Nigeria smartphone ownership rises to 75 percent

Smartphone ownership in Nigeria has risen to 75 percent, up from 64 percent in 2023, according to the 2025 Nigeria Smartphone Study conducted by KPMG West Africa in partnership with Orange Group. The research, which surveyed 13,251 people across 12 major cities, indicates a significant shift from feature phones, which fell to 28 percent penetration from 36 percent in 2023.

Android remains the dominant operating system with an 88 percent market share, while Tecno leads among smartphone brands with a 30 percent presence. In the mobile application ecosystem, WhatsApp is the most prevalent app, appearing on 95 percent of surveyed devices, followed by Facebook at 87 percent and TikTok at 70 percent.

The study highlights the growing role of smartphones in financial services. OPay leads the fintech application market with a 69 percent presence on devices, followed by PalmPay at 29 percent. Other notable financial apps include Moniepoint, Access Bank, UBA, and GTBank. This digital shift is driven by Nigeria’s large, youthful population and increasing smartphone affordability.