In 2024, there are over 28.7 million developers worldwide, but only a small fraction actively contributes to open-source software (OSS). According to various reports, only 17% of developers from a motivated survey group are active contributors, meaning the backbone of OSS comprises somewhere between 1.4 to 3.1 million individuals. Notably, while the US remains a leading contributor, its percentage is declining as countries like India rise in prominence. A significant barrier to contribution is developers' fear of judgment and low confidence, stressing the need for broader community support.
"Based on a survey of 332 developers involved in OSS, only 17% are consistently active contributors, highlighting a significant gap in open-source participation."
"Even in ideal conditions, around 80% of developers do not contribute consistently, indicating a major opportunity for increasing engagement in open-source projects."
"The JetBrains Survey shows that only 5-6% of developers are regular, full-time contributors, reinforcing the notion that major participation is lacking within the developer community."
"While India, China, and Brazil are scaling rapidly, the US still leads in total contributions, yet its share is gradually declining in the global context."
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