Priya Rajan
Marketing Lead
QR codes were declared dead in 2017 and resurrected in 2020. In 2025, the data shows they're bigger than ever — here's the evidence.
The QR code comeback story is one of the most unexpected technology reversals of the decade. Here's what the numbers look like in 2025.
Adoption Statistics
- 89 million smartphone users in the US scanned a QR code in 2024 (Statista)
- QR code usage grew 433% between 2019 and 2024 (Juniper Research)
- 78% of consumers have scanned a QR code in the past year (Forbes)
- The average smartphone user scans 6.2 QR codes per month (Mobiloud)
Business Usage
- 59% of restaurants now use QR code menus (National Restaurant Association)
- QR code payments grew 240% globally in 2024 (McKinsey)
- 43% of marketers included QR codes in at least one campaign in 2024 (CMO Council)
Demographics Shift
Contrary to expectations, QR code adoption is not just Gen Z. The 35-54 age group showed the fastest growth in QR scan frequency between 2022-2024, overtaking the 18-24 group in total scan volume.
Why the Comeback Is Permanent
Unlike the first wave (2011-2014), which required separate QR reader apps, native camera integration on both iOS (2017+) and Android (2018+) removed the friction barrier. Now QR codes work for everyone, everywhere, with no app download required.
“QR codes are now the physical hyperlink. They're the bridge between the offline and online world.”
About the author
Priya Rajan
Marketing Lead at ShortLink
Writing about growth, product, and the future of link intelligence at ShortLink.