C, C++, Java vie for second place in language popularity

While Python continues to be the runaway leader in Tiobe’s monthly index of programming language popularity, C, C++, and Java are engaged in a fierce battle for second place. Currently in fifth place, but creeping up on these three, is C#.

For more than a year, the differences between C, C++, and Java in the Tiobe index have been less than 1%, according to an October 6 bulletin written by Tiobe CEO Paul Jansen. “At some time, C took the lead, then C++ took over, and now C is back while Java always remained at close distance of the other two,” Jansen wrote. “This month, C is back at position two, boosted by the adoption of its C23 version. But Java has just released version 25 and C++ is busy with version C++26. Hence, it is unclear what language is going to win.”

“All three languages have their merits to stay in competition: C being simple and superfast, C++ being fast and fit for large embedded systems, and Java being suitable for large business applications” Jansen wrote, adding that C# is rapidly gaining. “The 4% distance between C# and C, C++, and Java of the beginning of this year is now reduced to only 1.4%. Keep your seat belts fastened!”

Python in late-2023 started to dominate the index, which is officially called the Tiobe Programming Community Index. Ratings are based on the number of skilled engineers worldwide, courses, and third-party vendors pertinent to a language. Numbers are gauged by examining popular websites such as Google, Bing, Wikipedia, Amazon, and more than 20 others.

The Tiobe index top 10 for October 2025:

Python, 24.45%

C, 9.29%

C++, 8.84%

Java, 8.35%

C#, 6.94%

JavaScript, 3.41%

Visual Basic, 3.22%

Go, 1.92%

Delphi/Object Pascal, 1.86%

SQL, 1.77%

The rival Pypl Popularity of Programming index assesses language popularity by analyzing how often language tutorials are searched on in Google.

The Pypl index top 10 for October 2025:

Python, 28.97%

Java, 13.94%

C/C++, 10.54%

Objective-C, 7.05%

JavaScript, 6.33%

R, 5.27%

C#, 3.96%

PHP, 3.19%

Swift, 2.93%

Rust, 2.59%