The Most Popular Linux Distributions Statistics [2025]

July 18, 2024 0 Comments

Popularity and Market Share

  1. Ubuntu’s Dominance: Ubuntu-based distributions hold a substantial market share in cloud computing.
  2. Top-Ranked: Ubuntu is frequently among the top three most popular Linux distributions.
  3. Linux Mint’s Reign: Linux Mint has been the top-ranked distribution on DistroWatch since 2011.
  4. Fast-Rising Manjaro: Manjaro is one of the fastest-growing Linux distributions in popularity, according to DistroWatch.
  5. MX Linux Ascending: MX Linux has been climbing the DistroWatch rankings due to its performance and stability.
  6. Linux Mint’s Consistency: According to DistroWatch page hit rankings, Linux Mint is often the most popular Linux distribution.

Enterprise and Production Environments

  1. RHEL Leadership: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is the leading enterprise distribution, highly popular in production environments.
  2. CentOS Stream’s Rise: CentOS Stream gained popularity in enterprise environments following the end-of-life announcement for CentOS 8.

Developer Preferences

  1. Ubuntu for Developers: Approximately 25% of developers use Ubuntu as their primary OS, according to the 2022 Stack Overflow Developer Survey.
  2. Fedora for Open Source: Fedora is a top choice among developers for open-source projects.

Customizability and User Experience

  1. Arch Linux Flexibility: Arch Linux is favored by advanced users for its customizable nature.
  2. Deepin’s Appeal: Deepin Linux is praised for its visually appealing and intuitive user interface.
  3. Zorin OS Accessibility: Zorin OS is one of the most user-friendly distributions, ideal for users transitioning from Windows.
  4. Elementary OS Design: Elementary OS is known for its macOS-like aesthetic, focusing on design.
  5. KDE Neon: KDE Neon remains popular among users who prefer the KDE Plasma desktop environment.

Influential Distributions

  1. Debian’s Influence: Debian serves as the foundation for many other distributions, making it highly influential.
  2. Debian Usage: About 40% of respondents in a 2022 Slashdot survey reported using Debian-based distributions.

Specialized Uses

  1. Edge Devices: Linux distributions are increasingly deployed on edge devices, according to TechRepublic.
  2. Gaming and Engineering: Pop!_OS by System76 is gaining popularity among gamers and engineers.
  3. Stability and Robustness: OpenSUSE Leap is a favored choice for users needing a robust and stable operating system.