Digital identity app usage to hit 6.2 billion by 2030, driven by shift to decentralised models

A new study by global tech strategists Juniper Research has found that the number of installed Digital ID apps will surge from 2.8 billion in 2025 to 6.2 billion in 2030; representing a rapid growth rate of 121%.

The research found that efforts by governments worldwide to digitise identity credentials are fuelling a surge in digital identity adoption; supported by the increasing use of a decentralised approach by government schemes. Digital identity system roll-outs are increasingly being prioritised to reduce fraud and increase efficiency within government processes, but are taking drastically different forms across markets.

“Governments are investing resources into centralised digital identity systems, but adoption will stall unless users have real control. Decentralised models that let citizens decide exactly what data they share are essential to building trust and driving uptake,” explained Louis Atkin, Research Analyst at Juniper Research.

Self-sovereign Identity Suitable for Nations with Developing Infrastructure

Self-sovereign identity systems, a subset of decentralised identity systems, are especially suitable for regions where existing physical identity infrastructure is limited, and citizens may be mistrustful of government systems. To reduce citizen anxiety, governments should prioritise data minimisation within identity schemes and avoid mandatory system use.

“Enabling citizens to manage their own identity use via self-sovereign identity systems is increasingly important to fostering adoption and long-term trust, especially where digital identity is controversial. As such, digital identity vendors should ensure their platforms can support different types of identity scheme designs to best reflect country-level conditions,” Atkin concluded.

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An extract from the report, Digital Identity Market 2025-2030, is available as a free download.