The Apple App Store generated over half a trillion dollars in sales in 2019

The Apple App Store continues to lag the Google Play Store in terms of the volume of available apps, but a new study has found that the App Store facilitated over US$0.5 trillion in commerce in 2019 alone. The study, conducted by Analysis Group, includes data from over 175 countries. According to Apple, the App Store is "currently home to almost 2 million apps" and is visited by a half a billion people each week. Apple may have been quite generous with its 2 million app estimate, as Statista claims that the actual volume of apps is closer to 1.85 million as of Q1 2020.

Nonetheless, the study estimates that the App Store generated a total of US$519 billion in sales and billings in 2019. Of that figure, US$45 billion was in-app advertising, US$413 billion was physical goods and services, and US$61 billion was digital goods and services. Apple caveats the latter figure by clarifying that estimated sales and billings from digital goods and services is not the same as total App Store billings.

Within the category of physical goods and services, US$268 billion was generated by retail companies like Amazon, Best Buy, Etsy and Target. This figure expands by US$31 billion if Food Delivery services are included, while travel apps like Expedia account for US$57 billion in sales and billings. The Analysis Group has published its full findings here.

Interestingly, the figures are considered "to be conservative and a lower bound" on the value of sales and billings generated by the App Store in 2019. Undoubtedly, Apple is happy enough about them to publish them in a press release, so we would not be surprised to see the company mention them at WWDC 2020 later this month.