Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Public Administration in South Africa

See how your app install costs compare. Explore mobile acquisition cost benchmarks by industry, region, and platform

Cost Per App Install for Public Administration in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Scope: This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Public Administration and target country South Africa compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • Data availability: No monthly observations were available for Public Administration in South Africa in the selected period, so the comparison relies on the global baseline to frame likely seasonal and volatility patterns.
  • Global pattern: The global baseline shows a low starting point in Sep 2024, sharp Q4 lift in Oct–Nov, a correction in Dec–Jan, and a strong mid-year spike in Jun 2025, with elevated levels into late Q3.
  • Volatility: Month-to-month moves are large. The median absolute month-over-month change is about 53%, and the average absolute monthly swing is ~74%, indicating a highly dynamic cost environment.

What the global baseline shows

  • Overall level:
  • Average cost per app install (Sep 2024–Sep 2025): ≈ $11.85
  • Median across the period: ≈ $11.36
  • Range: $1.98 (low) to $26.21 (high)
  • Highs and lows:
  • Low: $1.98 in Sep 2024
  • High: $26.21 in Jun 2025
  • Other notable peaks: $22.99 in Sep 2025; $15.00 in Aug 2025
  • Direction of travel:
  • First-to-last month change: +~1061% (from $1.98 to $22.99)
  • Increases in 7 of 12 month-to-month steps (Oct, Nov, Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Sep)
  • Notable spikes and dips:
  • Oct 2024: +213% vs. Sep
  • Nov 2024: +131% vs. Oct
  • Dec 2024: -40% vs. Nov (holiday-season correction)
  • Jun 2025: +151% vs. May (period high)
  • Jul 2025: -53% vs. Jun (sharp pullback)
  • Aug–Sep 2025: +21% then +53%, respectively

Seasonality to note

  • Q4 uplift: Costs typically increase in Q4 around holiday periods. The baseline shows sharp increases from Sep to Oct and into Nov, followed by a December reset.
  • Mid-year surge: The single largest monthly level occurs in June 2025, with continued strength through late Q3 (Aug–Sep).
  • Pattern implication: The baseline indicates a rhythm of holiday-season escalation, early-year softening, and mid-year elevation.

Selected segment (Public Administration, South Africa)

  • Data coverage: No selected_data points were available for the timeframe provided. As a result, we cannot quantify averages, highs/lows, or volatility specific to Public Administration in South Africa, nor state whether it is above market, below average, or in line with overall trends.
  • Benchmarking guidance: In the absence of local-industry observations, the global baseline serves as a directional reference for likely seasonality and volatility ranges.

How the selected segment compares to the global baseline

  • Relative level: No direct comparison can be made due to missing in-market data for the selected period.
  • Relative volatility: The global series is highly volatile, with a median month-to-month change of ~53%. This provides a reference for expected fluctuation when South Africa Public Administration data becomes available.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Public Administration and South Africa helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Facebook advertising costs vary based on many factors including industry, target audience, ad placement, and campaign objectives. In the Public Administration industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting South Africa, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

Optimize Smarter with Superads

Improve your Facebook ad performance

Instant performance insights – See which ads, audiences, and creatives drive results.

Data-driven creative decisions – Spot patterns to improve ROAS.

Effortless reporting – No spreadsheets, just clear insights.

Get Started for free →

The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

South Africa Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 21Human Rights Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Family Day
Apr 27Freedom Day
May 1Workers' Day
Jun 16Youth Day
Aug 9National Women's Day
Sep 24Heritage Day
Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Day of Goodwill

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas & Day of Goodwill), Mid-year retail (June Youth Day promotions)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during long weekends like Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and Heritage Day as leisure and travel-related media consumption increases. Retail CPMs may spike in late November–December for holiday shopping. Youth Day and National Women's Day might drive regional campaigns. Weekend extensions across public holidays may benefit weekend campaigns.

What's a good CPI for iOS vs Android in 2025?

iOS CPIs often range from $2 to $5 or more. Android is usually cheaper, between $1 and $3. Your CPI will depend on geo, creative, and optimization goal.

Why is my app install cost higher in some countries?

Some regions like the US, UK, and Canada have higher competition and stricter privacy regulations, which drive up costs. Countries with lower purchasing power typically have cheaper CPIs.

What creatives drive the lowest CPI on Facebook?

Short videos showing app benefits, UGC-style content, and localized messaging tend to perform best. Clear CTAs and fast-paced visuals help lower your CPI.

Should I optimize for installs or in-app actions?

Optimizing for installs gets volume, but optimizing for actions like signups or purchases brings higher quality users. It depends on your goals and how much post-install behavior matters.

How do I lower CPI without tanking app retention or quality?

Align your creative with the app experience, avoid misleading ads, and exclude users who already installed. You can also test lookalike audiences based on high-quality users, not just all installers.