There are very few statistics available for iPhone app developers in Scotland. Often, clients will ask “how big is the market” or “how many scots own iPhones” and it is hard to give an accurate answer. Clients also ask about the OS market share to see if developing for Android, BlackBerry or Nokia would reach a wider audience.

Accurate data is hard to come by. Apple only release data for the UK and never break down app downloads or devices purchased for a specific country, such as Scotland. As Scotland’s leading app developers, we thought it was a good idea to bring together what statistics are available and try to determine the size of the Scottish market for apps and a breakdown of usage by OS. The results can be applied to the app market in Scotland as a whole or can represent the app market in individual cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Dundee.

The total population of Scotland is 5,194,000 and according to a recent a study 85% of our population own a mobile phone. Of this 85%, or 4,414,900, findings suggest that 73.5% own a Smartphone. The chart below represents the UK’s smartphone usage by platform, as you can see, Symbian (Nokia) is top and iOS is second. 

Assuming the iOS market share in the UK is the same as Scotland, these figures indicate there are 960,506 iPhone users in Scotland.  So, almost a million iPhone users in Scotland, quite impressive…(and an easy figure to quote to clients!)

Waracle provide app development services for businesses across Scotland, the UK and internationally. If you would like to develop an application please get in touch on 01382 529528 or d.romilly@waracle.com