Plus Store, an AI-driven standalone shopping app that launched in March 2025. It quickly became the most-downloaded eCommerce app in the country, reaching 7.9 million total downloads by October. Backed by Naver’s recommendation technology and a blend of short-form video commerce, point-based memberships, and varied delivery options, the platform topped overall Google Play charts for nearly 60 days during its initial rollout.

Shopping brands continue to direct most of their digital ad budgets toward social media platforms. Between January and October 2025, the U.S. recorded roughly USD 19 billion in shopping-related digital ad spend, far outpacing other markets. Facebook and Instagram generated more than 70% of impressions across major regions, though Japan stood out with LINE contributing nearly half of total ad impressions.

Emerging regions remain central to market expansion. Latin America now contributes close to 30% of Temu’s global downloads, while Africa has seen download growth surge 168% year-over-year. Brazil became Temu’s largest single market in 2025, and Nigeria—posting an 84x increase—rose to the platform’s #3 position globally.