Mobile rules the internet in 2025. Today, over 62% of all web traffic comes from smartphones. From scrolling through social media and watching videos to shopping online or looking up nearby spots, most of these activities now occur on our phones.
This shift didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of faster networks, smarter devices, and a growing preference for convenience. And the numbers keep rising.
So, what percentage of internet traffic is mobile, and why does it matter? The short answer is that mobile dominates. In this article, we’ll break down the stats that show just how central smartphones have become to daily life and why businesses can’t afford to ignore them.
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- Mobile devices now account for 62% of global internet traffic, making them the primary way people access the web.
- The global average for daily mobile screen time is 4 hours and 37 minutes.
- 88% of users won’t return after a bad mobile experience, and 60% are less likely to buy from a brand that failed them on mobile.
- 76% of local mobile searches result in a visit within 24 hours, and 28% of those lead to a purchase.
- More than 70% of YouTube watch time comes from mobile.
- Users spend over 2 hours a day on social media apps. 98.5% of Facebook’s traffic even comes from mobile devices.
The State of Mobile Internet Traffic in 2025
As of April 2025, mobile devices make up 62% of global web traffic. That’s a clear sign of how much people are relying more on smartphones and tablets to get online compared to previous years.
This dominance reflects changing user behavior. As 5G networks become more widespread and smartphones become more affordable, people around the world are relying more on their mobile devices to go online. Today, 95.9% of internet users access the web through their phones at least occasionally.
Regionally, the shift is even more noticeable. In Africa, for example, mobile devices make up 69.13% of internet traffic, highlighting the continent’s strong mobile-first approach to getting online.
What are people doing with all that mobile time? From scrolling and streaming to searching and shopping, the following sections break down the numbers behind how mobile is shaping online life.
How Much Time Are We Spending on Our Phones?
Our phones are basically glued to our hands. Whether we’re texting, watching, shopping, or swiping, mobile devices have taken over more of our daily lives than most of us realize. And the numbers back it up.
In this section, we’ll look at just how much time people are spending on their phones each day and how mobile use has evolved from a quick check-in to a full-on digital lifestyle.
1. People use their phones for an average of 4 hours and 37 minutes each day.
(Exploding Topics)
Smartphone usage is becoming routine. As of 2025, the global average screen time on mobile devices has hit 4 hours and 37 minutes per day.
Some countries go far beyond that. In Ghana, people spend an average of 5 hours and 43 minutes on their phones each day. The Philippines isn’t far behind at 5 hours and 21 minutes, while Americans now average 5 hours and 16 minutes, up 14% from the previous year.
2. Mobile devices drive 62.69% of global web traffic in 2025.
(SOAX)
Mobile devices are responsible for 62.69% of global web traffic. This marks a significant increase from previous years, highlighting the growing reliance on smartphones and tablets for internet access.
This trend is largely driven by the widespread use of smartphones, with around 7.21 billion in use. That’s roughly 90% of the world’s population.
Mobile traffic also varies by region. For example:
- Africa: 73.6% of internet traffic comes from mobile devices.
- Asia: 69% of internet traffic is mobile.
- North America: 45.5% of internet traffic originates from phones.
3. 88% of users are less likely to return after a bad mobile experience.
(UXCam)
People expect mobile websites to work seamlessly. If they don’t, the impact can be huge. In fact, a recent study found that 88% of users are unlikely to return to a site after a bad experience.
Even more striking, mobile users are five times more likely to give up on what they’re doing if the site isn’t mobile-friendly. That’s why optimizing for mobile is essential for keeping users engaged and coming back.
4. Mobile users are 60% less likely to purchase from a brand after a previously negative mobile experience.
(Think With Google)
Mobile users are fast-paced buyers. Therefore, the buyer journey of every customer should be seamless. A deviation from this expectation will only bring about a further decline in your mobile web traffic and sales.
5. A positive experience on mobile increases the potential of getting recommended by a user by 89%.
(Think With Google)
Aside from your digital marketing strategies, “word of mouth” is also an effective way of increasing brand popularity. What better way to kick-start this advertising model than by providing a seamless mobile experience to your customers?
6. A 1-second speed boost can increase engagement by 5%.
(Medium)
Speed drives results. A case study published on Medium revealed that reducing page load time by just one second resulted in a 5% increase in user engagement.
That may not sound massive at first glance, but when you’re dealing with thousands (or millions) of users, a 5% increase can translate into significant gains in conversions, click-throughs, and revenue.
Every extra second of delay still matters. Other studies have found that bounce rates increase and satisfaction plummets when users are kept waiting. Bottom line? A faster mobile site doesn’t just make people happy. It makes them stay.
7. 83% of mobile users expect a flawless experience whenever they visit a website with any mobile device.
(UXCam)
Today, mobile users don’t just prefer a good experience. They demand it. 83% of users expect a seamless experience across all mobile devices, whether they’re using a phone, tablet, or hybrid screen.
However, expectations extend beyond just layout and design. A 2025 Instabug report shows that 81% of users prioritize performance, including factors such as fast load times, smooth input, and zero lag. The patience threshold is razor thin: 61% of users will uninstall an app or abandon a site if it takes more than five seconds to respond.
8. 80% of customers make use of their mobile devices during physical shopping.
(Business Service Week)
This could be to look up reviews of the product or to compare prices online. Either way, modern-day shoppers love to delve into the online space.
Plus, the ability to access millions of online reviews about a particular product is one feature many shoppers enjoy. Business owners can leverage this to boost their conversion rates.
How Mobile Search Is Driving Instant Action in 2025
When we want answers, we typically pull out our phones. Whether it’s finding the nearest coffee shop, checking a product review, or hunting down a last-minute promo code, mobile search is the go-to move.
In this section, we’ll break down how mobile search shapes decisions in real time, why local intent matters more than ever, and how businesses can show up at the right moment.
9. 76% of local mobile searches lead to a visit within a day.
(Think With Google)
Mobile search leads to action, and it happens quickly. According to Google, 76% of people who run a local search on their smartphone visit a business within 24 hours, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase.
That’s not a coincidence. Mobile users often search with clear intent. They’re looking for something specific and ready to take the next step. Whether they’re at home, on the go, or standing inside a store, mobile search bridges the gap between curiosity and conversion.
Google found that 92% of people who searched on their phones ended up making a related purchase. That demonstrates the importance of businesses being present when people are ready to make a purchase.
10. Google handles 93.81% of global mobile search traffic in 2025.
(StatCounter)
As of May 2025, Google commands 93.81% of the global mobile search engine market share, maintaining its dominant position in mobile search.
That dominance comes mainly from being baked into mobile operating systems and browsers. It’s the default on most phones. Even with new competitors and AI-powered tools popping up, Google’s lead hasn’t slipped.
Every day, Google handles around 13.6 billion searches, adding up to nearly 5 trillion a year. That kind of volume makes it clear that if you’re trying to be found online, especially on mobile, Google is still the place to be.
11. 60% of smartphone users contact businesses directly from search results.
(Keywords Everywhere)
Mobile searchers are taking swift action. 60% of smartphone users have contacted a business directly from the search results using features like “click to call.”
This behavior shows the importance of having easily accessible contact information in your business’s search listings. If your phone number is easy to find and clickable, you’re removing friction and making it simple for people to reach out.
Also, it reinforces the need to be mobile-ready. A site that works well on phones, accurate listings, and quick ways to get in touch all help turn searchers into customers.
Why Video Rules Mobile Screens in 2025
If it moves, we’re watching it. Video dominates on mobile. Whether it’s TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or Instagram Reels, short-form video has become the default content type for mobile users around the world.
In this section, we’ll look at how much time people really spend watching videos on their phones, which platforms are dominating, and what it means for brands trying to stand out in a world built for swipes, taps, and autoplay.
12. Mobile is responsible for more than 70% of watch time happening on YouTube.
(Business2Community)
Mobile devices now account for more than 70% of total watch time on YouTube, according to Business2Community. This is no surprise since most users aren’t waiting to get home to stream.
From short-form clips to full-length content, YouTube is built for mobile engagement. The app’s design, autoplay functionality, and algorithmic recommendations are all geared toward on-the-go viewing.
13. Users spend an average of 40 minutes a day on YouTube watching videos on their mobile.
(Businesss2Community)
YouTube receives more than 1 billion hours of video views per day from users worldwide, and has over 2 billion active users. When these figures are compared, it becomes evident that each user spends a significant amount of time on YouTube daily.
How Mobile Is Taking Over E-Commerce in 2025
Shopping has gone pocket-sized. More people are buying directly from their phones, and the gap between desktop and mobile shopping is closing fast. Whether it’s browsing product reviews or checking out, smartphones are now central to the buying journey.
In this section, we’ll break down how mobile is reshaping e-commerce.
14. M-commerce should account for 53.9% of all e-commerce sales by 2021.
(Statista)
Mobile device usage statistics reveal that m-commerce made up 39.6% of all e-commerce sales as of 2018. In 2019, that number stood at 44.7% of all e-commerce sales and is expected to increase even further up to 53.9% by 2021.
All thanks to the ever-increasing mobile phone users and the convenience provided by the countless number of mobile apps and websites that enable customers to easily carry out e-commerce transactions.
15. 80% of B2B buyers use mobile devices throughout their purchasing journey.
(commercebuild)
Mobile is now a key player in B2B buying. Around 80% of B2B buyers use their phones or tablets at different points in the process, from early research to pulling the trigger on a purchase.
That means if your digital experience doesn’t work well on mobile, you’re likely losing business. Buyers expect to research, compare, and buy on their devices without friction. If your site or platform can’t keep up, they’ll move on to one that can.
16. Mobile ads make up 66% of all digital ad spending in 2024.
(eMarketer)
Mobile advertising is the backbone of digital marketing. In 2024, US marketers are projected to spend over $216 billion on mobile ads, making up 66% of total digital ad expenditures.
The majority of that spend (81.9%) is going into in-app advertising, where users are most active. Social platforms lead the charge: Facebook earns 98.3% of its ad revenue from mobile devices, and Snapchat continues to draw most of its ad revenue from mobile users as well.
17. 71% of marketers claim that mobile marketing is central to their business.
(Feedough)
Over the last few years, there has been a surge in mobile marketing through various channels, including mobile ads, mobile apps, and in-app advertising, among others. This follows as businesses are beginning to realize the potential of the mobile industry.
18. 68% of companies have integrated mobile marketing into their overall strategy.
(WinSavvy)
As of 2024, 68% of companies are using mobile marketing as part of their overall strategy. That’s a clear indicator that mobile has become essential for reaching today’s consumers.
The shift is no surprise. With more than half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, businesses can’t afford to ignore how people actually browse, shop, and interact online.
Mobile & Social Media: Where the Real Scrolling Happens
If you’ve ever caught yourself checking TikTok “for just five minutes” and suddenly it’s midnight, you’re not alone. Social media and mobile phones are practically inseparable.
Today, nearly all major platforms are built for a mobile-first experience, and users are more glued to their screens than ever. Whether it’s doomscrolling, watching reels, or chatting, mobile is where social engagement lives and breathes.
Let’s dive into just how deep this connection runs through data that shows why mobile is the heartbeat of today’s social media habits.
19. Users spend 2 hours and 14 minutes daily on average, using social media apps on their mobile.
(Medium)
Like it or not, social media has taken over our lives. Between 2012 and 2020, there was a massive 62.5% increase in the average time spent online by social media users. That is about one hour plus of increased social media time daily.
Currently, the average time spent on social media by a user every day hovers around 144 minutes.
20. Social media apps are the most used on mobile, making up 39% of the whole.
(Medium)
Social media apps like Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, WeChat, TikTok, Twitter, and Tumblr are among the most familiar apps found on almost all smartphones.
Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram collectively have approximately 16 billion downloads on mobile devices. They are all owned by the Facebook company.
21. 98.5% of Facebook users access the platform via mobile devices.
(Backlinko)
As of 2025, 98.5% of Facebook users are on mobile, and 81.8% use smartphones. This reflects how Facebook is basically mobile-only now.
For businesses and marketers, that means mobile needs to be the focus. If your content, ads, or user experience aren’t built for mobile, you’re missing your audience where they actually are.
22. Mobile devices are responsible for 57% of LinkedIn traffic.
(LinkedIn)
In 2016, LinkedIn became one of the first companies to prioritize mobile-first. Today, that move has proved to be a clever one. More than half of its traffic now stems from mobile devices.
After implementing the mobile-first policy, LinkedIn’s mobile activity overall experienced growth that is 3 times faster than the overall member activity year in and year out.
Wrap Up
In 2025, mobile is no longer just part of the internet. It is the internet for most people. With over 62% of web traffic coming from phones and users spending hours a day on their devices, mobile is where decisions are made and actions happen.
This shift means expectations are high. If your site is slow, clunky, or not built for mobile, users won’t stick around, and they won’t come back.
Whether it’s search, shopping, video, or social, mobile is the thread that runs through it all. For businesses and creators, it’s not enough to be mobile-friendly. You have to be mobile-first.
If you want to meet people where they are, earn their attention, and keep them coming back, you need to get mobile right.
Mobile Traffic FAQs
Is desktop traffic still relevant in 2025?
Yes, but it’s shrinking. Desktops are still strong for work and multitasking, but most casual browsing, shopping, and scrolling now happens on phones. Mobile’s where the action is and is only growing.
Why is mobile traffic so high in places like Africa and Southeast Asia?
Phones are cheaper, easier to get, and often the only way people go online in these regions. Add in better mobile networks, and it makes sense that mobile becomes the default.
What actually makes a site mobile-friendly today?
It’s not just about looking good on a phone. Your site has to load fast, be easy to navigate, and work smoothly without annoying pop-ups. If users can’t find what they need in a few seconds, they’re gone.
Sources
Timeline Of The Article
-> V1 – Yearly Overhaul: 01-01-2021
-> V2 – User Suggested Edits: 14-06-2021
-> V4 – Expert Evaluation Edits: 19-02-2022
Muninder Adavelli is a core team member and Digital Growth Strategist at Techjury. With a strong background in marketing and a deep understanding of technology's role in digital marketing, he brings immense value to the TechJury team.