The digital world is constantly advancing and changing the ways we use the internet. Voice search statistics reveal that voice search technology has considerably advanced recently.
In fact, the capabilities of speech-enabled devices have expanded vastly, allowing consumers to conduct increasingly accurate searches.
This is one of the fastest-growing ecommerce trends, and people use voice to search online businesses, purchase all sorts of goods, or just look for various pieces of information.
We’ve collected all the relevant data about the voice search you need to prosper in a voice-first world. So, let’s dig in.
Top Voice Search Trends (Editor’s Choice)
- 57% of adults in the United States use voice-enabled technology
- 65% of 25-49-year-olds speak to their voice-enabled devices at least once a day
- Siri handles 25 billion requests monthly across more than 500 million devices
- According to a survey, 41% of respondents aged 65 and above use Amazon’s Alexa
- 27% of online users worldwide use mobile voice search in 2021
- In 2021, 33% of users rely on their phones to access voice assistants
- Voice-based shopping is projected to hit $40 billion by 2022
- By 2024, there will be 8.4 billion digital voice assistants on the market
Top Usage Voice Search Stats
The widespread use of smartphones and their built-in virtual assistants has resulted in a surge in voice search usage. In fact, over 41% of adults and 55% of teenagers use voice search daily.
1. 57% of adults in the United States use voice-enabled technology.
(Marketing Charts)
Moreover, according to the same report, three out of ten people use voice assistants daily. In contrast, 43% of adults in the United States never use voice assistants, as per voice search usage statistics.
On the bright side, the majority are at least aware of the technology, as only 3% of people are unaware of it.
2. Around 65% of 25-49-year-olds speak to their voice-enabled devices at least once a day.
(Eurolink)
According to this data, the age group mentioned above is the most likely to conduct daily voice searches. According to stats on voice search demographics, the 18-24-year-olds and 50+ year-olds come right after the age group of 25-49.
Considering that voice searchers of the said generation are the most active ones, people may think that they are also the ones boosting early adoption of the technology. However, that’s not the case. As a matter of fact, the 18-24 age group is responsible for that, as voice search technology statistics confirm.
3. 42% of the global internet population performed a voice search on a device in Q1 2019.
(Statista)
The same survey conducted among 278,359 respondents globally reports that mobile phones were the most common devices, with 32% of the surveyed users. More specifically, the 16-24 age group was the most common demographic group, with 39% of them using mobile devices to conduct voice searches.
4. According to the most recent data, 24% of Americans aged 18-29 own an Amazon Echo smart speaker.
(Statista)
However, as it’s probably no surprise, the percentage of people owning a smart speaker drops as they become older. For example, stats on Amazon Echo demographics point out that only around 10% of people aged 55-64 have one.
Amazon Echo was the first smart speaker to hit the market in the United States in 2014, and it soon became a popular item across the world in English-speaking countries. For instance, in 2020, Amazon Echo was used by 70% of smart speaker users in the United States.
5. According to voice search statistics, after using voice search, 28% of customers phone the company they voice searched for.
(Eurolink, Portal Tech Tips)
After a voice search, this is the most typical activity. At the same time, there are other popular follow-up actions. For example, 27% check the business’s website, 19% check its location, 14% do more research on the company, and 12% research other businesses.
So the voice search technology is becoming much more intelligent than it used to be. Interestingly, people can now also perform background checks using this technology. All in all, these advances make voice search crucial to companies.
Virtual Assistant Statistics
Virtual assistants, which are becoming more prevalent in consumer electronics products, may reply to requests, deliver information, and help users control other connected smart devices. As a matter of fact, voice assistant services are now available on over a billion devices.
6. According to studies, Google Assistant is the best voice assistant, answering accurately 92.9% of the time.
(Loup)
To determine which digital assistant was the best, 800 questions were presented to Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa, the three most popular digital assistants. In comparison to a year ago, each platform showed progress.
Google Assistant was able to comprehend every query. As per Siri statistics, it came in second, comprehending 99.8% of questions and responding accurately 83.1% of the time. Alexa understood 99.9% of the questions and answered accurately 79.8% of the time.
7. As per a study, VocalisCheck shows more than 80% effectiveness in COVID-19 detection.
(ClearBridge Mobile, Med-Tech)
Virtual assistants and AI-powered chatbots were crucial in fighting COVID-19. Vocalis Health uses voice analysis to check a person’s health status with its AI-based platform. In this case, it analyzes voices for sounds of the virus, and the results have been amazing.
Moreover, the voice search market became even more powerful when voice and conversational AIs helped screen and triage patients in 2020.
On top of that, Apple’s Siri took one step further by assessing COVID-19-related questions and recommending telehealth apps to make health services accessible to all affected individuals.
8. Today, Alexa offers over 100,000 skills.
(Tom’s Guide, CNET)
More specifically, Alexa can control your smart home devices, play trivia games, stream music, order Amazon items, listen to the weather, listen to the news, etc. Voice search facts note that some of the most popular skills include Send a Hug or Alexa Guard.
In detail, Send a Hug is a great way to let others know you love them, even if you are miles apart. As for Alexa Guard, it taps into the Echo speaker microphones when there’s an alarming sound in your home.
9. According to a study, 70% of iPhone users use Siri occasionally or rarely.
(iPhone in Canada)
Interesting facts about Siri reveal that most individuals avoid using Siri in public because it makes them feel uncomfortable. In other words, most users use voice assistants when they are alone at home or in the car, probably due to hands-free driving regulations. It can also help them with GPS navigation systems.
10. According to a survey, 41% of respondents aged 65 and above use Amazon’s Alexa.
(Marketing Charts)
Additionally, stats on Alexa demographics show that the percentage of people aged 55–64 who use Amazon’s Alexa is slightly lower — 40%.
What’s also worth mentioning is that both age groups (55-64 and 65+) are considerably more likely to use Amazon’s Alexa than the other ones surveyed. More precisely, 29% of people aged 25-34 and 19% of people aged 18-24 use Amazon Alexa.
11. Siri handles 25 billion requests monthly across more than 500 million devices.
(Tech Crunch)
What’s more, it covers many languages and countries. In fact, it covers 21 languages across 36 countries.
Furthermore, Apple is adding two more voices to Siri’s English choices, giving Siri users the option to choose from 16 different voices. This addition replaces the default female voice, providing more diversity.
Voice Search Statistics 2021
By the end of 2021, the smart speaker market have grown by 21% to 163 million devices. Furthermore, this year, the number of people buying voice-activated speakers will exceed 25.6 million.
12. 27% of online users worldwide use mobile voice search in 2021.
(Search Metrics, Live Mint)
Voice search is booming, and the whole world is witnessing this popularity growth. For instance, voice search statistics demonstrate that voice search queries are increasing at a rate of 270% every year in India, with 82% of smartphone users using voice-activated technology.
13. According to research, 91% of voice assistant users use their voice to browse the internet.
(Net Imperative)
According to the same research conducted in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany in 2021, 41% of users shop using their voice assistants. On the other hand, only 22% of voice assistant users feel safe using them in public.
14. 33% of users use their phones to access voice assistants.
(Statista)
Voice assistant technology is most often used on phones in the United States, voice search trends affirm. In-car voice assistants are the second most popular, with 13%. Other popular and widely used devices include tablets (5%), smartwatches (3%), and laptops (3%).
15. 35% of users claim they use voice assistants to check the weather forecast.
(Marketing Charts)
Not surprisingly, the study found that voice assistants are most commonly used to find out what weather users can expect. In addition, voice search stats report that 33% of users use these smart devices to play music, 22% use them to make calls, and 18% are using them to send emails or other types of messages.
There are also people (16%) who use voice assistants to schedule chores in order to save time and regulate integrated household technology. Last but not least, 15% use them to check personal calendars.
16. Voice technology trends show that 25% of adults use voice assistants regularly or occasionally to buy things.
(Marketing Charts)
On the other hand, 65% said they use a search engine to ask questions regularly or occasionally.
In addition, 60% of users said they use voice assistants at least occasionally to look up information on products and services, while 40% use them to look up brand information.
Future of Voice Search
Current trends indicate that voice search will become more popular in the future. Given the stats we’ve presented above, even the healthcare industry will put more money into voice-tech integration in the next few years.
17. According to a report, the number of voice assistant devices in the United States will reach 870 million by 2022.
(Tech Crunch)
According to the Juniper Research report, 5 billion assistants will be installed on smartphones globally by the same year. Furthermore, there’s a 2022 forecast for voice-based ads, too. The revenue from voice-based ads might reach somewhere around $19 billion.
18. Statistics on voice search reveal that voice-based shopping is projected to hit $40 billion by 2022.
(Compare Hare)
This is based on a survey of 1,500 smart speaker owners and implies that this new channel could be the next significant game-changer in the retail industry.
As per the survey, the increasing popularity of smart speakers will almost certainly lead to a significant increase in voice shopping. Currently, about 25% of people in the US have a smart speaker.
19. According to smart speaker statistics, 55% of US households will have a smart speaker by 2022.
(BBC)
In other words, 70 million households will have approximately 175 million devices. So, these voice-activated devices that help you listen to podcasts, order meals, or check the weather will continue to be increasingly popular in our homes.
20. There will be 8.4 billion digital voice assistants on the market by 2024.
(Statista)
The statistic about voice search growth mentioned above doesn’t come as a surprise, as virtual assistants have become a critical component of the smart device market, playing a crucial role in how users engage with their devices.
As a matter of fact, companies are increasingly looking for more innovative uses of smart technology as their business operations grow and their technologies advance. There are currently about 110 million virtual assistant users in the United States alone.
Conclusion
Voice search data demonstrates that voice search isn’t going away anytime soon, if ever. Voice search is growing in popularity because speaking is easier and faster than typing.
We’re rapidly approaching an era when we search primarily with our voices. As more and better devices enter the market, voice search will become more accessible.
This means that more individuals will take advantage of this valuable feature, influencing the technology’s progress. In a nutshell, voice search is the way of the future.
People Also Ask
Voice search is becoming more popular in the United States, primarily through Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa, the three most prominent digital assistants.
Many people prefer voice search to typing because it allows them to ask questions faster. In early 2019, over half of all adults used voice search, with 33% using it monthly. This is an increase from the previous year’s 25%.
People have always considered voice search a luxury, but as more of us use voice commands to search the internet, it has become more of a need. The ease and accessibility of simply voicing your queries are excellent, as well as the fast way of receiving information or an answer.
Furthermore, voice-enabled technology can provide excellent customer service. To be more precise, this technology uses voice-enabled bots — assistants that communicate with customers only through voice.
Voice bots can ingest, analyze, understand, and respond to clients using natural language and answer their questions in real-time.
With the voice search era upon us, marketers and SEO experts should constantly optimize their content for voice search, and the following are some of the strategies:
– Updating content (adding short questions and answers to improve and make the content more searchable and recognizable by the smart voice assistants.)
– Aiming for rich answers (concise pieces of information found above typical Google’s search results.)
– Using long-tail keyword phrases as a goal (due to the conversational nature of the voice search trend, these searches are longer than the ones on a keyboard. Also, Google favors long-form, comprehensive material.)
– Using natural (conversational) language in all types of content.
– Using Google My Business listings because people use their voice to search for “near me” businesses and services. As a matter of fact, this listing is an essential means for Google to know where your company is located.
It’s far more convenient to do hands- or eyes-free search than to stop and write a query when you’re on the go. According to the most recent data, voice searches account for 20% of all Google smartphone searches.
Furthermore, in 2020, consumers spent 30% of their time browsing the web on devices that do not have a screen, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence.
All signs point to voice search becoming more prevalent in the future. Even the healthcare industry will invest more in voice-tech integration.
According to some estimates for 2022, the number of voice assistant devices in the US will reach 870 million, voice commerce will exceed $40 billion, and 55% of US households will own a smart speaker. In addition, there will be 8.4 billion digital voice assistants by 2024.
Virtual assistants can be found almost anywhere. From the smart speaker on your coffee table to your smartphone in your pocket, this technology is everywhere. Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa are the three most popular digital assistants.
Be that as it may, according to a recent study and voice search statistics, Siri is the most popular virtual assistant globally, with a market share of 35%.
