QR Code Trends and Statistics for 2024

Over the past few years, the use of QR codes has significantly increased due to technological advancements, the growth of digitalization, and the widespread adoption of smartphones. According to forecasts, QR codes may replace barcodes by 2027. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a crucial role in the spread of QR codes, making them an essential tool for contactless transactions. QR codes have been introduced for payments, digital menus, and contact tracing in public places. From 2021 to 2023, we saw significant growth in the use of QR codes in marketing, social media, the financial sector, and healthcare. Companies have integrated this tool into their marketing strategies, enhancing customer interaction and expanding advertising opportunities.

Additionally, governments and healthcare institutions use QR codes for vaccination verification and medical data management, increasing their efficiency and security. According to Business Insider, by 2025, 99.5 million smartphone users will be scanning QR codes, indicating the growing popularity of this technology. Understanding how QR codes work influences current trends in their creation and highlights their important role in our digital world. Creating an electronic business card with a QR code would be a very wise and timely decision.

QR Code Usage Trends in Various Industries: Top 5 Sectors

QR codes provide magical efficiency, bridging the physical and digital worlds. Companies use them to engage with customers, achieve results, provide exclusive content, and collect data. Let's consider the main industries actively using QR codes:

Marketing and Advertising

Marketing and advertising are the leading users of QR codes. According to a study conducted in 2022, 70% of marketers use QR codes and augmented reality (AR) in their campaigns, creating interactive ways to promote products and services. An example is the "Avocados from Mexico" advertisement during the 57th Super Bowl, which used artificial intelligence and ChatGPT QR codes to attract viewers to a website with AI-generated captions.

Retail

The use of QR codes in retail has increased by 88% compared to last year. QR codes are used for providing product information, contactless payments, inventory management, and access to personalized promotions and content.

Logistics

The manufacturing and logistics industries actively use QR codes. For example, FedEx has implemented return QR codes, simplifying the package return process without the need for printed labels. Customers can simply bring their smartphones and scan the QR code for seamless shipping.

Healthcare

The use of QR codes in healthcare surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies show that 83.7% of women positively evaluated the use of QR codes for accessing medical information, and this number continues to grow.

Transportation

The transportation industry also actively uses QR codes. An example is airline boarding passes, where QR codes simplify access to flight and passenger information. In 2022, the transportation sector accounted for 15% of the global QR code market.

QR Code Statistics: Top 10 Countries with the Most Scans

We analyzed our database and compiled a list of countries with the highest QR code scanning activity in 2023:

1. USA – 43.96%
2. India – 9.33%
3. France – 4.0%
4. Spain – 2.91%
5. Canada – 2.65%
6. Brazil – 2.13%
7. Saudi Arabia – 1.92%
8. UK – 1.69%
9. Colombia – 1.60%
10. Russia – 1.49%

The USA, India, and France lead in the number of scans. It is important to note that while the USA and India occupy the top spots, other countries such as France, the UK, and Canada also show significant growth in QR code scanning activity.