Rules adopted or proposed in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and the EU set age checks or minimum ages for online services.
Why this market is moving now
- Australia's under-16 social media minimum age took effect on 10 December 2025, with civil penalties of up to A$49.5 million.
- United Kingdom child safety duties, including age checks, came into force on 25 July 2025.
- A June 2025 ruling upheld a Texas age-verification law, and at least 21 other US states had similar rules.
- An EU proposal from September 2026 would set 15 as the minimum age for an independent account.
Key figures
Global figures for this market, with the year each one describes. Use Cite to copy a reference to this page.
| Figure | Value | Year | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global age assurance revenue is forecast at $4,925.82 million in 2026. | 4,925.82 USD million | 2026 | |
| Global age assurance revenue is forecast to exceed $7.37 billion a year by 2028. | 7.37 USD billion | 2028 | |
| Global age assurance transactions are forecast at 6,567.76 million in 2026, rising to more than 9.8 billion a year by 2028. | 6,567.76 million transactions | 2026 | |
| Yoti, an age assurance provider, grew revenue 62% in 2025 to 29.0 million pounds, from 17.9 million pounds in 2024. | 29.0 GBP million | 2025 | |
| Yoti had completed over 1 billion age checks for about half a billion people over seven years by January 2026. | 1 billion age checks | 2026 | |
| Incode, an identity and age assurance company serving more than 700 enterprises, processed nearly 100 million age estimations in the year before August 2026. | 100 million age estimations | 2026 | |
| The top US court upheld a Texas age-verification law for adult websites on 27 June 2025 and noted that at least 21 other states had similar rules. | 21 US states (at least) | 2025 | |
| In the United Kingdom, child safety duties under the Online Safety Act, including age checks, came into force on 25 July 2025. | 25 July 2025 date in force | 2025 | |
| Australia's minimum age of 16 for social media accounts took effect on 10 December 2025, and courts can order civil penalties of up to A$49.5 million. | 49.5 AUD million (maximum civil penalty) | 2025 | |
| An EU Kids Act proposal adopted in September 2026 sets 15 as the minimum age to create an independent account on digital services. | 15 years (minimum age) | 2026 |
Calculated figures (shares, changes and prices per kilogram) are plain arithmetic on the reported values. Read how we work.
Companies to watch
Yoti
Age assurance and digital ID provider; revenue grew 62% in 2025 to 29.0 million pounds.
Incode
Identity verification and age assurance company; processed nearly 100 million age estimations in the year before August 2026.
T-Systems
Holds the contract, with Scytáles, to design and develop the EU age verification solution.
Scytáles
Holds the contract, with T-Systems, to design and develop the EU age verification solution.
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the global market - 03Global market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Countries and regions
Demand, supply and trade by country and region - 05Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 06Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 07Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 08Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 09Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 10Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 11Method and assumptions
How every figure was built
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the global age verification market?
Global age assurance revenue is forecast at $4,925.82 million in 2026 and to exceed $7.37 billion a year by 2028.
How many online age checks are done worldwide?
Global age assurance transactions are forecast at 6,567.76 million in 2026, rising to more than 9.8 billion a year by 2028. Yoti alone had completed over 1 billion age checks over seven years by January 2026.
Who are the main age verification companies?
Yoti grew revenue 62% in 2025 to 29.0 million pounds and has completed over 1 billion age checks. Incode processed nearly 100 million age estimations in the year before August 2026.
Which countries require online age verification?
At least 21 US states besides Texas had age-verification rules for adult sites in 2025. United Kingdom child safety duties came into force on 25 July 2025, and Australia's under-16 social media minimum age took effect on 10 December 2025.
What are the penalties for failing age checks?
In Australia, courts can order civil penalties of up to A$49.5 million against social media platforms that do not take reasonable steps to keep children under 16 off their services.
What new age verification rules are coming?
An EU Kids Act proposal adopted in September 2026 sets 15 as the minimum age to create an independent account on digital services.
Free sample
Get a free sample of this report
We send the table of contents, two sample chapters and the method note, usually within one working day. It is free to ask.
- Full table of contents
- Two sample chapters
- Method note and data outline