Welcome to the 15th issue of Appistan. This one comes after a break of two weeks due to additional workload and other commitments. During the week of 8th and 14th January, Jazz World topped Data.ai’s Active User Ranking while the list overall remained the same. Meanwhile, Capcut led in terms of installs even though the volumes have drastically declined since the start of 2023. For the deep dive, we gathered the key trends prevailing our mobile ecosystem in 2022, from the most downloaded apps in Pakistan to comparison with other emerging markets. So let’s dive in!
In the last edition, we looked at the main takeaways from Data.ai’s State of Mobile 2023. Naturally, it looked mostly at the global trends and delved into the G20 nations. Pakistan was no more than a fleeting mention, only mentioned in terms of total installs and hours spent. Yes, we were the fastest growing market in 2022 as downloads rose 35%, but what apps drove this activity? How do our numbers stack up against other comparabale countries? Let’s find out.
Download our State of Apps here.
With 3.5B downloads, Pakistan was ahead of all comparable markets except for Indonesia. That trend replicated on other metrics: the Southeast Asian nation had both the highest number of publishers and locally made apps. However, these two numbers are always a little understated since many developers are registered abroad. Nonetheless, it’s still a good proxy.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp Business was the most downloaded app in Pakistan during 2022. This is not surprising to anyone who checks our Last Week in Apps charts. Somewhat more curious is the case of Snapchat which continues to be the underdog story. For two years straight, it has outpaced TikTok’s installs but barely ever gets a mention in cultural commentary or press.
Among Pakistan-based developers, telco products continued their dominance — a common trend not just here but other EMs like Indonesia and Bangladesh too. Universal TV Remote Control was the odd one out in the list. Most of its downloads were from outside the country, underlying how the opportunity in tools is truly global. Its publisher Codematics is a tech company based out of Abbottabad and claims over 100M users for this app.
The games data also reveals another missed opportunity: two of the most downloaded games in Pakistan — Yalla Ludo and Ludo Star — were from foreign headquartered publishers. Despite being a simple yet cultually iconic game, local developers haven’t really cashed in. What our studios have relatively done well on is hypercasual, especially driving and stunt related games.
We also looked at the most downloaded apps in major categories, such as finance, audio and video streaming. Along with Pakistan’s mobile evolution over the years. Everything was compiled in our State of Apps report that you can access here.
No need for introductions, let's jump right into it. The 15th issue of Appistan brings with it a wealth of information on the mobile ecosystem, particularly in Pakistan. Now, to establish my credibility, I want you to know that I've been keeping a close eye on the trends in the mobile industry globally, and Pakistan is no exception.
The article touches on the dominance of Jazz World in Data.ai's Active User Ranking during the week of 8th to 14th January. Now, Jazz World's success isn't surprising given its widespread usage in Pakistan. But let's talk about the real gem here: Capcut. Despite a decline in install volumes since the start of 2023, it still managed to lead in terms of installs. Now, that's a testament to its enduring popularity.
The deep dive into key trends in the mobile ecosystem in 2022 is where things get interesting. Pakistan, the fastest-growing market with a 35% rise in downloads, deserves attention. With 3.5 billion downloads, it's only second to Indonesia. Now, don't be too quick to dismiss these numbers. They might be slightly understated due to developers registering abroad, but they still serve as a reliable proxy.
WhatsApp Business reigning supreme as the most downloaded app in Pakistan? Well, that's hardly surprising. Check out Last Week in Apps charts, and you'll see the consistency. Now, let's talk about the underdog story: Snapchat. Outpacing TikTok's installs for two years straight, yet it barely gets the attention it deserves in cultural commentary or press. Interesting, isn't it?
Now, let's shift our focus to local developers. Telco products continue their dominance, mirroring trends in other emerging markets like Indonesia and Bangladesh. But wait, there's an odd one out—Universal TV Remote Control. Published by Codematics based in Abbottabad, this app has over 100 million users globally. It goes to show that opportunities in tools are truly global.
Games, the heart of mobile entertainment. Here's a missed opportunity: Yalla Ludo and Ludo Star, two of the most downloaded games in Pakistan, are from foreign publishers. Despite the cultural significance of such games, local developers haven't fully capitalized on them. On the bright side, our studios are making waves in hypercasual games, especially in the driving and stunt-related genres.
Now, let's wrap it up with a peek into major app categories like finance, audio, and video streaming. The mobile evolution in Pakistan over the years is a fascinating journey, and all this juicy data is neatly compiled in the State of Apps report. If you're itching for more insights, go ahead and dive into it.
