Digital Identity App Installations to Reach 5.2 Billion by 2029

A new study from Juniper Research found the remote onboarding of users will drive the growth in digital identity app downloads by 126% globally. This will expand the market from 2.3 billion apps installed this year to 5.2 billion in 2029.

This growth is largely driven by standardization, such as the EU rolling out the eIDAS2 framework and the UK’s Digital Identity and Trust Framework, making it easier to build integrations between identity apps and third-party services. The report identified the use of biometrics to verify the user against stored identity credentials as critical for streamlining the user experience. This process is faster and more secure than verification methods, such as passwords or one-time passcodes; incentivizing digital identity app integration into a more diverse set of services, such as eGovernment and financial services.

The report found that given their typically poor user experience, eGovernment services will be strong early adopters of digital identity integration. Given how vital access to government services is, this will translate into fast consumer adoption. “Providers of identity apps must prioritize integration with government services to facilitate this high-value use case. Governments must redesign eGovernment services to fully leverage digital identity apps; improving user experience and catalyzing overall adoption,” commented report author Michael Greenwood.