20 amazing WordPress facts at 20 years old #wp20

WordPress is a powerful and versatile content management system (CMS) that has revolutionised the way we create and manage websites.

With millions of users around the world, WordPress has become the go-to platform for everything from simple blogs to complex e-commerce websites.

As WordPress turns 20, here are 20 facts about WordPress that may (or may not) amaze and astound you!

They probably won’t to be fair, but they are still quite interesting if you’re a WordPress fan.

WordPress powers 43% of all websites

WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), used by millions of websites worldwide. It is estimated that WordPress powers around 43% of all websites on the internet. This includes blogs, business websites, online stores, news websites, and even some of the world’s biggest brands.

Over 500 new WordPress sites join the world’s top 10 million websites daily

WordPress’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down, with hundreds of new websites using the platform to join the top 10 million websites every day. This is a testament to the ease of use and flexibility of the platform, which allows businesses and individuals to create unique and engaging websites quickly and efficiently.

There are more than 60,000 free WordPress plugins

Plugins are an essential part of the WordPress ecosystem, providing additional functionality and features that can help to enhance and customize websites. With over 60,000 free plugins available in the WordPress plugin directory, there is a plugin available for almost any feature or functionality that you could want for your website.

Yoast is the most popular plug-in of all time

Pretty much the default SEO plug-in for WordPress, and usually one of the first installed by users. Yoast SEO has really cornered the market for SEO-based plug-ins. The top five are:

1. Yoast
2. JetPack
3. Akismet
4. Wordfence
5. Contact Form 7

WooCommerce powers over 13% of online stores

WooCommerce is a powerful e-commerce plugin for WordPress that allows businesses to create and manage online stores. It is estimated that WooCommerce powers over 30% of all online stores, making it the most popular e-commerce platform on the web.

Akismet has blocked over 500 billion spam posts

Spam is a constant problem for website owners, particularly those who use content management systems like WordPress. Akismet is a powerful anti-spam plugin for WordPress that has blocked over 500 billion spam posts since it was first released. This demonstrates the scale of the spam problem on the internet and the importance of having robust spam protection in place.

WordPress 6.2 has been downloaded over 33 million times

WordPress is constantly evolving, with new updates and features being released regularly. The most recent version of WordPress, version 6.2, has been downloaded over 33 million times since it was released. This shows the popularity of the platform and the eagerness of users to keep their websites up to date with the latest features and security patches.

WorsdPress.com users alone produce about 70 million new posts and 77 million new comments each month

WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress, which allows users to create websites without having to worry about hosting and technical setup. With millions of users around the world, WordPress.com users alone produce a staggering amount of content each month, including blog posts, news articles, and user comments.

Thankfully, all that content isn’t wasted with over 409 million people viewing more than 20 billion pages each month

With so much content being produced on WordPress every month, it’s important that it is being seen by users around the world. Thankfully, WordPress websites are incredibly popular, with over 409 million people viewing more than 20 billion pages each month. This shows the scale of the WordPress ecosystem and the importance of having a strong online presence.

There have been over 1,100 WordCamps held around the world, in 385 cities across 65 countries

WordCamps are community-organized events for WordPress users, developers, and enthusiasts. They are held around the world and provide an opportunity for attendees to learn, network, and share their experiences with other WordPress users. With over 1,100 WordCamps held around the world, they are a testament to the strong and supportive WordPress community.

The average WordPress developer annual salary is $57,000 

WordPress is an incredibly versatile platform, and there are a wide range of career opportunities available for developers who specialize in it. The average annual salary for a WordPress developer is around $57,000, although this can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and job responsibilities (Source: payscale.com).

Only 50% of WordPress users are using the latest version

One potential downside of the popularity of WordPress is that not all users keep their installations up to date. Only around 50% of WordPress users are using the latest version of the platform, which can leave them vulnerable to security vulnerabilities and other issues. It’s important to keep your WordPress installation up to date to ensure that your website is secure and functioning properly (Source: WordPress.org).

6% of WordPress users are using version 4.9 or below

Even more concerning is the fact that around 6% of WordPress users are using version 4.9 or below, which are no longer supported by the WordPress development team. This means that these users are missing out on important security updates and bug fixes, and are at risk of being hacked or compromised.

49% of hacked WordPress websites were running an outdated version

Unfortunately, many WordPress websites are vulnerable to hacking due to outdated software. A study found that 49% of hacked WordPress websites were running an outdated version of the platform, highlighting the importance of keeping your installation up to date to avoid security vulnerabilities. (Source: Sucuri.net).

An estimated 240 person years, 886,000 lines of code and £13m has been spent on developing WordPress

developing WordPress: WordPress is a complex platform with a lot of functionality, and it has taken a lot of time, effort, and resources to develop. An estimated 240 person years, 886,000 lines of code, and £13m has been spent on developing WordPress, making it one of the most impressive open-source projects in the world (Source: openhub.net).

New WordPress posts and comments are published every second

With so many WordPress users around the world, it’s no surprise that content is being published on the platform every second of every day. This content includes blog posts, news articles, product reviews, and user comments, and is visualized in a fascinating map that shows the scale of the WordPress ecosystem.

There are over 2 millions global searches for “wordpress” every month

WordPress is a household name for many people, particularly those who work in the tech industry. There are over 2 million global searches for “WordPress” every month, with many users looking for information on how to use the platform or troubleshooting common issues. Surprisingly, there are still 9,000 searches every month for “what is WordPress?”, indicating that there are still many people who are new to the platform (source: ahrefs data).

There are 45,000 searches for “wordpress hosting” globally each month

Hosting is a critical component of any website, and there are many options available for WordPress users looking to host their websites. With 45,000 searches for “WordPress hosting” globally each month, it’s clear that users are actively looking for hosting solutions that are optimized for WordPress and can help them get the most out of the platform.

No one really owns WordPress(.org)

The open source side of WordPress is not owned by any company. WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg created the non-profit organization, WordPress Foundation, to ensure the software remained available under an open source license.

There’s money to be made from WordPress themes

25% of all WordPress themes on ThemeForest have made at least $2,500 in a month. And 50% of their themes have made at least $1,000 in a month.