Top +15 API Statistics for Understanding API Landscape in 2024

API has become an important part of technology because of the benefits that it creates. APIs can integrate with new technologies such as IoT and chatbots. Additionally, Many industries have adopted APIs to increase their digital transformation, such as :

• Finance,
• Health care,
• Supply chain,
• Retail

In this article, we will cover 17 API-related statistics to provide a comprehensive picture of the trends and landscape of APIs. 

General API statistics 

1. The fastest-growing type of data in 2021 was API data which grew by more than 20% (see Figure 1). ( Cloudflare) 

Figure 1. Growth of different data types

Source: Cloudflare

2. POST method is the most common method used in APIs, with more than 50%, followed by GET method, with almost 45%. (Cloudflare)
3. More than 90% of executives indicate APIs as mission-critical. (Rapid API)
4. API brokerage has been experienced by almost 40% of users. (Statista ) 
5. The market capitalization of companies that have adopted APIs has grown by more than 12% compared to those that have not adopted APIs. (Forbes)
6. Almost 50% of responders indicate :

• Platform or system integrations,
• Development efficiencies and/or standardization 

as the main factors behind adopting APIs in their organization( see Figure 2). ( Salt) 

Figure 2. The main factors behind using APIs in organizations

Source: Salt

API Security 

7. 94% of responders to a survey indicated that they had experienced API security problems ( see Figure 3). (Salt)

Figure 3. Security problems faced in API production 

Source: Salt

8. More than 50% of companies have postponed the release of a new API due to security concerns. (Salt)
9. Only 11% of companies have a plan for API security, including specialized API testing and protection. (Salt)

Sponsored 

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10. Penetration testing is the most preferred approach in API security testing in the pre-production stage, with 46% of responders using it. (Salt) 
11. More than 80% of responders believe that their existing tools are ineffective in preventing API attacks. (Salt) 

API statistics in industries 

Finance 

12. More than 1 billion API calls were made in May 2022 to open banking APIs. (Open Banking)
13. The number of API calls made by the financial sector experienced a 125% growth in 2020. (Google Cloud)
14. The number of APIs deployed in the banking sector is anticipated to increase by 100% from 2022 to 2027. (McKinsey)
15. 48% of FinTech companies indicate API security as a top concern in API utilization. (FinTech Future) 

Retail 

16. The retail and travel industry had the most API calls made in 2020, with 34%. (Google Cloud)
17. More than 50% of retailers have indicated that APIs accelerate innovation, and 36% indicated that APIs are a strategic asset that can create business value. (Google Cloud)

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