Spending on mobile advertising in the US will top all other regions in the world for the first time in 2012

Spending on mobile internet advertising in the US will top all other countries in the world for the first time this year, helping drive mobile ad spending worldwide to $6.43 billion in 2012, show figures released by eMarketer.

Until this year, Japan was the world’s largest market for mobile advertising, with spending reaching $1.36 billion in 2011, up from $1.01 billion in 2010. The mobile advertising market in Asia-Pacific still remains far bigger than in Europe.

Mobile advertising, though just 2.3% of total ad spending in the UK, is expected to take a record share by 2016, reaching 11% of total ad spending.

Forecasts also show China is set to become the world’s second-largest advertising market in 2013, and the second-largest digital advertising market the following year, behind the US.

Digital advertising, as expected, will take a record 20% share of total ad spending this year worldwide. eMarketer goes on to estimate online ad spend worldwide will reach $107.33 billion in 2012, up from $88.47 billion last year.