Linux has doubled its market share in Europe over the past few months, indicating that 2025 could be the year of Linux.
The operating systems landscape in Europe is undergoing a historic transformation like never before. Linux has reached record adoption levels across the continent in late 2024 and early 2025, while Windows experiences a significant decline in its traditional market dominance.
Numbers that speak for themselves
According to the latest StatCounter data, in Europe, Linux achieved a 3.89% market share in May 2025, representing exponential growth compared to previous years. Although it may seem modest, this figure marks an important milestone for the open-source OS.
Europe holds more than 30% of the global Linux market share, with a market size of $5.86 billion in 2024, according to Cognitive Market Research. This figure is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% through 2031.
Global data confirms this upward trend. Linux saw a 40% increase in its market share over the past year, reaching 4.45% worldwide in July 2024, up from 3.12% the previous year.
The decline of Windows in European territory
While Linux celebrates these historic milestones, Windows faces a completely opposite situation. Windows maintains a 73.08% market share in Europe, but this is a notable decrease from previous years when Microsoft’s system seemed unbeatable.
The situation worsens with internal issues within Windows. Windows 11 is losing market share even compared to Windows 10, dropping from 35.58% in October 2024 to 34.12% in December of the same year. This trend contradicts Microsoft’s expectations, especially considering that support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025.
Factors driving Linux growth
1. Dissatisfaction with Microsoft policies
Industry experts point out that dissatisfaction with recent Windows versions, particularly Windows 10 and 11, has led many users to seek alternatives. Microsoft’s increasingly restrictive policies and forced cloud service integrations have generated pushback among users.
2. The Steam Deck effect
The popularity of the Steam Deck, which runs on a Linux-based OS, has contributed to more people losing their fear of Linux. This device has proven that Linux can be a viable platform for gaming, traditionally dominated by Windows.
3. Significant technical improvements
Ongoing enhancements in graphics drivers and system stability have made Linux a more attractive option for both tech-savvy and general users.
European institutional initiatives
Europe is also active with institutional initiatives. The European Union announced the development of EU OS—a new Linux distribution intended to become the standard OS for public administrations and other government entities.
Based on Fedora Linux with KDE Plasma as the desktop environment, this project aims to ensure digital sovereignty, reduce costs, and enhance cybersecurity in the region. The project follows the “public money – public code” philosophy, advocating that all software funded with public money should be accessible, modifiable, and redistributable.
Most popular distributions
The European Linux ecosystem is diverse. Linux Mint remains the favorite distribution due to its focus on ease of use and stability, making it ideal for users seeking an out-of-the-box, intuitive OS.
Other popular distributions include MX Linux, EndeavourOS, Debian, and CachyOS, each targeting different user profiles—from beginners to tech experts.
The enterprise factor
The European business sector is also adopting Linux at an accelerated pace. Linux software contracts have become essential for companies relying on Linux within their IT infrastructure. Reports indicate that 90% of Fortune 500 companies use Red Hat Enterprise Linux, highlighting widespread enterprise support contracts among major organizations.
Growth projections
Projections for the European market are particularly optimistic. The Linux operating system market in Germany was valued at $1.16 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.1% during the forecast period.
Linux reached a 4.13% market share by the end of 2024, with notable growth in India, where Linux commanded a 13.15% market share, suggesting that growth is happening beyond Europe as well.
Security and stability as competitive advantages
Linux stands out as a solid, secure, and truly future-proof option for those seeking independence and control over their digital experience. Its security architecture, innate immunity to viruses and malware, and low resource consumption make it an attractive choice for both old and modern hardware.
Conclusion: Is 2025 the year of Linux in Europe?
Data from multiple sources confirms we are witnessing a historic moment in Linux adoption in Europe. While 4.45% might seem small, it marks significant progress for Linux, which previously struggled to maintain a 1% share.
With Windows facing internal turbulence, European institutional initiatives pushing digital sovereignty, and continuous improvements in Linux usability and compatibility, 2025 could very well be “the year of Linux” in Europe. The coming months will be critical in confirming whether this trend solidifies or remains a temporary phenomenon in the competitive OS market.
Sources consulted:
- StatCounter Global Stats
- Cognitive Market Research
- Tom’s Hardware
- Cloud Magazine
- Systems Administration
- It’s FOSS
- Fortune Business Insights