Recent data from both Statista and AppBrain highlights a notable contraction in the Android app ecosystem. A mere three years ago, Android enthusiasts had access to a staggering 295 million apps. However, this figure witnessed a sharp decline, plummeting to 2.7 million by the close of 2021, and the trend persisted.

Fast forward to January 2022, and the count further dipped to 2.64 million apps, marking a staggering reduction of 260,000 apps in a mere two-year span. While there was a modest resurgence to 2.65 million Google Play apps by mid-2022, the subsequent year once again saw a 60,000 app drop.

By June, Android aficionados found themselves with a narrowed selection of 2.59 million apps, marking a 12 percent contraction from three years prior. Within this assortment, conventional apps accounted for a substantial 63 percent, with “low-quality” apps comprising the remaining 37 percent, even though their numbers too had diminished over the past year.

In response to these trends, Google has taken decisive steps in recent years to shield Android users from subpar apps while simultaneously boosting the visibility of high-caliber offerings. In its early phases, this initiative focused on implementing stringent policies for app developers. However, in November of the preceding year, Google introduced an even more rigorous monitoring system, primarily designed to spotlight superior apps and expunge low-quality ones from recommendations.

Based on AppBrain data, the Google Play Store listed nearly 983,000 low-quality apps in June of the previous year. After eight months of operating under the new monitoring regimen, this figure shrank to approximately 947,000.

Concurrently, alongside the decline in available apps, Google has witnessed a dip in its Android market share, marking a seven-year nadir. While still a dominant global mobile operating system, Android’s market share receded to 70.79 percent in the second quarter of 2023.

StatCounter data showcases Android’s relinquishment of nearly two percent of its market share over three years, with an additional 0.93 percent drop in the last year. In contrast, Apple’s iOS observed a one percent surge in market share over the same three-year span, culminating in a 28.44 percent share in Q2 2023.

This dwindling market share poses challenges for the Android platform. Nevertheless, Google’s robust endeavors to augment app quality and prominence underscore its dedication to an enhanced user experience and the preservation of its vanguard status in the smartphone arena.

By: Alaa Mdawar