Deregulation of AKT (protein kinase B) is frequently observed in human malignancies including gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Here we have reviewed the association between AKT phosphorylation (activation) and clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with GI cancer. Articles in the EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched up to July 2018. Eighteen studies comprising 1,698 patients with 5 different cancer types were included in the meta-analysis. In the pooled analysis, AKT phosphorylation was positively correlated with tumor size (r = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06-0.22; P < 0.001), tumor grade (r = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.14; P < 0.009), tumor stage (r = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.13-0.24; P < 0.001), lymph node status (r = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.09-0.25; P < 0.001) and the presence of distant metastasis (r = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06-0.22; P < 0.001) in the patients with GI cancer. These findings support the potential clinical value of AKT as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target in patients with GI carcinomas.