While Android has taken the lead in the US smartphone market, we shouldn’t forget that other parts of the world are loving Google’s smartphone OS just as much. As evidence to this, new data from analysis firm IDC shows just how massively the platform grew in Europe over 2010. When tallied during the fourth quarter of 2009, Android shipments numbered at 470,000 handsets. Turn the calendar up one year and the number rests at 7.9 million. Do the math and that equates to a 1580 percent growth.

Android’s 7.9 million handsets shipped rests well ahead of its nearest competitors. Apple moved 5.2 million units while RIM had 4.8 million smartphones headed to Europe. In terms of total share, Android now holds 31 percent of the smartphone market. A year prior it held only 4 percent.

With numbers like these, it is easy to see why IDC is predicting even more growth over the next four years as Android continues on its path of smartphone dominance.

[IDC via AndroidCentral]