Data & Research

Norway the most lucrative App Store in terms of average price per download

37c compared to 4c in China

Norway the most lucrative App Store in terms of average price per download
Analytics outfit App Annie has thrown together another batch of app market insights, wrapping up stats regarding worldwide paid downloads rates, IAP monetisation rates and a comparison between iPad and iPhone into an easy-on-the-eye infographic.

Titled The Rise of the Planet of the Apps, the report shows that worldwide, Norway emerges as the most lucrative country in terms of revenue per download, earning 37c on average, followed by Australia and the US with 32c and 22c respectively.

In China, the average price per download is a mere 4c.

Small world

China and Japan represent the areas boasting the highest download growth rates, the former growing by 293 percent in terms of downloads and 187 in terms of revenue during 2011.

In Japan meanwhile growth rate of downloads hit 98 percent, while revenues grew by 88 percent.

"These markets are becoming increasingly important for international app publishers - notably apps such as Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja already have huge audiences in these regions," noted the App Annie blog post.

"Look for international app publishers to continue to raise their game in their understanding of localisation, Asian tastes for UI and local marketing channels."

Tapping Japan

Another significant finding was that while the number one app in the US manages to generate more than 10 times the revenue of China top grossing app in the domestic market, a Japan #1 earns 90 percent compared to the US.



As App Annie points out this is for "a country that has 1/6 the smartphone population."

"What's significant is that you need only acquire a fraction of the users in Japan to earn the same revenue as in the US."

Of course, the difference is that a #1 hit in the US is typically a global hit, while Japanese are much less successful in other countries. 

IAPs or bust

Apps including IAPs are monetising at more than double the rate of those apps without.

"By Dec 2011, apps with IAP were monetising 2.2X more than apps without IAP," noted App Annie.



"If you have a great product, you'll raise your revenue ceilings with a freemium rather than premium model.

"We've seen leading publishers like EA, Glu, and Gameloft place bets on freemium in the past year with considerable revenue gains."

Catch up Google

The final batch of stats pertains to the rise of the iPad, which has seen download rates rise by 200 percent compared to 70 percent on the iPhone.

Also the iPad has come to represent a 30 percent slice of overall iOS revenue, with iPhone and iPod touch representing the other 70 percent.

"The significant revenue share validates Apple's continued efforts in iPad innovation and marketing, which would soon manifest in the rumored upcoming release of iPad 3," commented App Annie.

"This should also be of significant interest to Google, who have yet to establish their own consumer market for tablets."

[source: App Annie]

When Matt was 7 years old he didn't write to Santa like the other little boys and girls. He wrote to Mario. When the rotund plumber replied, Matt's dedication to a life of gaming was established. Like an otaku David Carradine, he wandered the planet until becoming a writer at Pocket Gamer.