iOS Download Stats for China Show the Importance of App Localization [INFOGRAPHIC]

The Infographic of the Day series visually expresses important stories from Asia and the world of technology.

New statistics showing the popularity of various free and paid iOS apps in China show the great importance of localization. And now that China is the second-biggest downloader of free – or freemium – iPhone and iPad apps, it’s even more critical to a game’s success that it comes with Chinese language translations throughout the app and download page.

These stats from AppAnnie also highlight a strong desire in Asia for apps that have a local language name – particularly so in mainland China, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Before we look at the infographics, remember that Apple rolled out easier RMB payments in China this month (these stats are from September, prior to that new development), and so Mandarin-language paid apps should be considered more of a priority from now on.

Global Free iOS Downloads, Revenue

Although China now accounts for 12 percent of all the world’s free iOS app downloads, it accounts for only 2 percent of revenue for developers. But, as I said with the new payments system, this will now slowly change, and freemium might become less of a trend on Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) smartphone platform in China.

Of course, that two percent figure accounts only for direct app revenue, and takes no account of other clever ways of cashing-in on games in China, such as Rovio Mobile with its merchandising push.

Mandarin, Muhfukka, Do You Speak It?