As 2024 comes to an end it is time to look back at an eventful year in the IT landscape. AI is again writing headlines together with other cutting-edge technologies such as cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and autonomous vehicles. Following these technology trends, there has also been a shift in popular programming languages.
For example, the widely recognized ChatGPT—now virtually synonymous with AI—was primarily developed using Python. This close relationship between programming language popularity and technology trends underscores why it’s essential to monitor which languages are thriving.
To provide a clearer picture, we will in this article share valuable insights from the TIOBE Index, which publishes data on the popularity of programming languages, and why this website is relevant to follow for the latest programming trends in 2024.
For the Most popular programming languages in 2025, please check the following article.
Most popular programming languages in 2025
The TIOBE Index
In this section, we will give a short introduction to the TIOBE Index published by TIOBE Software once a month. The index shows the most popular programming languages month by month and has received great acknowledgment from tech communities.
By measuring a given language’s presence across a variety of search engines and technology resources.
In other words, the TIOBE Index tracks the frequency and visibility of each language online. As a result, it offers an objective snapshot of how widely used, referenced, and discussed these languages are worldwide. This makes it an invaluable resource for developers, learners, and businesses evaluating which languages to adopt or invest in.
How the TIOBE Index Is Defined
The TIOBE Index evaluates popularity primarily through the number of search hits related to a particular programming language. Data is aggregated from about 25 authoritative sources, including major search engines and platforms like Google, Wikipedia, Bing, Microsoft, SharePoint, eBay, and Amazon.
By using search hits as a proxy for visibility, the index effectively benchmarks how much attention and usage each programming language garners. The TIOBE Index should not be viewed as an indicator of how technically advanced or superior a programming language is. It represents factors such as market trends, developers' interest, educational resources, and support and training from vendors.
Moreover, the methodology behind the TIOBE Index is standardized and consistently applied every month. The systematic way allows one to trace how the popularity of programming languages has changed over time. It offers decent insight into the evolution of the developer ecosystem, showing where the market is today and where it could go in the future.
2024 Programming Language Popularity Ranking
Now, it is time to focus on the latest data provided by the TIOBE Index on the most popular programming languages for December 2024. We now take a look at the first 10 programming languages before going on to the full top 50 list.
At the forefront, Python, in first place, stands as the dominant leader with the highest popularity. As of December 2024, Python's popularity rating is to stand at 23.84%, which is many steps ahead of C++ at 10.82% that comes in second place. This supremacy of Python is attributable to its main area of use- AI, machine learning, and data science along with web developing, automation, and infrastructure management.
Its flexibility gives it a status in a larger aspect in the industry.
C++, in second place, maintains a steady rating above 10%. Its enduring popularity comes from its unmatched performance capabilities—essential for system-level development, game engines, and embedded systems. Meanwhile, Java (9.72%) and C (9.10%), occupying the third and fourth spots respectively, remain fundamental workhorses in enterprise systems and mission-critical embedded environments. Their longstanding presence reflects stable, long-term demand across numerous industrial sectors.
In fifth place, C# (4.87%) retains support due to its integration with the .NET ecosystem, Azure services, and game development platforms like Unity. JavaScript (4.61%) stands firmly in sixth place, underscoring its role as the go-to language for front-end web development. With the support of TypeScript and other modern frameworks, JavaScript’s influence shows no signs of waning.
Go (2.17%), ranked seventh, continues to gain traction as a core language for cloud-native services and microservice architectures, leveraging efficient concurrency and a lightweight runtime. SQL (1.99%), in eighth place, remains an unshakable pillar of data-driven enterprises, powering databases and ensuring essential data operations. Visual Basic (1.96%) in ninth place, while older and more niche, still satisfies certain legacy system demands and specialized internal tools. Rounding out the top 10, Fortran (1.79%) persists as a hidden champion in scientific and high-performance computing (HPC) scenarios.
Overall, we see a landscape dominated by Python’s meteoric rise, stable performances from time-tested giants like C/C++/Java, and strong footholds for languages like Go and SQL that excel in specific domains. As we move into 2025, generative AI and cloud-native technologies are set to change which programming languages are most popular. It's important for businesses, developers, and learners to keep up with these trends to stay ahead.
Below is the list of the top 50 programming languages in the 2024 programming language popularity ranking.
2024 Programming Language Popularity Ranking TOP50
| Ranking | Programming Language | Ratings |
| 1 | Python | 23.84% |
| 2 | C++ | 10.82% |
| 3 | Java | 9.72% |
| 4 | C | 9.10% |
| 5 | C# | 4.87% |
| 6 | JavaScript | 4.61% |
| 7 | Go | 2.17% |
| 8 | SQL | 1.99% |
| 9 | Visual Basic | 1.96% |
| 10 | Fortran | 1.79% |
| 11 | Delphi/Object Pascal | 1.44% |
| 12 | PHP | 1.39% |
| 13 | Scratch | 1.33% |
| 14 | Rust | 1.29% |
| 15 | MATLAB | 1.09% |
| 16 | R | 1.05% |
| 17 | Assembly language | 1.04% |
| 18 | Ruby | 1.03% |
| 19 | COBOL | 0.98% |
| 20 | Swift | 0.98% |
| 21 | Lisp | 0.97% |
| 22 | Prolog | 0.90% |
| 23 | Kotlin | 0.82% |
| 24 | Ada | 0.72% |
| 25 | Classic Visual Basic | 0.70% |
| 26 | Perl | 0.64% |
| 27 | Lua | 0.64% |
| 28 | SAS | 0.57% |
| 29 | (Visual) FoxPro | 0.57% |
| 30 | Haskell | 0.54% |
| 31 | Scala | 0.51% |
| 32 | Julia | 0.50% |
| 33 | Dart | 0.47% |
| 34 | VBScript | 0.41% |
| 35 | Objective-C | 0.38% |
| 36 | Transact-SQL | 0.37% |
| 37 | PowerShell | 0.37% |
| 38 | Bash | 0.33% |
| 39 | PL/SQL | 0.27% |
| 40 | D | 0.21% |
| 41 | Solidity | 0.20% |
| 42 | TypeScript | 0.20% |
| 43 | GAMS | 0.20% |
| 44 | ABAP | 0.19% |
| 45 | Awk | 0.17% |
| 46 | X++ | 0.16% |
| 47 | RPG | 0.15% |
| 48 | Elixir | 0.15% |
| 49 | ML | 0.14% |
| 50 | Clojure | 0.14% |
2024 Monthly Trends in Programming Language Popularity
Next, let’s examine the monthly rating changes throughout 2024. The year’s TIOBEs index data suggests that programming language popularity evolved significantly along multiple dimensions—ranging from specialized niche demands to the steadfast stability of legacy languages. By analyzing these month-by-month trends, we gain deeper insights into how these languages adapted and surged in response to industry needs.
| Programming Language | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Python | 13.97% | 15.16% | 15.63% | 16.41% | 16.33% | 15.39% | 16.12% | 18.04% | 20.17% | 21.90% | 22.85% | 23.84% |
| C++ | 9.96% | 10.53% | 10.70% | 9.76% | 9.53% | 10.03% | 10.34% | 10.04% | 10.75% | 11.60% | 10.64% | 10.82% |
| Java | 7.87% | 8.88% | 8.95% | 8.94% | 8.69% | 8.40% | 8.59% | 9.16% | 9.45% | 10.51% | 9.60% | 9.72% |
| C | 11.44% | 10.97% | 11.17% | 10.21% | 9.98% | 9.23% | 9.48% | 9.17% | 8.89% | 8.38% | 9.01% | 9.10% |
| C# | 7.16% | 7.53% | 7.54% | 6.77% | 6.49% | 6.65% | 6.72% | 6.39% | 6.08% | 5.62% | 4.98% | 4.87% |
| JavaScript | 2.77% | 3.17% | 3.38% | 2.89% | 3.01% | 3.32% | 3.79% | 3.91% | 3.92% | 3.54% | 3.71% | 4.61% |
| Go | 1.38% | 1.73% | 1.56% | 1.85% | 1.60% | 1.93% | 2.19% | 2.03% | 2.35% | 2.02% | 2.35% | 2.17% |
| SQL | 1.46% | 1.82% | 1.92% | 1.61% | 1.44% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 2.21% | 1.94% | 1.64% | 1.94% | 1.99% |
| Visual Basic | 1.60% | 1.52% | 1.42% | 1.70% | 2.01% | 1.66% | 2.08% | 2.18% | 2.70% | 2.35% | 1.95% | 1.96% |
| Fortran | 1.09% | 1.40% | 1.22% | 1.47% | 1.24% | 1.53% | 2.05% | 1.79% | 1.78% | 1.80% | 1.97% | 1.79% |
Python: Dominating AI & Data Science
Python’s ascent in 2024 is nothing short of extraordinary. From 13.97% in January to 23.84% in December, the language saw a roughly 10-point surge. Backed by a powerful ecosystem of machine learning frameworks, large language models (LLMs), and comprehensive libraries, Python’s role in AI, data science, and cloud-based development positioned it as the undisputed market leader. Its extensive toolkit, ease of learning, and productivity gains create a virtuous cycle that further cements its standing atop the program language ranking.
C++, Java, and C: Evolving Foundations
Occupying the tier right behind Python, C++ (10.82%), Java (9.72%), and C (9.10%) maintained their prominence in 2024. C++ enjoyed stable demand in performance-critical areas such as systems software and embedded development. Java preserved its reputation as a trusted enterprise workhorse, adapting to cloud-native and microservices architectures and reliably holding its share in the high single digits. While C’s share dipped slightly, it remains indispensable for operating systems, firmware, and other low-level applications.
C# and JavaScript: Specialized Ecosystems and Mixed Fortunes
C# dropped from 7.16% to 4.87% over the year, facing competition from Python and rising languages like JavaScript, though it remains important in enterprise software and game development. JavaScript, meanwhile, ended the year strong at 4.61%.
With web applications only growing more complex, JavaScript remains a cornerstone of front-end development. Its synergy with TypeScript and modern frameworks ensures it retains a central role in shaping the user experience on the web.
Overall, the TIOBE Index in 2024 highlights a dynamic, multifaceted ecosystem where established players, emerging challengers, and specialized solutions coexist. From the unstoppable rise of Python to the steady core of C/C++/Java and the evolving fortunes of languages like C# and JavaScript, this year’s data offers a revealing snapshot of the most popular programming languages and the forces that drive their continued transformation.
Conclusion
In this article, we've discussed the most recent rankings of programming languages popularity as of December 2024, with data from TIOBE Index. We also analyzed how these rankings and ratings transformed during the year. A view of the trends of 2024 shows that Python, riding high on the waves of the AI and data science revolution, has established itself as the language of our time.
Looking back on the entire year, we see a landscape marked by Python’s dramatic surge, the steady resilience of legacy languages like C, C++, and Java, and the evolving roles of languages like C#, JavaScript, Go, and SQL.
This new environment reflects an industry in constant change, responding to the demands of AI, cloud-native architectures, and specialized domains.
Heading into 2025, the programming landscape continues to evolve, with Python maintaining its dominance, C# facing pressure from competitors, and languages like JavaScript and Go gaining traction. Becoming aware of these trends helps developers, enterprises, and learners alike to adapt to changes in technology while tuning for subsequent innovations coming our way.
For a detailed insight into the popularity of programming languages from 1984 to 2024, as inferred from TIOBE Index, refer to the following article. If you're keen on getting an in-depth perspective on popular programming languages, we highly recommend reading it.
The History and Popularity of Programming Languages over the Last 40 Years
Also, for the Most popular programming languages in 2025, please check the following article.
Most popular programming languages in 2025
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