Age Demographics Among Professional Developers: Trends and Transformations in the IT Industry
In this article, we will analyze the demographic evolution of professional developers in the IT industry to understand the trends in the age of developers during the period 2021 - 2023. The data is extracted from specialized annual surveys conducted by Stack Overflow, with tens of thousands of developers participating from around the globe. Stack Overflow boasts a vast and active community of developers and IT professionals.
Although they may not be considered a comprehensive data source, Stack Overflow surveys are the most credible and have a solid reputation within the IT industry. The table below presents the percentage of total developers for each age category in the years 2021, 2022, and 2023.
| Age | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 years | 6.52% | 5.45% | 4.63% |
| 18-24 years | 25.47% | 23.46% | 20.11% |
| 25-34 years | 39.52% | 39.62% | 37.28% |
| 35-44 years | 18.42% | 19.72% | 23.02% |
| 45-54 years | 6.64% | 7.44% | 9.34% |
| 55-64 years | 2.21% | 2.79% | 3.8% |
| 65 years or older | 0.51% | 0.78% | 1.31% |
Source: Stack Overflow
Overall Trend
Overall, a gradual decrease in the percentage of developers in the younger age categories (under 18 and 18-24 years) is observed over time, while the older age categories (35-44, 45-54, 55-64, and 65 years or older) experience increases.
Majority Age Category
The largest age category of developers falls between 25 and 34 years, which has remained relatively constant over time, hovering around 39%.
Young Age Category
The age category represented by individuals between 18 and 24 years old has seen a significant decrease from 25.47% in 2021 to 20.11% in 2023. This decline could be the result of these individuals transitioning to the next age category (25-34 years) and changing career preferences.
Growing Age Category
The age category between 35 and 44 years has experienced a significant increase from 18.42% in 2021 to 23.02% in 2023. This indicates that many young developers have continued their careers. In addition to this, many older individuals are deciding to change careers and enter the IT field.
