Population, Internet Access, and Player Share: Where the Next Billion Gamers Will Come From

The global gaming landscape is changing fast. Population growth, internet access, and player spending are moving targets that define where the next big markets will emerge. For game developers, understanding these shifts isn’t optional, it’s essential for planning where to build, market, and invest. The world’s getting bigger, more connected, and more playable. Here’s what the data says about where we’re heading.

Global Population: The Starting Line for Every Digital Market

Population growth defines the potential audience. Asia remains the main hub, with roughly 4.8 billion people in 2025 and nearly 3 billion internet users. Africa, meanwhile, is the real long-term story. The continent’s population is projected to grow by +201% between 2000 and 2050, reaching 2.47 billion people. Table 1: Population Growth by Region (2000–2050)

Region	2000 (Billions)	2025 (Billions)	2050 (Billions)	Growth Rate (2000–2050)
Asia	3.72	4.80	5.28	+42%
Africa	0.82	1.47	2.47	+201%
Europe	0.73	0.74	0.70	-4%
South America	0.52	0.66	0.73	+40%
North America	0.31	0.38	0.43	+39%

Africa’s rapid population growth guarantees a constant flow of new digital consumers. For developers, this means an expanding long-term audience that will increasingly come online through mobile devices.

Internet Access: The Great Divide (and Opportunity)

Roughly 5.5 billion people are online in 2025, around two-thirds of the planet. The remaining 2.6 billion make up the untapped potential of the digital world. The divide between connected and unconnected populations remains steep:

High-income countries: 93% connected
Low-income countries: 27% connected
Urban areas: 81% connected
Rural areas: 50% connected

For studios, that gap isn’t just an infrastructure problem, it’s a future market opportunity. Table 2: Internet Access by Continent (2025 Estimate)

Continent	Internet Users (%)
North America	93%
Europe	89%
South America	78%
Asia	68%
Oceania	75%
Africa	43%

Africa’s connectivity has jumped sharply, from 26% in 2019 to 36% in 2022, and could exceed 1 billion users by 2030. This is where the next billion digital consumers will emerge, and where many new gamers will first come online.

Gaming Market: Volume vs. Value

The global gaming market is forecast to reach $522 billion in 2025 and grow to $733 billion by 2030. Yet, not all players contribute equally to that revenue. Asia Pacific leads in player numbers, holding 55% of the global gamer base, but North America dominates spending, with only 7% of global gamers generating the highest ARPU (Average Revenue Per User). This imbalance defines the modern gaming economy. Table 3: Gamer Share and ARPU Trend (2025 Estimates)

Region	Gamer Share	ARPU Trend
Asia Pacific	55%	Huge volume, variable ARPU
Europe	16%	Moderate volume, high ARPU
Middle East & Africa	12%	High growth, low ARPU
South America	10%	Moderate, low ARPU
North America	7%	Small volume, top ARPU

High-income markets rely on premium content and hardware, while growth markets lean on mobile and free-to-play ecosystems. The challenge for developers is balancing short-term monetization with long-term audience growth.

Forecast: Where It’s All Heading by 2030

Three trends are shaping the next wave of the digital and gaming economy:

Africa and India will scale rapidly. Connectivity and affordability will push both regions toward global prominence.
ARPU convergence is on the horizon. As economies mature, the revenue gap between high- and low-income regions will narrow.
Mobile stays dominant. For many players, mobile is their first and only gaming platform.

Developers targeting long-term growth should think mobile-first, design for lower-end hardware, and integrate local payment solutions. The focus is not just on reaching players, it’s on keeping them engaged and monetized as income levels rise.

The Takeaway

For game developers, the next decade is about rethinking where growth comes from.

Tier 1 (North America, Europe, Japan): Prioritize innovation and ARPU growth.
Tier 2 (China, South America): Bridge connectivity gaps and localize effectively.
Tier 3 (Africa, India): Build scalable, affordable mobile ecosystems and invest early.

The next billion gamers are already on the horizon. They’ll be mobile-first, globally connected, and eager for great experiences. The studios that prepare now will own that future. More to read here: