32 Facial Recognition Statistics to Know in 2023

We once knew facial recognition as futuristic technology only seen in science fiction movies. But now, from our smartphones to traffic lights, facial recognition plays a significant part of our daily lives.

Image recognition software makes facial recognition technology more accurate than ever. With new advancements every year, it’ll only get more advanced as we continue to use it.

Let’s explore these cutting-edge facial recognition statistics that explore everything from race to public safety.

General facial recognition statistics

We’ll kick things off with these general facial recognition statistics that focus on the market and its growth.

• The facial recognition market was valued at about $5 billion in 2021, and it’s expected to grow, reaching $12.67 billion by 2028.
• Between 2017 and 2019, 64 countries adopted AI surveillance through facial recognition systems.
• It takes FRT two seconds to analyze a person’s face.

Facial recognition statistics by country

These facial recognition statistics hone in on certain countries and cities to see how they’re adopting this technology.

• North America accounted for 37% of the facial recognition market’s global revenue in 2020 and is expected to reach a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.3% between 2021 and 2026.
• The top three cities with the most surveillance cameras are London, England with 627,000; Taiyuan, China with 465,000; and Wuxi, China with 300,000.
• 5 US cities have banned using facial recognition technology: San Francisco, Calif.; Boston, Mass.; Portland, Ore.; Portland, Maine; and Springfield, Mass.
• Belgium and Luxembourg are the only two countries to have banned facial recognition.
• In 2021, Maine became the first state to set strict statewide limits dictating that FRT could only be used to investigate serious crimes.
• Facial technology is implemented in some schools in almost 20% of the countries investigated. Countries with growing use of FRT in schools include Canada, Australia, and the US.
• Interpol’s facial recognition system has facial images from over 179 countries.

Facial recognition and race statistics

Below are statistics about facial recognition and race, and where this technology may need some improvements.

• Gender identification is 99% accurate on photos of white men. Yet, there’s a facial recognition error rate of ~35% when identifying darker-skinned women’s gender.

• 7 in 10 adults think facial recognition can accurately identify people of all races and ethnicities.
• Face-scanning stats indicate identification errors are 35 times more likely to happen to a Black female compared to a white male.

Facial recognition and modern technology statistics

These statistics center on facial recognition and modern technology that are used every day, like smartphones and Facebook.

• The probability of a random person unlocking your iPhone via Face ID is one in one million.
• Facebook DeepFace can tell if two photographed faces belong to the same person, with an accuracy rate of 97%.
• Over 81% of consumers are concerned about biometric data misuse.

Facial recognition and travel statistics

Let’s explore some statistics about how facial recognition aims to make traveling safer at airports, train stations, and subway stations.

• The first arrest aided by facial recognition technology took place at Washington Dulles International Airport in August 2018.
• 20% of countries use FRT on some buses, and 30% use it on trains or subways.
• Over 43% of North Americans approve of facial recognition technology in airports.
• Customs and Border Control uses facial recognition at ~200 airports and 12 seaports in the US.
• About 60% of countries use facial recognition in some airports.

Facial recognition and public safety statistics

Regarding public safety, facial recognition can make a major impact. Let’s explore how facial recognition technology can keep society safe.

• 68% of Americans say facial recognition can make society safer.
• 70% of police forces have access to some form of facial recognition technology.
• 72% of hotels are expected to deploy technology with facial recognition in the next four years.
• 8 in 10 countries apply facial recognition technology in banking or financial institutions.

• 40% of countries have implemented facial recognition at some workplaces.
• 76% of North Americans support schools using facial recognition to identify known child predators.
• Nearly half of North Americans agree facial recognition should be used in stores on the condition it can catch shoplifters.
• 56% of North Americans trust law enforcement agencies to use facial recognition technology responsibly.
• 42% of Americans feel facial recognition technology invades personal privacy rights.

Facing reality

The tech behind facial recognition technology may be controversial, but it’s here to stay. As technology evolves and improves, we’ll see it break through into even more industries and eventually become commonplace as part of our daily lives.

Take this info one step further and explore object detection. Learn how it works and why it’s so important.