You decided to create a website, so you rush to hire PHP developers and a bunch of other programmers to get it done? Don’t be so fast. Although hiring freelance developers is surely a good solution, if you’re interested in programming, why not try to learn it all yourself? In this article, we’ll see the 10 most popular programming languages o learn this year.
You might be surprised at how exciting learning programming languages can be and how many opportunities it can open to you. You’ll get a well-paid job, analytical skills, and much more! But how to choose the programming language? Which are the most popular ones to learn in 2025?
These are the question we’ll explore right now, with our list of:
Why Your Language Choice Matters
The tech landscape evolves quickly. Programming languages come with ecosystems of frameworks, libraries, and communities that directly impact career opportunities and development efficiency.
Benefits of choosing the right language:
- Access to high-paying job markets
- Better project scalability and performance
- Active developer communities for support
- Compatibility with future-proof technologies like AI, blockchain, and cloud computing
10 Most Popular Programming Languages to Learn This Year
1) Python
Python is the most popular programming language in 2021. The reason is that it’s really easy to learn as the syntax is pretty simple. So if you’ve never learned a programming language before, Python will be the best choice as you’ll figure it all out pretty quickly.
It also has a huge library of toolkits and standards that make it all even easier for the developers. You can integrate it with other common programming languages like C++ or C.
The average annual salary of Python developers is $120K and there are always companies that look for Python developers.
Best for:
- Data science and machine learning
- AI and automation
- Web development (Django, Flask)
Key features:
- Simple, readable syntax
- Massive library ecosystem
- Extensive community support
Why learn it:
Python remains the top choice for AI, data analysis, and rapid prototyping. It’s beginner-friendly and used by companies like Google, Netflix, and NASA.
2) Java: Learn Popular Programming Languages
Java is the language that is usually with client-server applications that are widely by big companies all over the world. The best part of this language is that once you develop your app using Java, you can run it on any platform that supports Java. That’s why their main slogan is: “write once, run anywhere.”
Other than business applications, Java is also widely in the Android mobile operating system. The average annual salary of a Java developer is $104K.
3) JavaScript
If you are into interactive websites and want to learn to build one yourself, then JavaScript will be your favorite language. As Gorton puts it, “virtually everyone is using it.”
If you don’t believe it, go ahead and disable JavaScript from your browser to see how much of the Internet depends on it. Most of the popular websites will simply stop working without JavaScript or will look like old pages from the 2000s.
If you become a JavaScript developer, your average salary will be $118K per year, and you’ll have fun working with website and mobile application development.
4) R: Learn Popular Programming Languages
R is heavily in statistics analytics and machine learning. If this is something you’re in, then you’ll love learning this language! The average salary for R developers is $93K.
5) C
Along with Python and Java, C is the language that helps to build a solid foundation. It is one of the oldest programming languages, and it will help you a lot in your programming journey. It has served as the foundation for Ruby, PHP, and Python, so once you learn C, all those modern programming languages will be easier to grasp. The average salary for a C developer is $97K per year.
5) C++: Learn Popular Programming Languages
C++ is next on our list, again, with an average salary of $97K per year. It is an extension of C and works well for developing systems with the help of which you can run applications. It is also a good choice for multi-platform and multi-device systems. The main drawback of C languages is that they have complex syntax, so it might take you a while to learn them properly.
6) C#
Finally, the last one in the C-list is C# which is to be a more secure alternative to C. It is entirely with the .Net framework of Microsoft. The average salary is again $97K.
Best for:
- Game development (Unity)
- Enterprise software
- Web applications (.NET Core)
Key features:
- Strongly typed, object-oriented
- Supported by Microsoft’s robust .NET ecosystem
- Cross-platform support with .NET 6/7
Why learn it:
C# developers are sought after in gaming, SaaS, and enterprise-level development. With the rise of .NET MAUI, it’s now viable for cross-platform mobile apps too.
7) Swift Popular Programming Languages
Swift is the language developed by Apple and it is used for creating applications on Mac computers. So, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. The average salary is $93K. Swift is Apple’s preferred language for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS development.
Best for:
- iOS and macOS applications
- Mobile-first startups
Key features:
- Safe, expressive, and fast
- Seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem
- Open-source with growing community support
Why learn it:
With Apple’s ecosystem continuing to grow, Swift developers are in high demand for mobile and desktop app development.
8) PHP
PHP is a perfect choice if you want to become a back-end developer. So, It is used for server-side development and is widely popular. Currently, the average salary is $81K.
10) GO
No, don’t go anywhere yet, you got us wrong. Go is our last programming language developed by Google that can be the perfect solution for 2021. The average salary is $93K. Now go and learn it!
11) SQL and NoSQL Query Languages
Data powers everything. Knowing how to manipulate databases is fundamental.
Best for:
- Database management
- Backend services
- Data analysis and reporting
Key features:
- SQL (Structured Query Language) for relational databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL
- NoSQL queries for MongoDB, Firebase, DynamoDB
Why learn it:
Every backend, data pipeline, or analytics system requires querying databases. SQL remains timeless, while NoSQL is critical for modern, flexible data models.
In conclusion, Don’t forget to let us know which of these languages was your favorite one!
