20+ Biometrics Statistics, Trends & Facts for 2024
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20+ Biometrics Statistics, Trends & Facts for 2024
With the increasing use of biometrics as an authentication method, it has become equally important to understand the implications of this technology in our everyday lives. Read our biometric statistics guide to stay informed.
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Key Takeaways: Top 10 Key Biometrics Statistics:
The widespread adoption of facial recognition is projected to lead to 16% growth in the U.K. biometrics market through 2027.1
Valued at $34.27 billion in 2022, the worldwide biometric technology market is forecasted to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4% between 2023 and 2030.4
Single-factor authentication accounted for the highest revenue share of the biometrics technology market in 2022, at 57.3%.4
North America made up 30.7% of the biometrics revenue share by region in 2022.4
In 2023, 85% of consumers expressed concerns about using biometric technology due to the rise of generative AI and its potential influence on biometrics.5
More than half of consumers say they’re worried about the manner in which their biometrics are stored and managed.6
Over 40% of consumers rank fingerprint recognition as the most secure authentication method.6
The size of the global facial recognition market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.9% between 2023 and 2030.2
Almost half of consumers are completely against the use of AI because they’re not comfortable giving it their personal information.5
Half of consumers express concerns about the potential for malicious actors to use biometric data to impersonate unsuspecting consumers and access information.6
Facts & Expert Analysis: Biometric Technologies
Increased accountability: “Biometric authentication offers better UX, along with increased accountability as biometric traits cannot easily be shared,” says Ant Allan, VP Analyst at Gartner.9
Better customer experiences: Biometrics can enhance the customer experience in banks and minimize opt-out rates during the account-opening process due to cumbersome security measures.10
Financial inclusion: Biometrics can help foster financial inclusion by allowing individuals traditional identification documents to securely conduct digital transactions.10
Think about the times you’ve been asked to position your fingers, face or eyes for identification at an airport or stadium. If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably used biometrics for employee identification or access control. Yet, how well do you understand biometric verification? Our biometric statistics guide will help you better understand the technology.
The statistics listed in this guide provide a comprehensive breakdown of biometrics, covering topics such as the biometrics market, biometrics security and biometrics data protection concerns. For more insights about protecting your identity, read our identity theft protection and identity theft statistics guides. Now, let’s jump into some biometrics statistics.
Biometric Statistics: By the Numbers
07/17/2024
Updated the article to add custom graphics.
Biometric Data Definition
Biometric data refers to unique physical and behavioral characteristics — such as a person’s fingerprints, DNA matching, retina scans, and even walking gait or typing pattern — that can be used for automated recognition and identification of individuals. These measurements are used to verify a person’s identity for various security and authentication purposes.
What Are the Different Types of Biometrics?
Biometrics can be categorized into two main types: physiological characteristics and behavioral characteristics. Physical biometrics involve authenticating the physical attributes of the user.
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Examples of biometric authentication methods include:
Ear shape
Facial recognition
Fingerprints
Finger geometry (the size and position of fingers)
Iris recognition
Vein recognition
Retina scanning
Voice recognition
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) matching
Digital signatures
Ear shape
Behavioral biometrics involves confirming or verifying the identity of the user based on the unique ways in which they act. Behavioral identifiers include:
Walking gait
Typing patterns
Mouse and finger movements
Website and social media engagement patterns
What Is Biometric Authentication?
Biometric authentication is the use of biometric systems to confirm an individual’s identity. This can be achieved by comparing the individual’s biological and behavioral characteristics to a biometric template stored in the system. If the person’s characteristics match the template, they’re granted access to the system.
What Is Biometric Identification?
Biometric identification is the use of biometric systems to determine an individual’s identity. Identification involves comparing the individual’s characteristics against the entire database containing the biometric templates of other individuals.
The Most Common Biometric Identification Methods Compared
The following table illustrates the various ways fingerprint, iris and facial identification methods compare to each other.
Details:
Finger
Iris
Face
Ease of Capture
Easy to medium
Medium to hard
Easy
Advantage
Relatively inexpensive and easy to use
Considered to be an excellent security technique when done with infrared light
Great for remote recognition
Disadvantage
Easier to spoof because fingerprint features are stored as an image
Inconvenient due to scanning of the iris
Lower levels of security
Adjudication
Requires an expert fingerprint examiner
Can’t be done with the naked eye and requires expensive equipment
Can be done by anyone
Failure to Capture
<2-5%>
~1-2%
~0%
Biometrics Market Statistics
The biometrics market is booming in multiple sectors, like the military, healthcare and law enforcement. It shows no signs of slowing down, with various forms of biometric identification contributing to its growth. We’ll look at key biometric statistics below.
1. Valued at $34.27 Billion in 2022, the Global Biometric System Market Is Forecasted to Increase at a CAGR of 20.4% From 2023 to 2030
Biometric technology is gaining widespread adoption due to its application in consumer electronics. Additionally, other drivers of biometric technology market growth are the increasing adoption across numerous industries and the growing need for authentication, identification and security and surveillance functionality for various use cases.4
Global biometric market revenue from 2022 to 2030 (in billion U.S. dollars)
2. Contact Biometrics Made Up the Highest Revenue Share of the Biometrics Technology Market in 2022
Contact biometrics accounted for 37% of the market share in 2022. Contact-based biometric systems refer to systems for palm prints, signatures and fingerprint scanning and recognition. This system is projected to see growth due to the increasing adoption of fingerprint recognition systems in consumer electronics.4
3. Single-Factor Authentication Accounted for the Highest Revenue Share of the Biometrics Technology Market in 2022
In terms of authentication type, single-factor authentication represented the highest revenue share in 2022, at 57.3%, and is expected to dominate the market from 2023 to 2030. The factors behind its growth are its quick responsiveness, feasibility and cost-effectiveness.4
4. North America Represented the Largest Revenue Share by Region in 2022 for Biometrics
North America accounted for 30.7% of the revenue share in 2022 In the U.S., biometric techniques have gained widespread adoption in various verticals, such as defense, homeland security, commerce, justice and state. The increasing emphasis on the importance of biometric technology can be attributed to increasing terrorist threats worldwide.4
Biometric Security Statistics
Biometric security trends reveal an increasing lack of trust in companies’ ability to effectively protect customers’ biometric data.
5. Trust in the Ability of Tech Companies to Protect Biometric Data Has Significantly Decreased
In 2024, only 5% of consumers expressed a high level of trust in companies’ ability to safeguard their biometric data, compared to 28% in 2022. On the other hand, the percentage of consumers who simply lack confidence in companies’ ability to protect their data rose from 22% to 42% within the same period.5
Public Trust in Tech Companies to Properly Handle Biometric Data, 2022
Public Trust in Tech Companies to Properly Handle Biometric Data, 2024
6. Consumer Concerns About Biometric Technologies Are on the Rise
Consumer concerns about biometric technologies showed a sharp increase between 2022 and 2024. For example, concerns about misuse of biometric data increased from 69% to 88% within that period. In addition, concerns about biometric data breaches increased from 69% to 86% within the same period.5
Consumer Concerns About Biometric Technology2022
Consumer Concerns About Biometric Technology2024
7. More Consumers Feel Facial Recognition Should Be Shunned on the Basis of Bias
In 2022, 45% of consumers firmly supported the idea of avoiding facial recognition technology if it displays signs of bias. That number increased to 56% in 2024.
One notable example of facial technology bias is RiteAid’s false tagging of consumers as shoplifters, especially women and people of color, which led to the Federal Trade Commission banning the retailer from using facial recognition for five years.5
8. Fingerprint Recognition Is Considered the Most Secure Biometric Authentication Method
Consumers ranked fingerprint recognition as the most secure authentication method (44%), with retina (eye) scanning coming in second place (30%) and alphanumeric passwords (a non-biometric authentication method) ranking third (27%). Next was digital pins (12%) and facial recognition (12%).
Interestingly, full handprint scans came in only sixth place (10%), while biometric methods like voice and heartbeat recognition ranked at the bottom of the list (6% and 4%, respectively).6
9. AI-Associated Privacy and Data Protection Concerns Are Distorting Consumer Views on Biometrics
In 2023, 85% of consumers expressed concerns about using biometric technology due to the rise of generative AI and its potential influence on biometrics. Additionally, 49% are completely against the use of AI because they’re not comfortable giving it personal information.5
10. Consumers Are Increasingly Displaying Less Comfort With Facial Recognition Across Various Use Cases
In retail, comfort levels with facial technology dropped from 81% in 2022 to 69% in 2024. Another use case that saw a drop is attendance tracking, with the percentage decreasing from 55% in 2022 to 36% in 2024. For retail purchases, the percentage dropped from 49% in 2022 to 25% in 2024.5
Biometric Data Collection Statistics
The following statistics provide a general overview of how consumers view biometric data collection, especially biometric solutions, by location and industry.
11. Consumers Are Most Concerned About Privacy, Security and Functionality With Biometric Data Collection
More than half of consumers say they’re worried about the manner in which their biometrics are stored and managed. Additionally, 50% express concerns about the potential for malicious actors to use biometric data to impersonate unsuspecting consumers to access information.6
People’s Biggest Concerns With Biometric Authentication
12. Consumer Trust in Companies to Keep Biometric Information Secure Varies by Industry
Almost half of people are more comfortable with entrusting their biometric data to a major financial institution, compared to just 15% who trust major social media sites to keep their biometric data secure.6
The relatively lower lack of trust in major social media sites to keep biometric data secure may be due to the high tendency for these sites to use consumer data to generate revenue through targeted advertising.6
13. American Consumers Are Less Likely to Perceive Biometric Authentication as More Secure Than Asian-Pacific, European and Global Consumers
More than 60% of American consumers feel biometric technology provides more security, compared to 75% of Asian-Pacific consumers, 68% of European consumers and 69% of global average consumers.6
American consumers’ lower tendency to embrace biometric technology may be due to their slower adoption of new technology compared to consumers in other regions and the global average.6
14. Consumer Concerns Regarding the Use of Fake/Spoofed Biometrics to Access Their Information Differs by Region
Almost 60% of Asian-Pacific consumers worry about cybercriminals faking their biometrics to access their information, compared to 50% of global average consumers and 46% of U.S. consumers. Almost half of European consumers share the same sentiment. Biometric spoofing refers to the act of faking biometric traits to hack into a biometric security system.6
Compared to identity theft, biometric theft, which can occur due to biometric spoofing, may have more consequences. It involves stealing a victim’s permanent biometric features can’t be changed or modified, such as the face, fingerprint or iris.6
Biometric Fingerprint Statistics
As the most common biometric method, the fingerprint recognition market continues to experience substantial growth. Fingerprint identification adoption spans various industries.
15. Valued at $10.16 billion in 2021, the Global Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Market Is Projected to Reach $45.59 Billion by 2029
The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) is a biometric system that facilitates the storage, analysis and comparison of sets of fingerprints against a larger database of fingerprint records to help identify known or unknown fingerprints. Law enforcement agencies often use it to solve criminal cases.3
AFIS Market Value, in Billions
16. The 3D Segment Made Up the Largest Share of the Fingerprint Market in 2022
Three-dimensional biometrics accounted for close to 37.8% of the fingerprint market share in 2022. Three-dimensional facial recognition is a more advanced form of fingerprint recognition than two-dimensional fingerprint recognition, providing a more detailed and accurate analysis of fingerprint images.2
17. On the End-User Front, the Retail and E-Commerce Sectors Accounted for the Largest Share of the Fingerprint Market in 2022
These sectors accounted for 21.4% of the revenue share in 2022. Their increasing adoption of facial recognition technology can be attributed to the boost in operational efficiency and the in-store experience it provides.2
18. The Healthcare Segment Is Projected to See Considerable Growth in Fingerprint Recognition Adoption
The healthcare segment is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.5% during 2023 through 2030. Healthcare organizations are increasingly adopting facial recognition technology due to its efficacy in securing sensitive data by ensuring that only authorized users have access to it.2
Facial Recognition Statistics
Facial recognition systems continue to gain widespread recognition due to their convenience, security and high level of efficiency. They shorten processing times and facilitate efficient tracking and identification of individuals in public spaces, reducing the risk of threats and criminal activity.
19. The Widespread Adoption of Facial Biometrics Is Projected to Lead to a 13% Growth Rate Through 2027
The U.S. BFSI biometrics market share CAGR for 2021 through 2027 is expected to be 13%, while the U.K. is expected to be 16%. Worldwide the CAGR increase is expected to be 13%.1
The widespread adoption of facial biometrics in the U.K. can be linked to the increasing adoption of smart devices such as phones and laptops, as well as the U.K. government’s use of facial recognition technology to track criminals.1
Biometrics Data CAGR Percentage Estimates, 2021-2027
20. North America Accounted for the Largest Share of the Facial Recognition Market Revenue, at 36.5%, as of 2022
The major driver of growth in this region is the extensive adoption of facial recognition technology in security and surveillance systems. Another factor contributing to this growth in the U.S. is the implementation of facial recognition technology across a wide range of departments, including Homeland Security, the Justice and Defense departments, and more.2
21. The Global Facial Recognition Market Size Is Expected to Increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.9% From 2023 to 2030
Biometrics technology such as facial recognition continues to gain widespread adoption due to its application across various domains, including access control, attendance tracking, security and surveillance.2
Iris Recognition Statistics
The iris recognition market continues to grow thanks to factors such as the integration of cloud computing with iris recognition technology, the widespread use of iris scans in the banking and finance industry to curb fraud, and government organizations’ adoption of iris recognition technology for identification and authentication purposes.
22. The Global Iris Recognition Market Is Forecasted to Grow at a CAGR of 17.7%, Reaching $8.4 Billion by 2027
Two main factors contributing to the growth of the iris recognition market are government organizations’ increasing adoption of the technology and widespread use of iris recognition in the consumer electronics industry.7
Iris Recognition Market Estimates, in Billions
Biometric Technology Trends: What Is the Future State of Biometrics?
Given the booming biometrics market, it’s easy to see that biometric technology is here to stay. Let’s explore some potential future biometric technology trends.
Biometric solutions will likely see more artificial intelligence and machine learning integrations.
Adoption of likeness detection will probably continue to increase thanks to the extra layer of protection it provides, making it easier to distinguish between authentic biometric samples and fake ones.
The use of behavioral biometrics will likely increase thanks to the enhanced layer of protection it provides.
Authentication in public spaces such as airports and stadiums is becoming more seamless and convenient thanks to the reduced need for physical documents such as passports and tickets. As a result, more venues will likely use the technology.
Data security and transparency will continue to be a top priority as users push for more transparency and governance over their data.
Final Thoughts: Biometrics Statistics
Though biometrics have become part of our everyday lives, there are still gray areas in terms of how the public perceives the technology, especially regarding security and data privacy. This is partly due to the fact that hackers can use the same technologies that facilitate the use of biometrics to execute spoofing attacks.
For example, hackers can use high-quality cameras or sensors to capture biometric data such as faces, hands, gaits or voices from unsuspecting victims. Another factor that contributes to this problem is determined hackers’ ability to defeat biometric methods.
To demonstrate this, Jan Krissler, also known as Starbug, a Chaos Computer Club biometric researcher, demonstrated in 2015 that iris scanning can be bypassed by extracting sufficient data from a high-resolution photograph. It’s also possible for individuals related to an authenticated user to bypass that user’s face ID authentication, which is far from ideal.
What are your thoughts on these biometrics statistics? What would you add? How have the insights in these statistics shaped your view of biometrics? Let us know in the comment section below and if you liked this article, why not take a look at our extended reality statistics guide too? As always, thanks for reading.
FAQ: Biometric Technologies
Biometric authentication relies on physical features such as fingerprints, facial patterns, and iris and retina recognition.
Due to their uniqueness, biometrics such as fingerprints or eye scans are much harder to fake or replicate than traditional forms of verification and authentication, making them very effective.
Biometric identification is accurate 98% of the time, in worst-case scenarios, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Valued at $34.27 billion in 2022, the Worldwide Biometric Technology Market is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 20.4% from 2023 to 2030. [4]
With over four years of experience as a freelance writer and a cloud tech certification from Google, Samuel has carved a niche for himself writing on topics like cloud, cybersecurity and VPNs. When he's not writing, you'll find him sparring on the BJJ mat, writing non-fiction or binge-watching the latest sci-fi movies.
Brett is a freelance journalist with 10 years of experience in the tech industry. Brett has covered everything from smartphones to cameras to software while holding the roles of Tech Columnist and Gear Editor. He writes about project management for Cloudwards. When not behind his desk writing, Brett can be found out and about with one of his many cameras, hiking in the wilderness, playing with his dogs, or playing video games. Brett is a self-confessed coffee addict and will do nearly anything for a good cup of Joe.
