Countries with the highest levels of smartphone ownership have been named,El.kz reports.

A study by analytics firm Newzoo found that the United States remains the global leader in smartphone penetration, with 81.6% of the population using them. Japan ranks second with 78.6%, followed by Russia (73.6%), while China and Indonesia have around 68%. Rapid growth is also being recorded in Latin American countries, particularly Brazil and Mexico.

At the same time, major markets such as India (46.5%), Nigeria (38.1%), and Pakistan (31%) still represent areas with vast potential for further expansion. The main barrier remains device affordability — millions of people continue to use basic phones or share a single smartphone among several users.

According to Semrush, mobile devices now account for over 63% of global internet traffic, confirming that the world has firmly entered the era of mobile internet. Most Google searches are performed on smartphones — a fact that shapes the digital strategies of companies and brands.

Data from the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows that in Q2 2025, global smartphone shipments rose by 1% year-on-year, reaching 295.2 million units. The main growth drivers were affordable Android models and the expansion of internet access in developing countries.

In advanced economies — such as the U.S. and Japan — growth is driven by device upgrades and rising demand for premium smartphones equipped with AI features. Experts note that smartphones are evolving from simple gadgets into key instruments of the digital future.

As for Kazakhstan, DataReportal reports that at the beginning of 2025, there were 26.6 million mobile connections — equivalent to about 128% of the population — with internet coverage reaching 92.9%. Although exact figures for smartphone penetration haven’t been published, market conditions suggest that Kazakhstan is approaching the levels seen in mature digital economies.