In a significant shift, the Google Play Store has witnessed a staggering 47% decline in the number of available apps, dropping from approximately 3.4 million to 1.8 million since the start of 2024. According to an analysis by app intelligence provider Appfigures, this drastic reduction is not part of a larger global trend, as Apple's iOS App Store has seen a slight increase in app count during the same period.

The decline is largely attributed to Google's efforts to improve the overall quality of apps on its platform. In July 2024, the company announced it would raise the minimum quality requirements for apps, banning those that demonstrate "limited functionality and content." This includes static apps without app-specific features, apps with little content, and those designed to do nothing or have no function. Google has also expanded its verification requirements, introduced required app testing for new personal developer accounts, and increased human reviews to detect apps that attempt to deceive or defraud users.

Google's stricter app review process is a departure from its previous approach, which relied heavily on automated checks and malware scans. This lighter touch had led to the marketplace being overrun with lower-quality apps, making it challenging for users to find reliable and useful applications. The new measures aim to provide a better experience for Android device owners, who will no longer have to sift through scammy, spammy, and poor-quality apps to find the best ones.

The decline in app count may also benefit developers, who will face less competition and have an easier time gaining visibility for their apps. Additionally, Google's investments in AI for threat detection, stronger privacy policies, and improved developer tools are expected to further enhance the overall ecosystem.

Notably, the European Union's new trader status rule, enforced since February, requires developers to share their names and addresses in the app's listing. While this rule may have contributed to the decline in app count, it is not the primary factor, as Apple also implemented a similar requirement without seeing a decline in available apps.

Appfigures observed a decline in the number of apps on the Google Play Store even before the official start of the purge last summer, although the reason for this change is still unknown. Despite the decline, the firm notes that there have been 10,400 releases on Google Play so far this year, representing a 7.1% year-over-year increase as of April.

Google's efforts to improve the quality of its app marketplace are likely to have a lasting impact on the Android ecosystem. As the company continues to refine its app review process and invest in new technologies, users can expect a safer and more reliable experience. The move may also prompt other app marketplaces to reevaluate their own quality control measures, ultimately benefiting the entire mobile technology industry.