Kotlin again among the most loved programming languages on StackOverflow

Kotlin tops StackOverflow's most loved languages: why developers adore it

The annual StackOverflow developer survey is one of the most authoritative sources of data on IT community preferences. In 2025, Kotlin once again confirmed its status as one of the most loved programming languages, taking a spot in the top 3 of the "Most Loved Languages" ranking. This result is no coincidence: in recent years, Kotlin has transformed from a "Java killer" into a full-fledged leader, especially in mobile development and backend.

What do the numbers say?

According to the StackOverflow survey, more than 62% of developers using Kotlin noted that they would like to continue working with it in the future. This places Kotlin alongside Rust, TypeScript, and Python. Notably, Kotlin has overtaken veterans like Go, Swift, and even Java, which still dominates in terms of user numbers but is losing in "love."

Why is Kotlin so loved?

• Java compatibility — Kotlin is fully interoperable with Java code. Developers can gradually migrate projects without rewriting everything from scratch.
• Conciseness and safety — null safety, extension functions, and smart casts reduce the number of errors and code volume by 30-40% compared to Java.
• Android support — Google officially recognized Kotlin as a priority language for Android development, giving a powerful boost to its popularity.
• Multiplatform (KMP) — Kotlin Multiplatform allows writing shared code for iOS, Android, Web, and Desktop, reducing maintenance costs.
• Active community — JetBrains invests huge resources in the language's development, and the number of libraries and frameworks (Ktor, Exposed, Koin) is growing exponentially.

Kotlin vs Python: not competitors, but allies

Although Python remains the king in Data Science, machine learning, and automation, Kotlin confidently occupies the niche of high-load backend services and mobile applications. For a developer proficient in both languages, broad prospects open up: Python for prototyping and data analysis, Kotlin for production solutions with high performance and strict typing.

What does this mean for the job market?

The popularity of Kotlin directly affects the demand for specialists. According to HeadHunter and LinkedIn, the number of vacancies requiring Kotlin has grown by 40% over the past two years. Developers who know Kotlin in conjunction with Android frameworks (Jetpack Compose, Coroutines) or microservice architecture (Ktor, Spring Boot for Kotlin) are especially in demand.

Is it worth learning Kotlin in 2025?

Definitely yes. Even if you are a Python developer, getting to know Kotlin will expand your toolkit. The language is easy to learn, especially if you have experience with Java or C#. And thanks to multiplatform capabilities, the investment in learning it pays off many times over — you will be able to write for any platform without spreading yourself across different syntaxes.

Kotlin is not just a "language for Android." It is a modern, safe, and expressive tool that rightfully earns the love of the community. If you haven't tried it yet, now is the time to start.