Programming languages are the building blocks of the digital world, which are used to write computer programs. They are designed to allow people to communicate instructions to computers in a way that they can understand. Every day, millions of developers around the world use them to create applications, websites, and software.
In this article, we will explore the most popular programming languages statistics. We will look at their usage, trends, and popularity over the past few years. We hope that this article will be helpful for you, and that you will get a clear picture of the new trends in the programming world.
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Programming Languages: The Most Important Statistics
Worldwide, Python is the most popular language in 2023. It grew the most in the last 5 years (+7.8%).
Java tops the list of most googled technologies in 80 out of 162 countries worldwide and has a market share of over 50% in these countries.
General programming languages statistics
According to the Online Historical Encyclopaedia of Programming Languages, people have created about 8,945 programming languages.
The programming language market size was valued at 154.68 billion USD in 2021 and is expected to reach 343.84 billion USD by 2029 to exhibit a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period.
The most popular programming language software worldwide in 2022 was CSS, with a market share of 42%. Other noteworthy programming languages include ASP.NET, Lua and PHP, as reported by Statista.
Overall employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 25% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Java is one of the most powerful programming languages that is currently used in more than 3 billion devices.
Python can be regarded as the future of programming languages. As per the latest statistics, Python is the main coding language for around 80% of developers.
The top 10 countries that are most suitable for English-speaking coders and developers are Ukraine, Poland, India, Argentina, Denmark, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, USA, and UK.
According to Fireart, the choice of the programming language should depend on your career goals:
JavaScript, Elm, and TypeScript are used in front-end web development.
JavaScript, Scala, Python, Go, and Ruby are useful for back-end web development.
Swift, Java, Objective C, and JavaScript serve in mobile development.
Unity and TypeScript are typical in game development.
Scala, Go, and Python are popular for developing desktop applications.
Go and Rust are perfect for systems programming.
What programming languages are the most popular?
JavaScript is one of the world’s most popular programming languages on the web. As per the survey, more than 97% of the websites use JavaScript on the client-side of the webpage. As per the latest statistics, 72% of companies are looking for JavaScript developers.
In 2022, JavaScript and HTML/CSS were the most commonly used programming languages around the world, with more than 65% of respondents stating that they used JavaScript and just over 55% using HTML/CSS. Python, SQL, and TypeScript rounded out the top five most widely used programming languages around the world.
Worldwide, Python is the most popular language in 2023, as reported by PYPL. It grew the most in the last 5 years (+7.8%) and Java lost the most (-5.2%).
Java tops the list of most googled technologies. It includes 22.4% of the total search results and appears in 1 in every 5 searches. It is followed by Python and Javascript with 21% and 14.3% respectively.
Java tops the list of most googled technologies in 80 out of 162 countries worldwide and has a market share of over 50% in these countries.
Over 65% of the total searches in ‘the most googled technology’ category consist of Java, Python, and Javascript. On the other hand, Bash language is the least Googled technology with only 3650 average monthly searches globally.
The most popular programming language used by software developers worldwide in the last 12 months is JavaScript, according to 69% of the software developers surveyed. 4% of software developers are also planning to adopt or migrate to JavaScript.
Kotlin is a cross-platform programming language designed to develop apps. It is being used by more than 60% of android developers.
C / C++ take 10th place in the top programming language chart by Statista. Their names look alike, but the difference is significant. The matter is that C is a middle-level language, while C++ is a high-level one.
Programming languages in recruitment
The most demanded programming languages by recruiters are JavaScript and Java, with over 40% of recruiters looking to hire people with those programming skills. Python ranked third, with 38% of respondents searching for this skill when hiring.
According to the Statista survey, Rust is one of the most desired languages, with over 17% of respondents that are not developing with it, but expressing interest in developing with it. Python ranked second, followed by TypeScript.
Javascript and Typescript dominate the developer job market right now, and they account for a total of 31% of the job offers that explicitly required a programming language. That means that nearly 1 out of 3 job offers require Javascript or Typescript knowledge.
Python and Java were the second and third most demanded programming languages in 2022 with a great number of job offers also. C#, C/C++ and PHP are also languages to watch out for, as they share a consistent upward trend. For example, PHP in Oct 2021 was at 5% of the total dev job offers, and in Nov 2022 has almost a 10%.
The top countries offering the highest programming language jobs in the world are China, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, and South Korea, according to Halo Lab.
China has the best programmers, developers, coders, and many more to motivate the country for developing as the number one in the global tech market. Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world with its innovation and creativity. Taiwan is one of the most preferred countries in the world for programmers and developers for its passion for the trendiest programming language.
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Top Highest Paid Programming Languages
As reported by LinkedIn, the average annual pay of software developers depends on the programming languages they use. Here are a few examples:
Ruby belongs to the most in-demand and highest-paid programming languages in 2022. The average annual pay of a Ruby developer is 117,868 USD.
The average annual pay of a JavaScript developer is 107,384 USD.
The average annual pay of a Python developer is 107,311 USD.
The average annual pay of a Go developer is 105,078 USD.
The average annual pay of a PHP developer is 102,717 USD.
The average annual pay of a C++ developer is 96,371 USD.
The average annual pay of a Java developer is 94,502 USD.
The average annual pay of a C developer is 86,296 USD.
According to Statista, developers who know how to use Scala had the highest salary with an average of 150,000 USD.
Programming languages in different countries
The Top 3 programming languages worldwide as per searches in Google were Python with a share of 28.3%, followed by Java accounting for 16.9%, and JavaScript with 9.3% worldwide, according to PYPL.
Python dominates the list of most searched languages in North America and Asia and takes up 20% and 22% shares respectively of the total searches.
Java takes the first position in the most searched languages list in Australia, Africa, South America, and Europe.
Javascript appears in every 3 out of 20 searches in the USA.
The USA contributes to 60% of the total searches for C/C++ in the entire continent.
Python and Typescript enjoy equal popularity (21%) among all the programming languages in Singapore.
The Philippines has a higher search volume for C/C++ than South Korea and Japan combined.
Java is the most popular language and appears in every 1 in 5 searches (20.03%) across African countries. Followed by JavaScript (19.91%) and Python (17.12%).
South America chooses Java over other programming languages, with Brazil topping the list of South American countries in Google searches for it.
Supplementary Statistics
JavaScript is the most popular programming language among developers, with 67.7% using it.
This data is invaluable for anyone looking to gain insight into the programming language landscape and make informed decisions about which language to use for their project.
Python is the fastest-growing major programming language, with a 28.3% usage among developers.
Python is on the rise and is likely to remain a major player in the programming language landscape for years to come.
The TIOBE Index for January 2022 ranks C as the number one programming language.
It is a clear indication that C is still the language of choice for many developers, despite the emergence of newer languages. This statistic is a valuable insight into the current state of programming languages and provides a useful reference point for anyone looking to make an informed decision about which language to use.
55.9% of professional developers report using SQL, making it one of the top programming languages.
SQL is one of the most popular programming languages, and this statistic serves as a reminder of its importance in the programming world.
Rust has been voted the most loved programming language for five consecutive years according to Stack Overflow survey.
This speaks to the language’s ability to consistently meet the needs of developers, as evidenced by its five-year streak of being voted the most loved programming language. This is an impressive feat, and one that should be celebrated in any discussion of programming language statistics.
58.3% of survey respondents have used Python in 2021, marking the highest increase compared to 2017.
Python is becoming a more widely used language. It is also a sign that Python is becoming a more viable option for developers, as more people are turning to it for their programming needs.
Swift, Apple’s programming language for iOS and macOS, is used by 5.7% of software developers.
The language is becoming increasingly adopted, indicating that it is a viable option for developers looking to create applications for iOS and macOS. Furthermore, the statistic highlights the potential of Swift as a language for developing applications, making it an attractive choice for developers.
Nearly 87.6% of responding developers said they were using Git for version control in 2021.
The majority of developers are relying on Git to manage their code, indicating that it is a reliable and trusted tool. This is especially important in the context of programming language statistics, as it shows that developers are increasingly turning to Git to manage their projects.
In the United States, Python surpassed Java to become the second most popular programming language in 2020.
More and more developers are turning to the language for their projects. It also speaks to the versatility of Python, as it can be used for a wide range of applications, from web development to data science. This shift in the programming language landscape is an important one, and it’s worth noting for anyone interested in the future of programming.
40.4% of professional developers spend the most time coding in JavaScript, followed by Python and Java.
JavaScript is the language of choice for many developers, with Python and Java following closely behind. This information is important for anyone interested in programming language statistics, as it provides insight into the preferences of professional developers.
PHP, a programming language for web development, is used by 25.9% of respondents in 2020.
PHP is still a widely used language, despite the emergence of newer languages in the market. It is a reminder that PHP is still a viable option for web development, and that it should not be overlooked when considering which language to use.
Kotlin is the 4th most loved programming language, with 62.9% of developers expressing affection for it.
Developers are increasingly recognizing the power and potential of Kotlin, and are expressing their admiration for it. This is an important indicator of the language’s success, and is a great point to highlight in a blog post about programming language statistics.
15.6% of developers use Scala, ranking it 19th among programming languages in use.
Scala is a popular choice among developers, placing it in the top 20 most used languages. This suggests that Scala is a viable option for developers looking to expand their skillset and use a language that is widely accepted.
In 2021, 53.9% of respondents use Visual Studio Code as their preferred development environment.
The majority of developers are choosing to use Visual Studio Code, which speaks to its ease of use, versatility, and reliability. This is an important statistic to consider when discussing programming language statistics, as it provides insight into the development environment of choice for many developers.
TypeScript, a popular JavaScript superset, has seen a 5.5% increase in usage among developers from 2018 to 2020.
It is becoming an increasingly sought-after language. This is especially noteworthy in the context of programming language statistics, as it shows that TypeScript is gaining traction in the development community.
Lua, a lightweight scripting language, is the most dreaded language, with 82.5% of developers who used it not wanting to continue.
The majority of developers who have used it have found it too challenging to continue. This is an important statistic to consider when evaluating programming languages, as it can provide insight into the complexity of the language and the amount of effort required to learn it.
Over 6% of professional developers use Go, ranking it 17th among programming languages in use.
With a ranking of 17th, it is clear that Go is becoming increasingly adopted by professional developers, indicating that it is a language worth considering for those looking to develop software.
Only 0.22% of developers are using COBOL in 2020, indicating the waning popularity of this older programming language.
With such a minuscule percentage of developers utilizing the language, it is clear that the language is no longer a viable option for many projects. This statistic is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of programming and the need for developers to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies.
R, a popular programming language for data analysis, is used by 5.1% of professional developers in 2020.
Despite the ever-growing number of programming languages available, R is still a popular choice among professional developers. This indicates that R is a reliable and effective language for data analysis, and is likely to remain so in the future.
Conclusion
The statistics show that programming language usage is constantly changing and evolving. Different languages have different strengths and weaknesses, and the right language for a project depends on the specific requirements. As the industry continues to evolve, so too will the languages used to create the software that powers the world. No matter which language is chosen, it’s clear that the future of programming is an exciting one.
Resources
Analytics Insight: “Top 10 Programming Languages Recruiters are Looking For in 2022”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Analytics Insight: “Top 10 Countries Suitable for English-Speaking Coders and Developer Jobs”, cited February 2023. (Source)
BestColleges: “How Many Coding Languages Are There?”, cited February 2023. (Source)
DevJobsScanner: “Top 8 Most Demanded Programming Languages in 2022”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Fireart: “Top Programming Languages That Will Rule in 2023”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Halo Lab: “The Best Programming Languages In 2022”, cited February 2023. (Source)
HOPL: “An online roster and genealogy of 8945 programming languages from the 18th century to the present, featuring 7,800 influence links and over 11,000 citations”, cited February 2023. (Source)
LinkedIn: “Top Highest Paid Programming Languages in 2022”, cited February 2023. (Source)
MMR: “Programming Language Market – Industry Analysis and Forecast (2022-2029) – by Medium, End User, Language and Region”, cited February 2023. (Source)
PYPL: “Popularity of Programming Language”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Simform: “Top Programming Languages of 2023: A Compilation of Key Statistics”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Statista: “Programming languages that are associated with the highest salaries in the United States as of 2020”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Statista: “Most used programming languages among developers worldwide as of 2022”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Statista: “Most wanted programming languages among developers worldwide, as of 2022”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Statista: “Programming language software share breakdown worldwide in 2022”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Statista: “Programming languages used by software developers worldwide as of 2021, by deployment type”, cited February 2023. (Source)
Statista: “Most demanded programming languages by recruiters worldwide in 2022”, cited February 2023. (Source)
US Bureau Of Labor Statistics: “Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers”, cited February 2023. (Source)
ZipDo, cited June 2023: Programming Languages Statistics
