QR Code Statistics for 2026: Usage, Market Growth, Payments, and Business Trends

QR codes have evolved from a contactless convenience into a widely used business interface. Organizations now use them for payments, connected packaging, restaurant operations, event access, marketing attribution, lead generation, and professional networking.

Customer familiarity is no longer the primary challenge for many organizations. The more important question is whether a QR code gives people a clear reason to scan and whether the experience after the scan turns that engagement into a measurable action.

These QR code statistics show how the technology is developing across business software, consumer behavior, payments, retail packaging, hospitality, and digital business cards.

How big is the QR code market?

The Mordor Intelligence QR Codes Market report estimates that the global QR codes market will grow from USD 15.23 billion in 2026 to USD 33.14 billion by 2031, representing a compound annual growth rate of 16.82%.

Its market analysis also reports that:

• Asia-Pacific accounted for 37.59% of global QR code market revenue in 2025 and is projected to grow at an 18.16% CAGR through 2031.
• Dynamic QR codes represented 64.92% of format revenue in 2025 and are projected to grow at a 17.27% CAGR through 2031.
• Payments and transactions accounted for 45.19% of application revenue in 2025.
• Marketing and advertising is projected to be the fastest-growing application segment, with an 18.16% CAGR through 2031.
• Push-payment QR codes held 58.67% of payment-model revenue in 2025.
• Pull-payment QR codes are projected to grow at a 17.24% CAGR through 2031.
• Website QR codes accounted for 27.59% of code-type revenue in 2025.
• App-store QR codes are projected to grow at a 19.43% CAGR through 2031.

These figures indicate that QR code adoption is extending beyond basic URL sharing. Payments, mobile applications, measurable marketing campaigns, and editable digital experiences are contributing to broader market growth.

The strong position of dynamic formats reflects a business need for destination updates, analytics, campaign control, and centralized QR code management. Unlike a static QR code, a dynamic QR code can direct users to an updated destination without requiring the printed code to be replaced.

How many people use QR codes?

There is no central database that records every QR code user or scan worldwide. Activity is distributed across payment networks, mobile applications, websites, private business systems, and QR code platforms.

As a result, scan totals published by an individual QR code provider generally represent activity recorded within that provider’s system, not the entire global QR code ecosystem.

One useful adoption indicator comes from eMarketer. In 2023, it forecast that the number of US consumers using smartphone QR scanners would increase from more than 94 million in 2023 to 102.6 million in 2026.

The 2026 number is a forecast published in 2023, not a measured count of users during 2026.

A TEAM LEWIS survey of 1,000 US adults found that:

• 68% had used a QR code at least once during the previous year.
• Usage reached 83% among Gen Z respondents.
• Usage reached 81% among millennials.
• 49% of Gen Z respondents used QR codes at least once a week.
• 51% of millennial respondents used QR codes at least once a week.
• 47% described QR codes as useful.
• 32% described them as valuable.

The survey was conducted online between February 26 and March 1, 2024. Its results describe the surveyed US population and should not be treated as a worldwide adoption rate.

What do consumers use QR codes for?

The same TEAM LEWIS consumer research identified several common QR code use cases:

Consumer use case	Respondents
Viewing restaurant menus	48%
Downloading mobile applications	47%
Accessing product information	43%
Connecting to Wi-Fi	32%
Accessing event tickets	31%

The survey also identified several problems businesses should address:

• 28% said QR codes were too slow to load.
• 33% wanted an easier user experience.
• 25% wanted businesses to improve loading performance.
• 29% wanted QR codes to be safer and more secure.

These findings show that QR codes are practical tools rather than novelty features. People scan them to complete tasks, retrieve information, enter venues, connect devices, or continue a customer journey.

The destination should load quickly, work well on mobile devices, clearly identify the organization, match the promise printed beside the code, and provide an obvious next step.

QR code payment statistics

QR codes have become an important interface for digital payments, particularly in markets with interoperable bank and mobile-payment networks.

Juniper Research estimates that the global value of QR code payments will increase by approximately 50%, from USD 5.4 trillion in 2025 to more than USD 8 trillion by 2029.

Juniper identifies the standardization of national QR schemes and the expansion of account-to-account payment initiatives as major growth drivers. It also highlights lower operational costs and broad device compatibility as advantages over payment systems that require dedicated point-of-sale hardware.

India’s QR-enabled payment ecosystem

India is one of the clearest examples of QR-compatible payments operating at national scale.

In May 2026, India’s Unified Payments Interface processed approximately 23.2 billion transactions worth ₹29.9 trillion. Transaction volume increased from 22.35 billion in April 2026, while transaction value was up 19% year over year.

These figures represent the entire UPI system. UPI payments can be initiated through QR codes and several other methods, so the totals should not be described as QR-only transaction figures.

The Reserve Bank of India’s Payment System Indicators cited in the research data put the number of static UPI QR codes at approximately 779.8 million in May 2026, up from around 669.7 million one year earlier.

This is a QR deployment count, not a count of unique merchants. A business may display more than one code, and different providers may issue codes to the same merchant.

Even with those qualifications, the numbers demonstrate how QR-compatible payment systems can support independent sellers, service providers, retail chains, and other businesses without requiring conventional card terminals.

Businesses can use a UPI QR code generator to let customers initiate compatible UPI payments by scanning a code.

China and the Far East

QR-led mobile wallets remain central to everyday payments across China and other parts of East Asia.

The detailed Juniper Research QR Code Payments dataset cited in the underlying research forecasts that the Far East and China will account for 60% of global QR payment transaction value in 2029.

This regional split comes from Juniper’s detailed market dataset rather than the publicly displayed press release. It should therefore remain attributed specifically to the paid research rather than presented as an independently measured 2029 result.

Japan’s code-payment market

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported that code payments reached JPY 16.6 trillion in 2025, representing 10.2% of the country’s total cashless payment value.

The category includes both QR code and barcode payments. Japan’s overall cashless payment value reached JPY 162.7 trillion in 2025, equivalent to 58% of the relevant consumer spending measure used by the ministry.

Across these markets, QR codes succeed by reducing friction at the moment a customer wants to act. The same principle applies beyond payments, whether the next step is submitting a lead form, registering for an event, saving contact information, joining a loyalty program, or accessing product details.

QR codes in retail and connected packaging

One of the most important developments in retail QR code adoption is the transition from traditional one-dimensional barcodes to data-rich two-dimensional barcodes.

GS1, the standards organization behind the UPC barcode, is supporting an industry transition commonly known as Sunrise 2027.

The initiative encourages retailers to prepare point-of-sale systems to read and process defined GS1-compliant 2D barcodes, including QR codes with GS1 Digital Link syntax. It also encourages brands to prepare their packaging, product data, and connected systems for richer data carriers.

Sunrise 2027 is an industry transition milestone. It is not a universal legal deadline requiring every organization to remove traditional barcodes by a specific date.

A 2024 GS1 progress figure reported that 2D barcode technology was being tested in 48 countries representing approximately 88% of global GDP. Because this was a dated progress snapshot, it should not be interpreted as a live measurement of 2026 readiness.

Consumer demand for more product information

A 2025 GS1 US consumer survey found that:

• 77% considered product information important when making a purchase.
• 62% were willing to spend more on products offering detailed information.
• 79% were more likely to purchase a product when a scannable QR code provided additional product information.

These findings demonstrate why connected packaging can create value beyond checkout. Consumers increasingly expect information that may not fit on a physical label, such as ingredients, allergens, provenance, care instructions, certifications, recall notices, recycling guidance, promotions, and reviews.

Retailer and brand-owner support

Earlier GS1 US research found that:

• 82% of retailers supported transitioning from the UPC to data-rich carriers.
• 92% of brand owners supported the transition.

The research covered options including 2D barcodes, digital watermarks, and RFID. It was published in 2020 and should be presented as an earlier measure of industry support, not a current 2026 adoption rate.

Why dual marking will continue during the transition

Retail products using a GS1-compliant 2D barcode will generally continue to carry a traditional linear barcode during the transition.

The GS1 2D Barcodes at Retail Point-of-Sale Implementation Guideline states that products will need an accompanying linear barcode until 90% of relevant point-of-sale scanning solutions can process GS1-compliant 2D barcodes and capture at least the Global Trade Item Number.

A GS1 Digital Link QR code can support more than checkout identification. When the code, product data, resolver, and connected systems are configured correctly, it can provide access to:

• Ingredients and allergen information
• Product provenance
• Usage and care instructions
• Certifications
• Recall information
• Recycling guidance
• Promotions and loyalty experiences
• Reviews and post-purchase content

Brands can also use a product QR code to turn each scan into a branded, mobile-first product information experience.

QR codes in restaurants and hospitality

Restaurants helped make QR code scanning familiar to a broad consumer audience. The behavior has continued beyond its pandemic-era acceleration.

Datassential’s FoodBytes research found that:

• 49% of consumers had used a QR code to access a restaurant or grocery-store menu.
• 58% liked having the option to pay through a QR code.

The research also found significant generational differences in menu and payment use:

• 68% of Gen Z consumers
• 62% of millennials
• 51% of Gen X consumers
• 22% of baby boomers

Among consumers who had used restaurant QR codes, 70% said they liked using them. Approval reached 78% among millennial users and 56% among baby-boomer users.

For restaurants and hospitality businesses, QR codes can support more than digital menus. A table, counter, room, receipt, or sign can connect guests to:

• Ordering and payment
• Feedback forms
• Loyalty enrollment
• Promotional offers
• Review pages
• Wi-Fi access
• Service requests
• Event or venue information

A menu QR code allows a restaurant to update its digital menu without replacing the printed code.

QR experiences should remain easy to open, fast to load, and readable on mobile devices. Restaurants should also retain accessible alternatives for guests who cannot or do not want to use a smartphone.

Digital business card statistics

QR codes have also changed how professionals exchange contact information.

A digital business card can let someone view a professional profile, save contact details, open relevant links, submit their own information, and follow up without downloading a separate application.

According to Market Research Future:

• The global digital business card market reached an estimated USD 213.50 million in 2025.
• It is estimated at USD 233.74 million in 2026.
• It is projected to reach USD 528.12 million by 2035.
• The forecast CAGR for 2026 to 2035 is 9.48%.
• North America accounted for 37.68% of 2025 revenue.
• Europe contributed USD 56.58 million in 2025.
• Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region, with an 11.17% CAGR through 2035.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for 41.20% of market revenue in 2025.
• iOS accounted for 49.34% of platform revenue in 2025.

For individual professionals, digital business cards reduce reliance on printed cards and make it easier to keep contact information up to date.

For organizations, a centrally managed program can help teams:

• Maintain consistent branding
• Deploy cards in bulk
• Control templates and profile fields
• Capture leads
• Track profile engagement
• Update information when employees change roles
• Connect networking activity with follow-up workflows

QRCodeChimp provides customizable, QR-first digital business cards for teams with lead capture, analytics, and centralized management capabilities.

Why businesses are investing in dynamic QR codes

Dynamic QR codes are suited to campaigns and operations where information may change after the physical code has been printed.

A business can update the destination when:

• A campaign landing page changes
• A restaurant updates its menu
• An employee’s contact details change
• An event organizer changes venue information
• A product page needs new instructions
• A campaign must be paused or redirected
• Different departments need centralized control

Depending on the platform and configuration, dynamic QR code analytics may include scan counts, time, approximate location, device, operating system, browser, and campaign activity.

Website analytics and campaign parameters can still measure visits to a URL encoded in a static QR code. However, a static code does not provide the same destination editability or direct QR code management controls.

For organizations running multiple campaigns, locations, or use cases, the decision is therefore not simply static versus dynamic. It is a question of whether the QR code needs to be managed as an ongoing business asset.

What these trends mean for businesses

Customer familiarity is no longer the primary barrier

Many customers already know how to scan a QR code. Businesses should focus on giving them a worthwhile reason to scan.

The post-scan experience determines the outcome

An unclear call to action, slow landing page, poor mobile design, or unfamiliar destination can prevent a scan from producing a meaningful result.

Measurement should extend beyond scans

A high scan count does not necessarily mean that a campaign achieved its objective. Businesses should connect scan activity with outcomes such as:

• Forms submitted
• Leads captured
• Contacts exchanged
• Registrations completed
• Purchases made
• Coupons redeemed
• Reviews submitted
• Applications downloaded
• Repeat visits

QR codes are becoming part of business infrastructure

Payments, connected packaging, product information, digital identity, event validation, forms, and professional networking are moving QR codes beyond isolated marketing campaigns.

Organizations should manage QR codes with defined ownership, naming conventions, branding standards, security controls, analytics, and lifecycle processes.

How QRCodeChimp helps teams manage QR codes at scale

QRCodeChimp is an enterprise QR code management platform for teams that need branded, secure, scalable, and measurable QR code experiences.

Organizations can use QRCodeChimp to create and manage QR codes for marketing, packaging, digital business cards, forms, events, locations, documents, menus, and other business workflows.

Relevant platform capabilities include:

• Dynamic QR codes
• QR code analytics
• Bulk QR code creation
• API-supported workflows
• Sub-accounts and team management
• White label and custom domain options
• SSO
• Azure and Google Workspace directory integration
• SOC 2 Type II and GDPR-oriented security controls
• Branded, mobile-first landing pages
• Lead capture through digital business cards and QR code forms

QRCodeChimp also provides use-case-specific solutions, including:

• GS1 Digital Link QR codes for connected packaging and product information
• Product QR codes for branded product landing pages
• Digital business cards for teams for centrally managed professional profiles
• Form QR codes for leads, feedback, registrations, and data collection
• Event ticket QR codes for ticket creation, validation, and entry management
• Google Maps QR codes for helping customers find stores, offices, clinics, and venues
• PDF QR codes for sharing brochures, guides, menus, reports, and manuals

These capabilities help teams organize QR code activity across departments, maintain brand consistency, update destinations without reprinting, and measure engagement from physical touchpoints.

Frequently asked questions