Google Chrome is used by an estimated 3.83 billion people worldwide as of early 2026, according to data compiled by Backlinko. That number is up from 3.06 billion in 2020, a 25% increase over five years. Chrome holds 67.72% of the global browser market across all devices, and its closest competitor, Apple’s Safari, sits at roughly 18%. Here is a full breakdown of the global Chrome user base in 2026, including market share by device, region, and user demographics.
Global Chrome User Base Key Statistics
- Chrome has an estimated 3.83 billion users worldwide as of 2026, up 5.8% year over year.
- Chrome holds 67.72% of the global browser market share across all platforms.
- In the United States, Chrome’s market share is 52.23%, lower than the global average.
- Chrome for Android accounts for 40.58% of total browser market share globally.
- The Chrome Web Store hosts 111,933 extensions, with 55.5% classified as productivity tools.
Global Chrome User Base Growth (2016 to 2026)
Chrome has added roughly 770 million new users since 2020. Growth was strongest between 2018 and 2022, when global internet adoption accelerated in developing markets across Asia and Africa. Since 2023, the pace has slowed but stayed on an upward path.
The browser crossed the 3 billion user mark around 2020 and reached 3.83 billion by late 2025. That trajectory tracks closely with the growth of global internet users, which reached 6.04 billion in 2026 according to Yaguara.
Global Chrome User Base Market Share by Device
Chrome’s market share varies by device type. It dominates desktop and mobile browsers, but faces stiffer competition on tablets where Apple’s Safari benefits from iPad sales.
| Device | Chrome Market Share | Nearest Competitor | Competitor Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop | 65.67% | Microsoft Edge | 13.78% |
| Mobile | 68.34% | Safari | 22.89% |
| Tablet | 48.69% | Safari | 31.19% |
On mobile, Chrome benefits from being the default browser on Android devices. In the US mobile market specifically, Safari leads with 50.18% because of high iPhone adoption, while Chrome holds 42.49% of US mobile browser share.
Global Chrome User Base: Desktop vs Mobile Traffic
Mobile devices now generate 62.54% of global web traffic, and Chrome captures roughly two-thirds of that traffic. Chrome on mobile alone accounts for about 41.6% of all web traffic worldwide, making it the single largest browsing platform by traffic volume.
Global Chrome User Base by Region
Chrome adoption rates vary significantly across regions. South America shows the highest penetration, while North America is Chrome’s weakest major market due to Apple’s strong presence.
| Region | Chrome Market Share | Safari Market Share |
|---|---|---|
| South America | 78.95% | 11.83% |
| Africa | 75.77% | 9.66% |
| Asia | 71.34% | 13.75% |
| Europe | 60.91% | 20.21% |
| North America | 56.75% | 31.50% |
| Oceania | 52.88% | 30.38% |
In India, Chrome accounts for 87.63% of browser usage, the highest adoption rate of any large country. In the United Kingdom, Chrome holds 48.87% against Safari’s 32.93%. Android’s affordability advantage in emerging markets explains much of Chrome’s regional strength in South America, Africa, and Asia.
Global Chrome User Base Demographics
Chrome skews younger and male. The 25 to 34 age group is the largest user segment, and men make up nearly two-thirds of the user base.
| Age Group | Share of Chrome Users |
|---|---|
| 18 to 25 | 27.33% |
| 25 to 34 | 29.00% |
| 35 to 44 | 18.98% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.19% |
| 55 to 64 | 7.46% |
| 65+ | 5.04% |
The gender split is 61.67% male and 38.33% female. Chrome’s popularity among younger users correlates with Android’s dominance in markets where smartphone adoption skews toward the 18 to 34 demographic.
How Chrome Compares to Other Browsers in 2026
Chrome’s nearest competitor, Safari, holds roughly 18% of the global market. After that, the field drops off sharply. Edge has gained some ground through Windows 11 pre-installation, while Firefox and Opera each hold small single-digit shares.
About 83% of all browser usage in 2025 was Chromium-based, counting Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave, and Samsung Internet. That gives Google significant influence over web standards and how browsers render content. Privacy-focused browsers like Brave grew 34% year over year but still represent a small fraction of total usage.
Global Chrome User Base: Extension Ecosystem
The Chrome Web Store had 111,933 extensions as of August 2024, down from 137,345 in May 2020. Google has been removing inactive and low-quality extensions over this period.
Productivity extensions account for 55.5% of all available add-ons, followed by lifestyle extensions at 33.3%. The distribution is heavily skewed: 86.3% of extensions have fewer than 1,000 users, and only 0.24% have passed the 1 million user mark. The average Chrome user accumulates several extensions but actively uses only a fraction of them.
The Chrome mobile app was downloaded 83.89 million times on iOS and Android as of September 2025. On Google Play alone, Chrome has passed 10 billion lifetime downloads.
Google Chrome’s Regulatory Challenges
Chrome’s dominance has drawn antitrust attention. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice escalated its lawsuit against Google and suggested that a forced divestiture of Chrome could be one remedy to restore competition in the search market. The DOJ’s argument centers on Chrome’s role as a distribution channel for Google Search, given that Chrome defaults to Google as its search engine.
In the European Union, regulatory pressure has slightly slowed Chrome’s growth, though the browser still holds about 61% of the European market. Google also settled a $5 billion class-action lawsuit in 2024 over data collection practices in Incognito mode.
FAQs
How many people use Google Chrome in 2026?
An estimated 3.83 billion people use Google Chrome worldwide in 2026, according to Backlinko. That figure is up from 3.62 billion the previous year.
What is Chrome’s global market share in 2026?
Chrome holds 67.72% of the global browser market share across desktop, mobile, and tablet devices as of late 2025.
Which region uses Chrome the most?
South America has the highest Chrome adoption at 78.95%. India leads among individual countries at 87.63%.
What age group uses Chrome the most?
Users aged 25 to 34 are the largest group, accounting for 29% of Chrome’s user base. The 18 to 25 group is second at 27.33%.
How many Chrome extensions are available?
There are 111,933 Chrome extensions on the Chrome Web Store. Over 55% fall under the productivity category.
