Estimating the number of Linux/Unix users worldwide compared to other popular operating systems (OS) like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS is challenging due to the diverse use cases (desktops, servers, mobile, embedded systems) and the lack of precise user tracking for open-source systems like Linux. Below, I provide an analysis based on available data up to June 2025, focusing on market share and user estimates across device types. I’ll break it down by desktops/laptops, mobile devices, servers, and supercomputers, then estimate total users relative to the global population.
### 1. **Desktop/Laptop Operating Systems**
- **Market Share (as of March 2025):**
- **Windows**: 71% (Statcounter, DAP)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems)[](https://coolest-gadgets.com/operating-systems-statistics/)
- **macOS**: 16% (Statcounter)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems)
- **Linux**: 4% (Statcounter, up from 2.09% in 2023)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems)[](https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/linux-statistics.html)
- **ChromeOS** (Linux-based): 2% (Statcounter)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems)
- **Unix** (e.g., BSD, Solaris): <0.1% (negligible on desktops, mostly enterprise)[](https://www.quora.com/How-many-people-use-Unix-based-operating-systems-OSes-Linux-based-OSes-non-Linux-based-OSes-and-Windows-based-OSes-in-their-personal-computer-usage-across-the-world)
- **User Estimates:**
- Global PC users: ~2 billion (based on ~1.5 billion Windows users and proportional shares)[](https://bizcognia.com/linux-statistics/)
- **Windows**: ~1.42 billion users (71% of 2 billion).
- **macOS**: ~320 million users (16% of 2 billion).
- **Linux (desktop)**: ~80 million users (4% of 2 billion).
- **ChromeOS**: ~40 million users (2% of 2 billion, often counted separately but Linux-based).
- **Unix**: <2 million users (minimal home use, mostly enterprise workstations).
- Total **Linux-based desktop users** (Linux + ChromeOS): ~120 million.
- **Notes:**
- Linux desktop share has grown, reaching 4.03% in February 2024. If ChromeOS is included, Linux-based systems hit ~6.34%.[](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/linux-continues-growing-market-share-reaches-4-of-desktops/)[](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/linux-continues-growing-market-share-reaches-4-of-desktops/)
- Unix is rare on personal desktops, used mainly in niche enterprise settings (e.g., Solaris, FreeBSD).
### 2. **Mobile Devices**
- **Market Share (as of March 2025):**
- **Android** (Linux-based): 72%[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems)
- **iOS**: 28%[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems)
- **Others** (e.g., KaiOS, Tizen): <1%.
- **User Estimates:**
- Global smartphone users: ~3.3 billion (2023 estimate, likely higher in 2025)[](https://coolest-gadgets.com/operating-systems-statistics/)
- **Android**: ~2.38 billion users (72% of 3.3 billion).
- **iOS**: ~924 million users (28% of 3.3 billion).
- **Unix-based**: Negligible (iOS/macOS are Unix-like but not counted as Unix here).
- **Notes:**
- Android, built on the Linux kernel, dominates mobile. Thus, Linux-based systems have a massive mobile user base.[](https://bizcognia.com/linux-statistics/)
- iOS is Unix-certified (POSIX-compliant), but users don’t typically identify as “Unix users.” If counted, iOS users (~924 million) would contribute to Unix-like systems.
### 3. **Servers**
- **Market Share (2025):**
- **Linux**: 62.7% (global server OS market), 70% of web servers[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems)[](https://coolest-gadgets.com/linux-statistics/)
- **Windows Server**: ~30%[](https://coolest-gadgets.com/linux-statistics/)
- **Unix** (e.g., AIX, HP-UX): ~9%[](https://coolest-gadgets.com/linux-statistics/)
- **User Estimates:**
- Server users (admins, not end-users): ~10-20 million globally (rough estimate, as servers are managed by professionals).
- **Linux**: ~12.5 million admins (62.7% of 20 million).
- **Windows**: ~6 million admins.
- **Unix**: ~1.8 million admins.
- **Notes:**
- Linux powers 96.3% of the top 1 million web servers. Unix is declining but persists in legacy enterprise systems (e.g., IBM AIX).[](https://truelist.co/blog/linux-statistics/)
- Server users are a small fraction of total users but critical for infrastructure.
### 4. **Supercomputers**
- **Market Share:**
- **Linux**: 100% of the top 500 supercomputers since 2017[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems)[](https://bizcognia.com/linux-statistics/)
- **Unix**: 0% (previously used, now obsolete in top supercomputers).
- **User Estimates:**
- Supercomputer users (researchers/scientists): <100,000 globally (highly specialized).
- All are Linux users due to 100% market share.
- **Notes:**
- Linux’s dominance here is due to its open-source flexibility.[](https://truelist.co/blog/linux-statistics/)
### 5. **Embedded Systems and IoT**
- **Market Share:**
- **Linux**: 62% of embedded systems, 71.8% of IoT developers prefer Linux[](https://truelist.co/blog/linux-statistics/)[](https://kommandotech.com/statistics/linux-statistics/)
- **Others**: Proprietary or RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, VxWorks).
- **User Estimates:**
- Embedded/IoT devices: ~11 billion (2025 estimate)[](https://www.marketingscoop.com/blog/how-many-linux-users-are-there-linux-statistics/)
- **Linux-based**: ~6.8 billion devices (62% of 11 billion).
- Actual users (e.g., developers, consumers interacting indirectly): Hard to quantify, likely in the hundreds of millions.
- **Notes:**
- Many users of Linux-based IoT devices (e.g., smart TVs, routers) don’t know they’re using Linux.
### 6. **Total User Estimates**
- **Global Population (2025)**: ~8.1 billion.
- **Linux-Based Users:**
- Desktop: ~120 million (Linux + ChromeOS).
- Mobile: ~2.38 billion (Android).
- Servers: ~12.5 million (admins).
- Supercomputers: <100,000.
- Embedded/IoT: Hundreds of millions (indirect users).
- **Total (unique users)**: ~3–3.5 billion (accounting for overlap, e.g., users with both Android and Linux desktop). This aligns with estimates that ~3–3.5 billion people use Linux-based systems (directly or indirectly).[](https://findly.in/how-many-linux-users-are-there/)
- **Unix Users:**
- Desktop: <2 million.
- Servers: ~1.8 million (admins).
- **Total**: ~2–3 million (negligible consumer use, mostly enterprise).
- **Windows Users:**
- Desktop: ~1.42 billion.
- Servers: ~6 million (admins).
- **Total**: ~1.4–1.5 billion (some overlap with mobile).
- **macOS/iOS Users (Unix-like):**
- macOS: ~320 million.
- iOS: ~924 million.
- **Total**: ~1–1.2 billion (some overlap between macOS/iOS users).
- **Comparison to Global Population:**
- **Linux-based**: ~37–43% of the population (~3–3.5 billion / 8.1 billion).
- **Windows**: ~17–19% (~1.4–1.5 billion / 8.1 billion).
- **macOS/iOS (Unix-like)**: ~12–15% (~1–1.2 billion / 8.1 billion).
- **Unix (non-Linux)**: <0.04% (~2–3 million / 8.1 billion).
### 7. **Chart of Operating System User Share**
To visualize the comparison, here’s a chart showing the estimated user share of major OS families relative to the global population.
```chartjs
{
"type": "pie",
"data": {
"labels": ["Linux-based (Android, Desktop, etc.)", "Windows", "macOS/iOS (Unix-like)", "Unix (non-Linux)", "Others"],
"datasets": [{
"data": [40, 18, 13.5, 0.04, 28.46],
"backgroundColor": ["#36A2EB", "#FF6384", "#FFCE56", "#4BC0C0", "#E7E9ED"]
}]
},
"options": {
"title": {
"display": true,
"text": "Estimated OS User Share (% of Global Population, 2025)"
}
}
}
```
### 8. **Key Insights**
- **Linux-based systems** dominate due to Android’s mobile market share (72%) and Linux’s strength in servers (62.7%) and supercomputers (100%). ~3–3.5 billion people use Linux-based systems, though many Android users don’t identify as “Linux users”.[](https://www.marketingscoop.com/blog/how-many-linux-users-are-there-linux-statistics/)[](https://findly.in/how-many-linux-users-are-there/)
- **Windows** leads desktops (71%) but has no significant mobile presence, limiting its total user base to ~1.4–1.5 billion.
- **macOS/iOS** (Unix-like) has a strong consumer base (~1–1.2 billion), but iOS users are not typically counted as Unix users.
- **Unix (non-Linux)** is niche, with ~2–3 million users, mostly in enterprise servers (e.g., IBM AIX).
- The **global population** (~8.1 billion) includes many who use multiple OSes (e.g., Android phone + Windows PC), so totals exceed 100% when summed. The chart normalizes to show proportional impact.
### 9. **Limitations**
- **Data Gaps**: Linux’s open-source nature makes user tracking difficult. Estimates vary (e.g., 2.18% to 4% for desktop Linux).[](https://itsfoss.com/linux-market-share/)[](https://www.marketingscoop.com/blog/how-many-linux-users-are-there-linux-statistics/)
- **Overlap**: Users often use multiple devices (e.g., Android + Windows), complicating unique user counts.
- **Indirect Users**: Many Linux users (e.g., via Android, IoT) don’t know they’re using Linux, inflating estimates.
- **Unix Ambiguity**: macOS/iOS are Unix-like, but only enterprise Unix (e.g., Solaris) is typically counted as “Unix.”
### 10. **Conclusion**
- **Linux-based**: ~3–3.5 billion users (~37–43% of 8.1 billion), driven by Android and server dominance.
- **Windows**: ~1.4–1.5 billion (~17–19%).
- **macOS/iOS (Unix-like)**: ~1–1.2 billion (~12–15%).
- **Unix (non-Linux)**: ~2–3 million (<0.04%).
Linux, largely via Android, is the most widely used OS family, surpassing Windows and Unix-like systems (macOS/iOS). Traditional Unix is nearly extinct outside enterprise niches. The chart above illustrates Linux’s outsized influence despite its modest desktop presence.
If you want a deeper dive into a specific category (e.g., Linux distros, server stats), let me know!
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