Apple App Store Report 2023: More Downloads, More Developers, More Removals

Hey Apple fans! Exciting news from Apple’s latest App Store Transparency Report for 2023. That year’s report highlights a surge in app downloads and an influx of new developers, alongside a significant number of app removals, many due to government requests.

Every year, Apple gives us a peek behind the curtain with its App Store Transparency Report. It's like a treasure trove of information about how we interact with the App Store, how apps get reviewed, what developers are up to, and more.

Big Numbers in 2023

2023 was a big year! User engagement went through the roof with the App Store averaging 734.6 million weekly visitors, up from 656.7 million in 2022. That’s a lot of eyeballs checking out apps!

App downloads also shot up. Weekly downloads hit nearly 788 million, compared to about 748 million the year before. This means more and more of us are exploring new apps every week.

Developer Boom

Developers are flocking to the App Store too. In 2023, the number of registered Apple developers reached over 42 million, jumping up from nearly 37 million in 2022. This means more innovative apps and games for us to enjoy.

Fighting Fraud

Apple is serious about keeping things safe. In 2023, they blocked over $1.8 billion in fraudulent transactions. That’s a lot of money saved from scammers!

App Reviews and Approvals

Apple reviewed almost 6.9 million app submissions last year, but they didn’t approve all of them right away. They initially rejected about 1.8 million apps, mostly due to performance issues, design concerns, and safety violations. But don’t worry, 277,923 apps got the green light after fixing these issues.

Why Apps Got Removed

Apple is now more transparent about why apps get removed from the store. In 2023, games were the most removed category, with 17,853 takedowns. Utilities and business apps followed closely. The main reasons for removal were design violations, fraud, and intellectual property issues.

Government Takedowns

Governments had a say in some removals too. About 14,629 apps were taken down due to regulatory demands, with a whopping 12,851 of those from mainland China. Many of these were games lacking a required license.

So, there you have it! 2023 was a year of growth and vigilance for the App Store. More downloads, more developers, and a cleaner, safer platform for everyone. Can’t wait to see what’s next!