The number of UK residents using digital identity apps will rise from 6.9 million in 2025 to 25.5 million in 2029; a growth of 267%, according to Juniper Research.
The forthcoming GOV.UK app will be a key driver; offering a government-authenticated and standardised approach to digital identity of which over 45% of the UK adult population are forecast to use by 2029.
The report identified that, despite a decrease in popularity of third-party identity apps, overall adoption of digital identities will increase. The GOV.UK app will drive this adoption significantly; presenting a regulated digital identity platform that streamlines access to government services.
An extract from the new report, Digital ID & Verification in the UK Market 2025-2029, is now available as a free download.
Third-party Providers to Take a Back Seat
The research found that third-party apps will grow by just 9% between 2025 and 2029; a result of the GOV.UK app becoming a primary method of verifying an individual’s information, both remotely and in-person. The introduction of this app will force third-party providers to re-strategise and place greater emphasis on advertising their verification services for onboarding onto the GOV.UK app.
Report author Thomas Wilson added: “In order to retain a role within the digital identity ecosystem, third-party identity providers must seek certification against the government’s trust framework, or they will be bypassed by certified providers and lose out on additional revenue.”
The report asserted the combination of government certification and third-party verification technologies as critical to overcoming concerns among UK citizens around privacy, which have been a long-term stumbling block to digital identity growth and promoting further adoption. Juniper Research