QR Code Statistics 2023: Latest Statista Report and Global Use Cases

Analyzing statistical research empowers business owners to gauge the effectiveness of specific strategies or anticipate market trends for particular products.

Accordingly, it's advisable to delve into QR code statistics before integrating these versatile two-dimensional barcodes into your business operations.

You might have previously encountered or scanned QR codes, as they've become omnipresent, spanning various domains, from payments to contact tracing.

However, more than merely ubiquity is needed to substantiate their efficacy. That's where QR code statistics step in, providing crucial insights to inform your decision-making process.

QR Code Adoption: QR Code Usage Statistics and Cases Around the World

With technological advancement, you can even create a custom QR code without breaking the bank using a free QR code generator.

In 2002, the black and white square code was widely used in Japan due to the invention of the smartphone camera. And companies have been using these codes in marketing since 2008. 

Unfortunately, these codes ran into a lot of roadblocks and were still misunderstood in 2011. Due to the lack of technology, people had to download a third-party app to scan the QR code. 

Besides, there are also problems related to the previous use of QR codes. 

According to Forbes Magazine, QR codes are placed in which consumers will have difficulty scanning them. 

Other codes then also redirected to a broken link, further increasing consumer suspicion. 

Thankfully, the third-party app download barrier was overcome when smartphone companies started integrating QR code scanners into their mobile phones in 2017. 

The percentage of smartphone users who scanned the QR code then increased.

QR code statistics show that QR code usage has increased from 21% in 2013 to 34% in 2017. 

QR code usage statistics have been steadily increasing since then. Coupons redeemed using QR Codes also quadrupled from 1.3 billion QR code coupons in 2017 to 5.3 billion QR code coupons in 2019. 

In a study conducted in 2019 by the Global Web Index, QR codes The percentage of users of QR codes globally was 8% in North America, 13% out of 15% in Asia Pacific, and 10% in Europe and Middle East Asia. 

America

You may have seen or scanned at least one of these two-dimensional codes.

These black-and-white codes can also make various processes convenient and interactive. 

But it wasn’t until recently that these QR codes were accepted in the US. One study found that only 6.2% of smartphone users in the United States scanned a QR code in 2011. 

In 2012,  INC magazine also said that 97% of consumers do not know what a QR code is.

According to the magazine, QR codes are the next dinosaur in marketing and are expected to go extinct. 

This continued until 2017, when a popular social media platform in the US, Snapchat, used QR codes on its platform called Snapcode.

Snapcodes were scanned 8 million times per day in 2017 to add friends, unblock filters, and open websites. 

That same year, Apple updated and integrated a QR code scanner on their iPhone software, allowing people to scan QR codes without downloading a third-party app. 

Thereafter, QR code usage increased and reached 34% of scanners in 2018. 

From 2018, QR Code Interactions grew by 94% in 2020.

This means that consumers are now scanning QR codes more often, resulting in a 96% increase in QR code reach over the same period. 

1. QR code-based payment system

 Now, the use of QR codes in the US has increased rapidly.

The Statista report shows that, in the US alone, 11 million households scanned QR codes in 2020.

There is a significant growth from 9.76 million scans in 2018.

In another September 2020 survey of politicians, it found that 18.8% of consumers in the United States strongly agree that they have noticed an increase in QR code usage since when COVID-19-related shelter-in-place orders began in March 2020.

Now, even though we’re past the first quarter of 2021, interest in QR codes is growing. According to PYMNTS, 11 million households in the US are predicted to use QR codes this year for payments. And half of all restaurants in the US now also offer QR codes. 

Additionally, contactless payments, including payment methods that support QR codes, have increased by 150% in the US since March 2019, thus boosting QR code usage by 11% as the pandemic occurs (PYMNTS).

Add to Doa, The How We Shop Report says that more than a third of consumers who prefer to pay with QR codes say they would not complete a purchase if that option wasn’t available to them.

The report shows that consumers who prefer to shop with QR codes are among the most loyal.

All of this highlights that consumer expectations are changing rapidly due to safety concerns, and QR codes are one of the best options used by sellers to keep up with this phenomenon.

Other countries like Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Venezuela also integrate QR codes into their payment systems.

2. QR Code on food packaging labels

QR codes are also widely used in food labels and packaging in Canada. 

Statistical reports say that 57% have scanned food QR codes to get product-specific information.

Followed by 43% of Canadian consumers who said they scanned a food QR code to visit a brand’s website

Source: politician

Furthermore, 34% of consumers scanned QR codes on food labels to receive product or company information and entered a contest.

While 25% scan the code to get the recipe, only 9% scan the code to play the game.

Source: Statistics

The chart above shows the percentage of Canadian consumers who use their mobile phones to scan barcodes or QR codes when shopping in-store and broken down by gender.

Statista’s survey showed that during the survey period, 16% of male respondents used their smartphones to scan QR codes to get information.

While only 10% of women polled said, they used their smartphone to scan a barcode or QR code to get more information.

In summary, EY Canada says that the widespread adoption of QR codes in Canada is one of the key tools in the economic recovery on the front lines of Canadian business.

3. Application of QR codes in the tourism industry

Ecuador uses QR codes for many reasons.

They use it to promote their tourism industry by stamping a QR code on one of its biggest exports – bananas. 

The Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism depends on 24 million tons of bananas exported worldwide annually. 

Image source: Springwise

“Every banana now has a QR code on the sticker to encourage consumers to learn more about the origin of their food.

When they scan the code, they will be directed to a promotional video for the country and then to the Department of Tourism website,” according to Springwise.

Furthermore, Ecuador is also using QR codes to register people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 as well as track them.

QR code technology is also used to notify people of the due date for the second dose of the vaccine. 

Finally, businesses in Ecuador also use QR codes for visitors to scan with their phones for touchless transactions, complying with covid-19 health and safety precautions.

A key factor in the continued use of QR codes in Ecuador is the growing number of smartphone users in the country.

According to a 2019 Statista report 46% of the Ecuadorian population owns a smartphone, up from 6.2% in 2012.

Furthermore, in Costa Rica, QR Codes are also used to make finding directions easy.

For example, the historic and national hospital of San Juan de Dios in the Costa Rican capital San Jose offers visitors interactive navigation and information points spread out in the main alleyways and concourses among the 36 buildings. The hospital is like a maze.

Guests can access the itinerary by scanning the QR code on the screen. 

Other countries like Jamaica, Belize, and the Dominican Republic use QR codes in their tourism industry. 

4. QR code for administrative procedures

QR codes are used in El Salvador to simplify administrative procedures for registered small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

 This technology is used to verify the authenticity of an online business by scanning a QR code.

Uruguay has been using QR code technology for different purposes.

The Uruguayan government mandates that street shops and restaurants must place QR stickers on their premises, detailing how they pay taxes. 

Furthermore, the government is also obligating that all businesses that print e-invoices must include a digital certificate represented via a QR code with financial information allowing for invoice verification.

QR codes are also used for products such as meat, for verifying travel documents, and in airlines. 

Apply QR codes in Europe

QR codes are also uncommon in Europe. In a study conducted by Statista, it was noted that only 5% of European consumers scan QR codes when shopping.

While only 9% of the German population scans a QR code. 

This percentage doubled in 2019. And this number will continue to grow in 2020.

In a study conducted by MobileIron poll, more than half of respondents, or 54%, found it. the proliferation of QR codes.

Respondents are consumers across Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, and France.

The same study also showed that 72% had scanned a QR code a month before the study was conducted.

67% of respondents agree that these codes make life easier, while 58% support their great use. 

These codes are also widely used in galleries and museums in Italy.

The data shows that more than 30% offer QR codes, while 40% are interested in providing QR codes in the future. (Statistics 2021)

1. QR code for easy access to license digital drivers

Denmark now offers digital licenses for its drivers. With this digital license, drivers will no longer have to carry their actual license. 

To conveniently confirm the authenticity of the digital license, the digital license app has a built-in QR code feature.

With this feature, the police will no longer have to hold the vehicle owner’s smartphone to validate a driver’s license. 

The only thing the police need to do is scan the QR code with their designated QR code scanner app. 

2. QR code when entering through the border

QR code users have also increased in Ireland. The number of consumers who scanned a QR Code in the last quarter was reported to be close to 1 million. 

There are also reports that the number of adults using QR codes has doubled since January 2021. QR codes have been adopted and reached the mass market in Ireland.

Regarding the Covid 19 protocol, Ireland has also developed a Covidpass that uses QR codes for immigrants.

Before immigrants cross the border, they must fill out an electronic questionnaire with their basic information.

After submitting the confirmation application, the immigrant will receive a QR code. The immigrant will then present this QR code to the border guards before crossing the border.  

3. QR code ensures product quality 

To know the quality of the salmon, the Norwegian Fisheries Association uses QR codes.

The Norwegian Fisheries Association has partnered with International Business Machines Corp. to collect data on salmon provided. 

Information such as where the salmon is bred, where the salmon is stored, and shipping information will be accessed simply by scanning a QR code. With this QR code, consumers can ensure that the product is always fresh. 

4. QR code for a secure voting system 

Estonia’s internet base’s i-Voting system has also integrated QR codes. To ensure that the voter’s vote was counted and to ensure that the vote was registered correctly, a QR code was generated.

The QR code acts as the ID of the vote and displays the list of candidates that the voter voted for. 

Asia 

QR codes were first developed in Japan; therefore, they are expected to be more popular in Asia than in other parts of the world.

The previously mentioned global QR code usage statistics show that East Asia has the highest QR code usage at 15% in 2019. 

China is known as a leader in the use of QR codes.

And since they developed QR code payments in 2011, they’ve used it for everything from renting portable chargers to paying for groceries. 

It is also noted that the total payment transactions made with QR codes in 2017 amounted to $550 billion. This number has grown 15 times in three years and reached $1.5 trillion in the 2019 quarter. 

While the Japanese have updated their phones and incorporated QR code scanners on their smartphone cameras, they have been using these QR codes in their coupons since 2002.

Moreover, these QR codes are also popular in other Asian countries. 40% of India’s population uses QR codes, 27% of Vietnamese, and 23% of Thai consumers. 

1. QR code-based payment system 

While most countries are still looking to introduce QR codes, China has taken the lead.

This is because WeChat has made the country extremely obsessed with QR codes, leading to a spike in QR code acceptance statistics.

WeChat has opened up many avenues for the use of QR codes in the country; From then on, other apps also caught on. Before they knew it, the country’s citizens were already treating QR codes as part of everyday life.

As a result, $1.65 trillion worth of transactions were made through QR code payments in 2016 alone.

That value has increased dramatically in the following years, especially since, according to a 2019 survey, 50% of QR code scanners manage to scan QR codes as often as several times a week.

China ranks as the fastest-growing country in terms of mobile payments.

Easily overtakes the US along with the rest of the world. All thanks to the advent of QR codes.

In 2018, although 74% were aware of QR code-based payments in Thailand, only 23% used these QR codes regularly in their payment transactions. This number increased after the pandemic and reached 63% in May 2021. 

This is higher than the global average of 56%. Most of the respondents agreed that QR code-based payments are much more hygienic and convenient than direct payments.

In addition, 15% of the population of the Philippines, South Korea, and Singapore use QR codes as payment method. 

2. Tourism QR code

To help residents and visitors, Abu Dhabi has also integrated QR codes on signage to make it easier for tourists to travel around the emirate.

These QR codes have become the central part of their new address system.

Like in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi has also incorporated QR codes in street signs and building numbers. But these QR codes don’t just provide maps and street locations; they also provide historical context of the area.

Saudi Arabia has also implemented street signs using QR codes.

In their signage, they incorporated a QR code to redirect the scanner to the correct location, making it easier for visitors to find their way.

3. QR Code in Education

In order for students to access and read literary books easily, libraries in Kazakhstan use QR codes.

They display different book covers and corresponding QR codes on posters where students can easily select the QR code of the book they want to read with their phone or tablet.

 Readers can also choose their preferred language, Kazakh, Russian, or English.

Filipinos have also used QR codes not only in payment transactions but also in education.

Back when the Philippines still held face-to-face classes, a teacher used a QR Code to create a paperless way to check attendance.

The teacher provided each student with a digital or printed QR code. These codes are then scanned before his class begins. 

Then he transferred the data of the QR code he scanned into an Excel sheet.

4. QR Code in Agriculture

To gain higher market access and ensure the quality of their vegetables, a group of vegetable farmers is using QR codes.

 These QR codes provide product information such as product name, product origin, product preservation, planting date, harvest date, etc.

Consumers can find more information about farm cooperatives by scanning these QR codes.

Image source

 But these QR codes are not only useful for consumers but also aid exporters’ decision-making by analyzing the data provided by QR codes.

The data of the QR code, such as the number of scans and the location of the QR code scanning, can be tracked and recorded using the QR Code Tracking System. 

This data can be an important element of marketing if used well. 

5. QR code ensures food quality

To ensure that restaurants are serving halal food, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Research Institute in Indonesia (LPPON MUI) has established QR Codes in their food certificates.

 With these QR codes, customers can easily verify the authenticity of halal certificates at restaurants.

By scanning these QR codes with mobile phones, customers can easily check if the restaurant they are serving serves halal food.

Thus, allowing them to enjoy their food without worry. 

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Myanmar proposed to use of QR codes for more convenient and easier ingredient verification.

With a QR code, FDA approval for a product can be easily obtained by scanning the QR code on a mobile phone.

The Myanmar FDA QR Code provides the product label, manufacturing company name and address, contact number, manufacturing date, expiration date, serial number, and FDA license and certification number. 

Africa

1. QR code to increase app downloads

Jumia is considered the number one online retailer in Uganda. On Jumia’s website, they display a QR code that shoppers can scan to instantly download their app.

When scanned, this will redirect their customers to download the app.

Both work in Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Furthermore, Jumia even uses QR codes to redirect the scanner to a big sale. 

2. QR codes for blended learning

Bubble technology, a first in South Africa, uses QR codes in textbooks to unlock and enhance richer learning for students. 

The interlaced QR codes in the textbooks integrate traditional learning with a combination of digital content that makes the textbooks come to life and promotes student learning.

QR codes printed on textbooks lead students to multimedia content allowing students to unlock richer knowledge and make the interactive experience redirect the scanner to add audio and visual clips for the topic.

As the mobile phone usage rate in Algeria is over 111% and with most students having access to these gadgets, Algerian schools are also using QR Codes for blended learning and interaction.

Using QR codes that can redirect to any information, students use QR codes to send questions to their teachers, view platforms, ads, and grades, and listen to podcasts just by scanning the QR code. with their mobile device.

3. QR Code for Interactive Print Media 

Associated Media Publishing in South Africa, the leading independent publisher of women’s media brands in the country, launched a QR Code Print Media Campaign for its October 2018 issue.

Magazine QR codes lead readers to online stores, which allow them to shop and purchase products and merchandise featured in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Housekeeping, and many others.

They can purchase featured merchandise easily by scanning the QR code on the printout, providing a ready-to-shopping portal.

Magazine QR codes take the consumer content experience to a whole new level.

4. QR Code for Fog Harvest Tracking

5. Medical QR code for doctor’s drug bill number

To limit social interaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Moroccan government’s municipal agencies decided to develop an initiative to popularize e-services last year.

Pandemic response measures include the release of online information services and the implementation of services for citizens remotely and online.

The Moroccan School of Engineering Science ( During the DAY ) students also developed and innovated a medical invention called Moroccan Electronic Perspective, an app that can help reduce the spread of the COVID virus. -19.

This mobile application contains electronic/digitized information about a doctor’s prescription for a given patient.

The consultant will then send the digitized prescription to any pharmacy.

Patients identify their pharmacy with a QR code and receive their medication without any physical contact between the patient and the pharmacist.

Apply QR code in Australia

1.  QR code to check-in at public places

Businesses and other public places in South Australia have placed QR codes on their windows and entrances before entering the premises.

Site visitors need to pre-register by scanning a QR code to make it easier for South Australian Health to find where people have been during the coronavirus outbreak and also to help businesses gather information client.

2. Print magazine QR code for interactive print media

Image source: QR code cover on Adnews

Adnews is the media, marketing and technology industry in Australia.

With a mission to create amazing, creative and inspirational covers every month, Adnews decided to come up with the best idea of ​​using QR codes in partnership with BMF, an innovative company.

“Playing with QR codes was one of the first things we recorded. We like the simplicity and the fact that it can also have some utility out of the box. When we mentioned our ideas to other creators around BMF, it was also their favorite idea.”

“QR Codes are one of the best comeback stories of the year. This incredibly confusing technology has now become a part of our daily lives and is vitally important in the world that is opening up to us once again.

It is undeniably uplifting, and for us, it signals that there is hope for the future without preaching or saccharification. We knew it would also give us the platform to liven up a visually appealing and interesting cover.”

The advertising agency said in an interview

3. Fashion show QR code

What’s behind these women’s gowns? We’ll leave it to your imagination… and only when you scan the QR code will you know!

Klarna, the Australian shopping app, is redefining the meaning of fashion shows with QR codes. 

Instead of wearing extravagant outfits, models from an Australian fashion show walked down the runway in gowns and QR codes in hand.

When a customer scans a QR code through the Klarna shopping app – social distancing, of course, it redirects the scanner to reveal outfits the scanner can instantly buy.

4. QR code for touchless menu

In Sydney, Australia, QR code menus were sent out to menu cardboards to comply with industry plans for COVID-19.

Although QR codes are not new, they have increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

QR codes have provided restaurants and cafes in Australia with a new way to contactless ordering.

From the traditional hardcover that is popular with diners, the QR code menu is digitally accessible with a smartphone and displays the menu on the user’s smartphone device.

The continuous evolution of QR codes around the world 

Every year, more and more organizations are starting to use QR codes to modernize the way they do things, and for a good reason.

There is also a steady growth of audiences using the use of technology.

More and more people are integrating QR codes into their daily lives, engaging in them more often and searching for products that are implementing them effectively.

Between 2018 and 2019, the total number of interactions increased by 26%. This means more unique people start participating in QR code activities.

On the other hand, repeat engagement shows a 35% increase, indicating that people are scanning the QR code more than once.

In terms of overall reach, QR code stats saw a 28% growth in the same 2018 to 2019 timeframe.

This shows the continued penetration of QR codes among customers, and the statistics on QR code popularity are large enough to show further growth in the coming years.

These numbers speak for a trend: QR code statistics are not decreasing. If anything, it shows continued exponential growth in the years to come.

QR code usage statistics will increase in the future

With confidence, the growth in QR code statistics is not just conjecture but is actually expected to be driven by two key factors: increased accessibility to mobile devices and high-speed internet.

These will eventually further strengthen the appeal of QR codes in the modern market.  

According to a recent study by Juniper Research, 90% of the world’s population will have access to high-speed internet. 

That, combined with more people accessing smartphones, increases QR code acceptance statistics.

South Africa is just one of the regions in the world that are experiencing economic challenges but will have 80% of the population owning a smartphone by 2021.

Topping the list of smartphone penetration in the UK with almost 83% of the population already owning one.

An additional factor in the increase in QR code usage statistics is the availability of most mobile devices. Apple devices are integrated with QR code readers whether the user intends to use them or not, resulting in an easy transition.  

According to Apple, 92% of its devices are ready for QR codes. This is after they introduced the QR code reading feature in the camera app since iOS 12. 

QR code stats certainly don’t lie. The evidence supporting the development and viability of QR codes in the coming years is indisputable. 

Without a doubt, QR codes are a worthwhile investment for long-term marketing and business.

It is starting to become an integral part of many people’s daily lives, and as a business owner, to benefit a lot from this, you should join it as soon as possible.

If you have more questions about QR codes,  contact us now.