The programming language Go has seen a dramatic decline in global popularity, dropping from seventh to sixteenth place in the TIOBE Index within just 14 months. This shift is significant, as Go had reached its highest ranking in November 2024, boasting a rating of 2.35%. However, by January 2026, it fell sharply, losing nine positions and becoming one of the most notable declines among the top programming languages.
While Go's decline is evident on the international stage, the situation is paradoxically different in Russia. The language is gaining traction, with over 40,000 developers actively using Go in the country. Major technology companies are adopting it, raising critical questions for the Russian tech industry: Are they moving against the global trend by investing in a language that is losing its standing worldwide?
This drop is not just a TIOBE phenomenon; other indices, such as PYPL, also indicate a decrease in interest in Go. In the GitHub Octoverse 2025 report, Go was notably absent from the list of dominant programming languages.
The trajectory of Go’s ranking resembles the volatile nature of cryptocurrency markets, marked by sharp rises and even steeper falls. According to TIOBE's official statistics, Go reached its peak position in April 2025, only to plummet afterward. CEO Paul Jansen highlighted Go's unique features, such as fast performance and ease of deployment, which initially set it apart from other languages like Python. However, that optimism soon faded as Go slipped behind languages like Delphi/Object Pascal, Perl, and R.
Comparatively, while Go struggled, competitors like Python solidified their dominance, attaining a ranking of 22.61%, while C# secured the title of "Language of the Year." Rust, too, surged to an all-time high at thirteenth place, drawing attention away from Go as it established itself as a strong contender in systems programming.
Several factors contribute to Go's global decline. Rust's aggressive expansion into systems programming has lured many companies away from Go, as it offers better memory safety guarantees without sacrificing performance. Meanwhile, TypeScript has blurred the lines between frontend and backend development, making it a more appealing option for teams looking for a unified stack.
Moreover, analysts have noted that Go's stability has led to a perception of it becoming "boring." The lack of groundbreaking updates or major changes has contributed to decreased interest, as developers turn to languages that offer more innovation. Go's role in infrastructure technologies, such as Docker and Kubernetes, has made it nearly invisible, as developers interact with these tools through configuration files rather than Go code itself.
Amid this global landscape, Python continues to thrive, being more than double the popularity of C++, and is seen as a versatile tool across various fields. In contrast, Go is often associated with niche applications, limiting its appeal.
In Russia, however, the narrative diverges from the global trend. The local tech market is experiencing a surge in Go's popularity, with salaries for senior Go developers reaching upwards of 400,000 rubles per month in major tech firms. This economic incentive is prompting many developers to transition from other languages to Go. Notably, a survey indicated that 64% of Russian developers believe Go will become the "language of the majority" in the coming years, despite the contrasting global dynamics.
This raises questions about whether the Russian tech industry has a unique vision for the future or if it is making a collective misstep in its technological choices. As the market evolves, the divergence in Go's trajectory between Russia and the rest of the world could impact competitive strategies and the overall landscape of programming languages.
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