The number of Android and iOS apps featuring Facebook integration has hit 185,000 with the social platform driving downloads through its sharing and recommendation functionality.

Facebook figures released as part of its announcement that it has reached one billion users revealed that 55 percent of the top 40 grossing iOS apps are connected to the social network.

The company added that the platform drives more than 170 million app referrals to Apple’s App Store and Google Play each month as users interact with the activities of their friends on various apps.

The social network’s app centre, which is home to both mobile and web apps, has more than 22 million monthly active users.

Facebook developer advocate Simon Cross explained how the platform is able to drive mobile app downloads at the recent Apps World event in London.