Why track the popularity of computer languages
The world of IT development is constantly evolving. Whether you're creating a mobile application, a website, business software or a tool based on artificial intelligence, choosing the right programming language is an essential step. But how do you know which languages are the most relevant today? That's where monitoring the popularity of computer languages comes in.
Understanding which technologies are the most widely used not only helps you stay up to date, but also enables you to make more sustainable technical choices that are better suited to your projects. As an expert web and mobile development agency, Iterates supports its customers using the most powerful, reliable and popular languages available today.
In this article, we offer you a clear and accessible analysis of the ranking of the 20 most popular computer languages in June 2025, according to the TIOBE index, an industry benchmark. You'll find out why these languages dominate the market, what their strengths are, and what this means for your development projects.
Methodology: understanding the TIOBE index (simple definition)
The ranking of the most popular computer languages presented in this article is based on the TIOBE index. But what exactly is TIOBE?
The TIOBE index (named after the Dutch company that publishes it every month) measures the popularity of programming languages worldwide. The aim is not to assess the “best” technology, but to determine which languages are the most consulted, searched for and used at any given time.
How is the TIOBE index calculated?
The index is based on data from several sources:
- Search results from Google, Bing, Yahoo, Wikipedia, Amazon, YouTube...
- The number of developers using the
- The number of courses or tutorials available
- The volume of questions on platforms such as Stack Overflow
In short, the more visible and active a language is on the Internet, the higher its ranking.
Why is this index useful?
It provides a reliable snapshot of the current trend. This helps companies to :
- Better recruitment of developers
- Choose sustainable languages for their projects
- Avoiding obsolete technologies
The top 5 most widely used languages in June 2025
According to the TIOBE index of June 2025, here are the 5 most popular languages, with a simple definition for each:
- Python: A general-purpose language, very popular for the backend, data science and AI. It ranks first with around 25.9 % of online mentions, a record for Python.
- C++ Extension of C with object-oriented programming. Ideal for video games, mission-critical systems and applications requiring high performance. Stays solidly in 2ᵉ position (≈10.7 %). .
- C : Historical language, often used for system programming and embedded systems. It occupies 3ᵉ place with around 9.5 % of popularity
- Java : Object-oriented language widely used in enterprise applications, Android, and increasingly in AI. Stable in 4ᵉ position (~8.8 %). .
- C# : Designed by Microsoft, perfect for web applications, gaming (via Unity) and enterprise solutions. It retains 5ᵉ 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, etc.) and versatility.
- C/C++ are essential if you're aiming for maximum performance or low-level control.
- Java and C# offer the robustness, ease of integration and stable ecosystem needed for long-term projects.
Positions 6 to 10: JavaScript, Go, Visual Basic, Delphi/Object Pascal and Fortran
Here are the languages ranked from 6ᵉ to 10ᵉ according to the June 2025 TIOBE index:
- JavaScript (3.21 %) The essential web language, also used on the server side (Node.js). Highly suited to interactive interfaces and real-time web applications.
- Go (2.28 %) Created by Google, modern, powerful and simple, Go is ideal for the backend, APIs and microservices. .
- Visual Basic (2.20 %) A historical language with a drag-and-drop graphical interface, appreciated for its simplicity in the development of Windows applications
- Delphi/Object Pascal (2.15 %) Object-oriented variant of Pascal, used in particular with the Delphi IDE, popular in industrial and banking environments.
- Fortran (1.86 %) Fortran: Old but still present in scientific computing, engineering and simulations, Fortran benefits from a solid history of use
Why are these languages in the 6-10 bracket?
- JavaScript It is widely available on the web, powering the majority of websites and web apps.
- Go Its rapid adoption on 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 enterprise legacy systems.
- Fortran, despite its age, remains the benchmark for high-performance numerical calculations.
Focus on outsiders with strong growth
Each year, certain languages stand out from the crowd by their spectacular rise in the rankings. In June 2025, three languages in particular are attracting attention:
1. Ada (position 21, +0.43 %)
A language often used in embedded systems, particularly in the aerospace, medical and defence industries. Ada is gaining ground thanks to its security, reliability and zero tolerance of critical errors.
2. Perl (position 19, +0.37 %)
An old but very flexible language, used for script automation, system management and sometimes for the web. It is enjoying a revival, particularly in environments where rapid development is essential.
3. R (position 16, +0.30 %)
A statistics-oriented language, R is widely used by data scientists for data analysis, visualisation and scientific studies. Its rise is explained by the growth in projects linked to data and artificial intelligence.
These outsiders show that development needs are not limited to mainstream languages. In some cases (scientific computing, critical security, data processing), these technologies may be strategically better suited to a specific project.
Need help choosing the right language for your web, mobile or AI application? Our experts can give you expert advice.
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Languages less in vogue today
Although certain languages have played a key role in the history of development, their popularity is waning in the face of modern technologies that are better suited to current uses.
1. SQL
A database query language, SQL is still a must-have but is not considered a complete programming language. Its fall in the rankings is explained by its specialisation.
2. PHP
Long dominant on the web (notably with WordPress), PHP is losing ground to more modern languages such as JavaScript (Node.js), Python (Django) and Go. It is nevertheless still used in many existing projects.
3. MATLAB
Widely used in scientific and university computing, MATLAB is gradually being replaced by open source alternatives such as Python + NumPy/Pandas or R, which are more flexible and collaborative.
4. Rust
Although it is making news for its memory security and performance, Rust is not yet massively adopted. It stagnates around the 20ᵉ position, but its potential is enormous, particularly for modern systems projects.
5. Assembly & COBOL
These languages are still used in legacy environments (old banking systems, industry, etc.), but their use is becoming increasingly marginal and costly to maintain.
Why some languages rise and others fall
The growth in popularity of a programming language never happens by chance. It reflects technological trends, the needs of businesses and the practices of developers.
Languages on the rise
- Simplicity and accessibility: languages such as Python and Go are easy to learn, which encourages rapid adoption.
- A rich ecosystem: technologies that offer a wide range of tools, libraries and frameworks (such as JavaScript with React, Node.js...) are becoming increasingly attractive.
- Growing use cases: the rise of data, AI and microservices is propelling certain languages such as Python, R and Go.
- Support from major companies: Google is pushing Go, Microsoft is continuing to invest in C#, etc.
Top-down languages
- Legacy technologies: PHP, COBOL and Visual Basic are still around, but are often replaced in new projects.
- Too specialised: MATLAB or Assembly are useful but for very specific cases, so not very popular in a general context.
- Stagnant ecosystems: a language that evolves little or no longer attracts a community ends up losing visibility (e.g. Delphi/Object Pascal).
In a nutshell:
It's not the best languages that are on the rise, but those that best meet current needs, with good accessibility, a dynamic community and concrete uses.
Definitions of technical terms
In the world of IT development, certain terms can seem complex. Here are some simple definitions to help you understand the concepts covered in this article:
Programming language
A language that makes it possible to giving instructions to a computer to perform actions (calculations, display, connection to a database, etc.).
TIOBE index
A monthly ranking that measures the popularity of computer languages through web searches, forums, available courses and job offers.
Compiled vs. interpreted language
- Compiled: the code is transformed into machine language (e.g. C, C++) in one go, making it faster to execute.
- Interpreted: the code is read and executed line by line (e.g. Python, JavaScript), which provides greater flexibility, but often a little less performance.
Backend
The invisible part of an application (server side) that manages the business logic, databases, authentication, etc.
Frontend
The part visible of an application or website (user interface).
Microservices
For conlure
A development method where an application is divided into small independent services, each with a specific function. This allows the whole to evolve more quickly.
The ranking of computer languages in June 2025 highlights the technological dynamics of the moment: artificial intelligence, the cloud, web and mobile applications continue to shape technical priorities. Python is the most popular language, followed by C++, C, Java and JavaScript. Others such as Go, R and Ada are making progress, driven by targeted uses or specific performance requirements.
In this context, choosing the right programming language is essential to guarantee the viability and performance of a project. This choice depends on the objectives, the technical environment and the human resources available. There is no such thing as a good or bad language, only languages suited to a given use.
Here is a simplified summary table of typical uses:
| Category | Key languages | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Versatile | Python, Java, JavaScript, C# | Web, enterprise applications, AI |
| High performance | C, C++, Go, Rust | Critical software, embedded systems |
| Specialist areas | Fortran, Ada, R, Perl, COBOL | Scientific computing, safety, automation |
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