40 Operating System Statistics: Who Could Dominate in 2024?

Operating systems change shape quickly. It feels like yesterday we were working on Microsoft Windows 95’s grey and blue-themed OS, and today we see the sleek and immersive design on Microsoft Windows 11. 

Read up on these operating system statistics to understand how they’ve changed over time and how the industry evolved. 

Operating system market share (2018-2023)

Let’s go through the market share of operating systems over six years to kick things off. The table below represents the average market share of five operating systems for the years 2018 through 2023. The values are percentages.

Source: Statcounter

The following sections have great info for version-specific or geography-specific market share. 

Microsoft Windows operating system statistics

Microsoft Windows is one of the most well-loved operating systems on the market. Its popularity stems from user friendliness and wide compatibility with diverse software applications and hardware. 

Take a look at the statistics below about Microsoft Windows’ position in the operating system market. 

• Windows 10 has the largest market share at 66.47% in January 2024 among all of Microsoft’s versions. 
• Although Windows XP seems outdated, it still accounted for a 0.64% market share in December 2023. 
• Microsoft Windows is the most used operating system on desktops and laptops, with a market share of 73%.
• 95% of G2 reviewers gave 4 or 5 stars to Windows 11. 

• Microsoft Windows runs on 1.6 billion active devices in 2024. 
• Although Windows 11 is the latest Windows OS, searches for Windows 10 have risen so far in 2024, with an average difference of 25 searches per week. 
• Microsoft made $143.015 billion in sales in 2020. In the previous year, sales were 13.65% less. 
• 96% of G2 reviewers feel Windows 11 is easy to operate. 

Android operating system statistics

Android was created by a small group of developers led by Andy Rubin. Seeing its potential, Google acquired it in 2005. The OS is known for its open-source nature that lets developers and smartphone brands  modify it. Android dominates the smartphone OS market with its flexibility and innovative features. 

The operating system is likely to grow further in the foreseeable future. Take a look at these statistics to see its upward trajectory. 

• 41.2% of people worldwide used the Android operating system in 2023.
• 2.8 billion consumers actively use Android OS. 
• In January 2021, Android 10 had its biggest market share at 43.13%. 
• There were 3.3 billion Android users in the world in 2023. 
• In 2024, 71.74% of cell phones have an Android operating system installed. 

• Since the early days of Android, Samsung has been the biggest vendor, with a market share of 34%. Xiaomi has a 14% market share. 
• Google Play Store has 2.67 million apps as of March 2023. 
• 92% of Android users say they would recommend the operating system to others.
• 93% of Android users feel the operating system meets their requirements. 

Mac OS X operating system statistics

Mac OS X, now known as macOS, is Apple's operating system. Apple has released many updates over the years that brought new features and improvements, enhancing its value in the market. These days, macOS provides a stable, user-friendly experience for its customers. . 

Look through these statistics to understand the current state of the macOS market and trends. 

• As of December 2023, Mac OS X had a 6.57% market share worldwide. 
• Mac OS X's market share in the US climbed from 12.17% in December 2022 to 22.08% in May 2023. The market share was consistent for the next few months until it dropped to 14.03% in December 2023.
• From July 2021 to December 2023, Mac OS X’s market share in India was below 1%. 
• 100 million people used MacOS worldwide in 2023. 

• Women are in the majority when it comes to using Macs. They account for 66% of the Mac consumer base. 
• US sales account for 40% of Mac’s overall global revenue.

Apple iOS operating system statistics

Apple iOS is the operating system for Apple's mobile devices, like the iPhone and iPad. The company regularly updates it to introduce new improvements in security and speed. Today’s iOS is more than an operating system, as it connects with Apple’s services like Music, Siri, and iCloud to create an enriched user experience. 

These statistics discuss the trends in the market and what users are saying about the system. 

• iOS had 17.71% of the market share in December 2023. In the US, it accounted for 26.67% of the market. 
• Since 2018, Apple's iOS market share in India has been under 4%. The market share was 3.23% as of January 2024. 
• Temu was the most downloaded free App on AppStore in 2023. It has over 100 million active users in the US.

• Apple iOS has the largest market presence among operating systems. 90% of its users believe the product is headed in the right direction. 
• Apple held 19.3% of the market share in China in 2020. 
• More than 1 billion people currently use iOS on their iPhones. 
• In the US, iPhones have a 65% share of smartphone sales. 
• iOS recorded its highest global market share of 26.28% in 2020. 

Embrace the change

These statistics vividly show how the markets for operating systems and usage have changed. With these kinds of technological innovations, we could see vast improvements and new features in different operating systems in the not-so-distant future. 

As operating systems evolve, it’s advisable to look for new opportunities in the market and grab them as soon as you can! 

Learn more about operating systems and discover the best OS software in 2024.