Why Track the Popularity of Programming Languages
The world of software development is constantly evolving. Whether it’s for creating a mobile app, a website, a business software, or an AI-based tool, choosing the right programming language is a crucial step. But how do you know which languages are the most relevant today? This is where tracking the popularity of programming languages comes into play.
Understanding which technologies are most used allows you to stay up to date and make more durable and suitable technical choices for your projects. As an agency specialized in web and mobile development, Iterates supports its clients by relying on the most efficient, reliable, and popular programming languages of the moment.
In this article, we provide a clear and accessible analysis of the top 20 most popular programming languages as of June 2025, according to the TIOBE Index, a reference in the field. You will discover why these languages dominate the market, their strengths, and what it means for your development projects.
Methodology: Understanding the TIOBE Index (Simple Definition)
The ranking of the most popular programming languages presented in this article is based on the TIOBE Index. But what exactly is it?
The TIOBE Index (named after the Dutch company that publishes it monthly) measures the popularity of programming languages worldwide. It is not about evaluating the “best” technology, but determining which languages are most searched, discussed, and used at a given moment.
How is the TIOBE Index Calculated?
The index relies on data from several sources:
- Search results from Google, Bing, Yahoo, Wikipedia, Amazon, YouTube, etc.
- The number of developers using the language
- The number of available courses or tutorials
- The volume of questions on platforms like Stack Overflow
In summary, the more visible and active a language is on the internet, the higher it ranks.
Why is this Index Useful?
It provides a reliable snapshot of current trends. It helps businesses to:
- Better recruit developers
- Choose sustainable languages for their projects
- Avoid obsolete technologies
Top 5 Most Used Languages in June 2025
According to the TIOBE Index of June 2025, here are the top 5 most popular languages, with a simple definition for each:
- Python: A general-purpose language, very popular for backend, data science, and AI. It occupies the first position with around 25.9% of online mentions, a record for Python.
- C++: An extension of C with object-oriented programming. Ideal for video games, critical systems, and applications requiring high performance. It remains solidly in 2nd place (~10.7%).
- C: A historic language, often used for system programming and embedded systems. It holds the 3rd place with around 9.5% popularity.
- Java: An object-oriented language widely used in enterprise applications, Android, and increasingly in AI. Stable in 4th place (~8.8%).
- C#: Developed by Microsoft, perfect for web applications, game development (via Unity), and enterprise solutions. It maintains the 5th place (~4.7%).
Why is This Top 5 Important for Your Projects?
- Python dominates because it combines simplicity, a rich ecosystem (AI libraries, web frameworks…), and versatility.
- C/C++ remain indispensable when aiming for maximum performance or low-level control.
- Java and C# offer robustness, ease of integration, and a stable ecosystem, useful for long-term projects.
Positions 6 to 10: JavaScript, Go, Visual Basic, Delphi/Object Pascal, and Fortran
Here are the languages ranked from 6th to 10th place according to the TIOBE Index of June 2025:
- JavaScript (3.21%): The essential web language, also used on the server-side (Node.js). Well-suited for interactive interfaces and real-time web applications.
- Go (2.28%): Created by Google, modern, performant, and simple, Go is ideal for backend, APIs, and microservices.
- Visual Basic (2.20%): A historical language with a drag-and-drop GUI interface, appreciated for its simplicity in developing Windows applications.
- Delphi/Object Pascal (2.15%): An object-oriented variant of Pascal, used primarily with the Delphi IDE, favored in industrial and banking environments.
- Fortran (1.86%): An older language but still widely used in scientific computing, engineering, and simulations, Fortran benefits from a solid historical usage.
Why Are These Languages Ranked 6th to 10th?
- JavaScript: Widely used on the web, powering the majority of websites and web apps.
- Go: Its rapid adoption in the backend is reinforced by its use in the cloud ecosystem, Docker, and Kubernetes.
- Visual Basic and Delphi are deeply embedded in Windows desktop applications and legacy enterprise systems.
- Fortran, despite its age, remains the go-to for high-performance numerical computing.
Focus on Outsiders with Strong Growth
Each year, certain languages stand out due to their remarkable rise in the rankings. In June 2025, three languages in particular are drawing attention:
- Ada (Rank 21, +0.43%)
A language often used in embedded systems, particularly in aerospace, medical, or defense applications. Ada is progressing due to its security, reliability, and zero-tolerance for critical errors. - Perl (Rank 19, +0.37%)
An older yet highly flexible language, used for scripting automation, system management, and sometimes for web development. It is experiencing a resurgence, particularly in environments where rapid development is essential. - R (Rank 16, +0.30%)
A language focused on statistics, R is highly favored by data scientists for data analysis, visualization, and scientific research. Its rise is due to the growth of data and AI-related projects.
These outsiders demonstrate that development needs are not limited to mainstream languages. In some cases (scientific computing, critical security, data processing), these technologies can be more suitable for specific projects.
Link to the Application Creation direclty
Languages Currently Less Popular
Although some languages have played a key role in development history, their popularity is declining compared to modern technologies better suited to current needs.
- SQL
A query language for databases, SQL remains indispensable but is not considered a complete programming language. Its drop in the rankings is due to its specialization. - PHP
Once dominant in web development (especially with WordPress), PHP is losing ground to more modern languages like JavaScript (Node.js), Python (Django), or Go. However, it is still used in many existing projects. - MATLAB
Widely used in scientific computing and academia, MATLAB is gradually being replaced by open-source alternatives like Python + NumPy/Pandas or R, which are more flexible and collaborative. - Rust
Although it is gaining attention for its memory safety and performance, Rust is not yet widely adopted. It hovers around 20th place, but its potential is enormous, especially for modern system projects. - Assembly & COBOL
These languages are still used in legacy environments (old banking systems, industry…), but their use is becoming increasingly marginal and costly to maintain.
Why Do Some Languages Rise and Others Fall?
The evolution of the popularity of a programming language is never random. It reflects both technological trends, business needs, and developer practices.
Languages on the Rise
- Simplicity and Accessibility: Languages like Python or Go appeal due to their ease of learning, which encourages rapid adoption.
- Rich Ecosystem: Technologies offering numerous tools, libraries, or frameworks (like JavaScript with React, Node.js…) become more attractive.
- Growing Use Cases: The rise of data, AI, or microservices boosts languages like Python, R, or Go.
- Corporate Support: Google promotes Go, Microsoft continues investing in C#, etc.
Languages on the Decline
- Legacy Technologies: PHP, COBOL, or Visual Basic are still present but are often replaced in new projects.
- Overly Specialized: MATLAB or Assembly are useful but for very specific cases, making them less popular in a general context.
- Stagnant Ecosystems: A language that evolves slowly or no longer attracts a community tends to lose visibility (e.g., Delphi/Object Pascal).
In Summary:
It’s not always the “best” languages that rise, but those that best meet current needs, with good accessibility, a dynamic community, and concrete use cases.
Definitions of Technical Terms
In the world of software development, some terms may seem complex. Here are simple definitions to better understand the concepts discussed in this article:
- Programming Language: A language that allows giving instructions to a computer to perform actions (calculations, display, database connection, etc.).
- TIOBE Index: A monthly ranking that measures the popularity of programming languages based on web searches, forums, available courses, and job offers.
- Compiled vs Interpreted Language:
- Compiled: The code is transformed all at once into machine language (e.g., C, C++), making it faster at execution.
- Interpreted: The code is read and executed line by line (e.g., Python, JavaScript), offering more flexibility but often lower performance.
- Backend: The invisible part of an application (server-side) that handles business logic, databases, authentication, etc.
- Frontend: The visible part of an application or website (user interface).
- Microservices: A development method where an application is divided into small independent services, each with a specific function. This allows the system to evolve more quickly.
Conclusion
The June 2025 ranking of programming languages highlights the current technological dynamics: artificial intelligence, cloud, web, and mobile applications continue to shape technical priorities. Python emerges as the most popular language, followed by C++, C, Java, and JavaScript. Other languages like Go, R, or Ada are progressing, driven by specific use cases or performance needs.
In this context, choosing the right programming language is essential to ensure the viability and performance of a project. This choice depends on goals, the technical environment, and available human resources. There is no “good” or “bad” language, only languages suited to a given use case.
Here is a simplified summary table according to typical use cases:
| Category | Key Languages | Main Use |
|---|---|---|
| Versatile | Python, Java, JavaScript, C# | Web, enterprise applications, AI |
| High performance | C, C++, Go, Rust | Critical software, embedded systems |
| Specialized fields | Fortran, Ada, R, Perl, COBOL | Scientific computing, security, automation |
At Iterates, we assist you in choosing and developing your digital solutions using the most relevant technologies to meet your objectives.
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