The Top Programming Languages by IEEE Spectrum

The 2020 IEEE Spectrum list of top programming languages reveals some interesting shifts in the landscape.

(Note: I update this page every year with the latest trends. Scroll down for the most recent rankings.)

My observations:

1. Python (as expected) retains the top slot for the last four years.
2. JavaScript is slowly raising in popularity, it would’ve been in the top 2, had it not been for AI, ML & Python.
3. C# suddenly has vanished from the top 10 this year, feels odd as the comments in the article page point out.
4. Similarly, PHP going out from the top 10 for last two years, I am surprised with this – as WordPress which is powered by PHP, still runs over 30% of the Internet websites.
5. Java remaining static in #2 or #3 for all the five years. Not surprising, enterprises and Android apps use it a lot.
6. Apple’s Swift remaining in #9 for the two years, I would’ve expected it to raise.
7. Data Science language “R” remaining static in #5 or #6 for all the five years.
8. Slow raise of Google’s Go Lang. I feel this deserves to be raising more.
9. Inclusion of Matlab, I don’t know enough to explain this.
10. Arduino is an odd item here as the article’s comment section has highlighted.

Source: The lists for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 can be seen from IEEE Spectrum website.

What do you think? What are the programming languages you use everyday? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

Update 27th January 2021:

In a report published, based on the data from O’Reilly online learning platform, shows Python and Java ahead of the usual the well-regarded leader JavaScript. I am not surprised on this as the IEEE Spectrum reports have been consistently Python to be the leader.

Update September 2023:
In the rankings for 2023 released by IEEE Spectrum, Python continues to top the list of programming languages.

Notice the:

1. No major changes in the order for the last five years,
2. The continuing popularity of Java and C++ (along with C and C#),
3. Continued relevance of PHP,
4. Rise of modern languages like Go, Dart, Rust & Kotlin,
5. Thankfully JavaScript is only in the fifth position :-)

Update August 2024:
In the rankings for 2024 released by IEEE Spectrum, Python continues to top the list of programming languages.

From 2023 to 2024, the programming language landscape reflects a shift in industry priorities. Python’s sustained dominance highlights the continued importance of data science, machine learning, and automation. However, the rise of TypeScript to the top five in 2024 signals the growing demand for scalable, type-safe JavaScript applications, especially in web and cloud development. Rust’s presence also indicates a focus on performance and memory safety, increasingly relevant in systems programming. Meanwhile, older languages like C and C++ are seeing a gradual decline as newer, more versatile languages gain traction in both enterprise and developer communities. These shifts suggest a balancing act between legacy systems and modern development needs, with a clear push towards languages that support robustness and developer efficiency.