5 of the Top Ten Fastest Growing iPhone App Markets in Asia

The Rise of iPhone App Markets in Asia

While detailed country-by-country iOS growth data isn't widely public today, the trend identified in earlier Distimo and App Annie reports—highlighting Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea—continues to resonate: Asia remains a high-growth region for iPhone app revenue.

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Asia’s Current Role in the Global iPhone App Market

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• The Asia-Pacific region generated $84.8B from mobile app sales in 2024, with the Apple App Store leading regional revenue among app stores
• Japan, with ~66% iPhone market share, remains a core iOS powerhouse and one of Apple’s most lucrative regions globally
• Southeast Asia, notably Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, is rapidly expanding. Thailand generated ~$162M in iOS in-app purchase revenue in early 2025—outpacing its peers in the region Sensor Tower.

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Localization Is Essential to Capture Asian Markets

• In markets like Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, 70% of top iPhone apps feature local-language branding and UI, signaling strong preference for native-language experiences.
• Japanese users spend the most per app download globally, making Japan a high-ROI target for localization.
• In Southeast Asia, localized mobile games—especially titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang—demonstrate how culturally tailored apps can capture large audiences and boost revenue Sensor Tower.

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What does it mean for App Developers

• Although early 2010s reports led by Distimo and App Annie identified Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Korea among the fastest- growing iOS markets, Asia remains highly dynamic and revenue-rich in 2025.
• Japan continues to be a top-tier monetization market with high spending per user.
• Localization—especially to local language and culturally relevant content—is critical to chart success and maximize conversions across Asia.
• Southeast Asia is emerging fast, with strong downloads and monetization in countries like Indonesia and Thailand.

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Want to take a piece of the lucrative Asian markets? Increase your chance by localizing your app!

This post is written by OneSky, a translation management platform specifically designed for mobile apps and websites. Find out more.

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