Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Oct 06, 2025
Despite incredible growth in IT and similar digital realms, the Android app development industry in Pakistan noted a significant decline in 2024, with output dropping by 55% year-over-year to only 1,700 apps.
The revelation was made in the State of Apps 2024 report by Data Darbar, an independent data analysis firm which uses data from Appfigures. This steep decline is one of the sharpest in the country’s digital economy.
iOS app development remained stable, the report outlined, stating that 784 new apps were launched during the same period, consistent with production levels since 2022.
Considering this disparity, analysts suggested that Apple’s platform offers better monetisation opportunities, attracting developers even though most users in Pakistan are more into Android development.
The report by Data Darbar cited several reasons for the decline in Android app development, including rising development costs, lower earnings, and tough competition from global developers.
Another factor behind the outcome plunge is that numerous local developers are now registering their developer accounts abroad to evade payment restrictions and tax issues, meaning their contributions do not reflect in local analytics.
Besides, Pakistan's active app developer community dipped by 26%, falling to about 1,400 by the end of 2024. This was the lowest number in five years.
With skilled developers seeking better opportunities overseas, this trend shows a growing brain drain in the tech sector.
Experts also warned that Pakistan’s app development ecosystem may struggle to recover if these challenges persist, which might limit its presence in the global digital market.
