25 Essential facts about WordPress in 2024: The platform shaping the Web.
WordPress has come a long way since its launch in 2003. Now, in 2024, it continues to dominate the web, powering millions of websites worldwide.
Hundreds of companies and thousands of professionals from all over the world sell WordPress-based products, services, and solutions. WordPress provides excellent opportunities to thousands of developers, designers, and entrepreneurs to build their businesses upon WordPress.
Whether you’re a seasoned developer, a business owner, or just starting your journey online, understanding the role of WordPress in today’s digital landscape is crucial. Here are 25 key facts about WordPress in 2024 that showcase its market dominance and influence.
- Market Share: WordPress powers over 43% of all websites, making it the leading content management system (CMS) by far. This widespread use far surpasses other CMS platforms like Joomla and Drupal. Its popularity is a testament to its flexibility and ease of use.
Source: W3Techs, Kinsta.
- Number of Websites: There are over 810 million websites built with WordPress. This vast number shows how trusted and widely adopted the platform is. WordPress is used by everyone from personal bloggers to large corporations.
Source: Hostinger.
- New Sites Daily: Every day, over 10,000 new WordPress sites are launched. This rapid growth highlights the platform’s ongoing popularity and its ability to meet diverse user needs. Whether for personal or business purposes, WordPress continues to attract new users.
Source: Hostinger.
- E-Commerce Leader: WooCommerce, a WordPress plugin, powers 39% of all online stores globally. This makes it a top choice for building online shops. Its flexibility and range of features make it popular among e-commerce businesses.
Source: BuiltWith, Hostinger.
- WooCommerce Stats: WooCommerce is used by over 4.6 million online stores, representing a significant portion of the e-commerce market. It has been downloaded by over 290 million users since its release. This shows WooCommerce’s strong position in the e-commerce world. Averaging roughly 30,000 downloads per day.
Product-wise, home appliances and apparel lead the way with around 250,000 stores each, followed by business and industrial (166,000), as well as food and beverage (157,000).
Source: Hostinger.
- WordPress Economy: The WordPress ecosystem, which includes themes, plugins, and services, is valued at over $635 billion. This substantial market value reflects the platform’s economic impact and its role in supporting a wide range of businesses. Many companies and professionals rely on WordPress to drive their business growth.
Source: WP Engine.
- Plugins Available: WordPress offers over 60,000 plugins in its official repository. These plugins allow users to add almost any functionality they need, from SEO tools to e-commerce capabilities. The extensive plugin library is one of WordPress’s strongest features.
Source: WordPress.org.
- Plugin Downloads: WordPress plugins have been downloaded over 2 billion times. This high number shows the popularity and trust users place in these plugins. With a vast array of options, users can enhance their sites in countless ways.
Source: Hostinger.
- Free Themes: WordPress offers more than 10,000 free themes. These themes provide a wide range of designs and customization options for users without costing anything. It’s a great way for users to find a theme that fits their site’s style and needs.
Source: WordPress.org.
- Popular Theme: Astra is one of the most popular free WordPress themes, with over 1 million active downloads. It’s known for its versatility and ease of use. Astra’s popularity shows its appeal to users looking for high-quality, customizable themes.
Source: Hostinger.
- Global Reach: WordPress is available in over 120 languages. This makes it accessible to users from around the world, breaking down language barriers. Its global reach contributes to its widespread adoption and use.
Source: WordPress.org.
- CMS Market Share: WordPress holds a 63% market share in the CMS sector. This far outpaces other platforms and reflects its dominance and popularity. Its user-friendly design and extensive features contribute to this leading position.
Source: W3Techs.
- Security Updates: In 2023, WordPress released over 30 core updates to enhance security and functionality. Regular updates are crucial for maintaining site security and performance. These updates help protect WordPress sites from potential vulnerabilities.
Source: WordPress.org.
- Top Page Builder: Elementor is the most popular page builder plugin, with over 11 million active installations. It allows users to create custom pages easily without coding. Elementor’s wide use highlights its effectiveness and user-friendly design.
Source: Elementor.
- Top SEO Plugin: Yoast SEO is the leading SEO plugin for WordPress, with over 11 million active installations. It helps users improve their site’s search engine rankings with powerful features. Yoast SEO’s popularity underscores its effectiveness in SEO management.
Source: Yoast.
- Security Plugins: Three of the top five most downloaded WordPress plugins are related to security. This shows the high demand for robust security solutions. These plugins help protect sites from threats and ensure a safer online experience.
Source: Bloggers Passion.
- Security Concerns: Outdated plugins are responsible for 92% of WordPress security vulnerabilities. This highlights the importance of keeping plugins updated. Increased demand for security-focused plugins reflects the need for better protection.
Source: Wordfence.
- Daily Attacks: On average, a WordPress site is attacked every 22 minutes. This high rate of attacks underscores the need for strong security measures. Keeping sites secure is essential for maintaining trust and protecting data.
Source: Hostinger.
- Wordfence Protection: Wordfence blocks over 330 million malicious hits daily, including brute-force and exploit attempts. This plugin plays a crucial role in protecting WordPress sites from attacks. Its strong performance in blocking threats demonstrates its effectiveness.
Source: Wordfence.
- Auto Updates: WordPress automatically updates itself for minor releases and security fixes. It can also push updates for plugins with severe vulnerabilities. This auto-update system helps keep WordPress sites secure and up-to-date.
Source: Hostinger
- Active Community: More than 1,200 WordCamps have been held in 395 cities across 65 countries. These events bring together WordPress enthusiasts and professionals. The active community supports the growth and development of the platform.
Source: Hostinger.
- Learning Resources: WordPress is the most taught CMS, with over 5,000 online courses and tutorials. These resources help users of all skill levels learn and improve their WordPress sites. The abundance of learning materials reflects the platform’s widespread use.
Source: Udemy.
- Custom Development: 45% of WordPress users hire developers for custom themes or plugins. This high demand for customization shows the platform’s flexibility. Custom development allows users to tailor their sites to specific needs.
Source: Kinsta.
- Monetization Potential: Over 30% of WordPress sites generate revenue through ads, e-commerce, or memberships. This highlights the platform’s potential for business growth. WordPress provides many ways to monetize a site effectively.
Source: MonsterInsights.
- Future Growth: WordPress is expected to power over 50% of all websites by 2026. Its open-source nature and large community drive its continued growth. This projection underscores WordPress’s importance in the future of web development.
Source: Kinsta.
These facts highlight WordPress’s major role in the web landscape, making it a crucial platform for anyone involved in website development or digital marketing.
Final thoughts
WordPress is still a top choice for everyone, from bloggers and small businesses to big companies. As 2024 progresses, it’s clear why WordPress is so popular for creating and managing websites. Whether you’re starting a personal blog, launching an online store, or handling a big site, WordPress has the tools and support you need to succeed.
Sources Used
The information comes from W3Techs, WP Tavern, BuiltWith, WordPress.org, Elementor, Hostinger, Udemy, and Kinsta.
- https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/wordpress-statistics
- https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/facts-about-wordpress/
- https://trends.builtwith.com/shop/traffic/Entire-Internet
- https://wpengine.com/wordpress-economy/
- https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cm-wordpress
- https://bloggerspassion.com/wordpress-statistics/
- https://www.udemy.com/topic/wordpress/
- https://wordpress.org/news/category/releases/
- https://kinsta.com/blog/php-benchmarks/
- https://kinsta.com/blog/wordpress-market-share/
- https://www.wpbeginner.com/research/ultimate-list-of-wordpress-stats-facts-and-other-research/