A few weeks ago, we took a look at how Ubuntu use varied by country. I’m still on a bit of a demographic kick, so I decided to do some research on another pertinent topic: the median age of Ubuntu users. Here’s what I found.
Lest the over-enthusiastic reader scroll down looking for hard numbers or a definitive conclusion regarding the age of the “average” Ubuntu user, I should make clear that, as with all data involving who exactly uses Ubuntu, precise figures remain elusive.
The numbers for the median age of Ubuntu users that I was able to gather are only approximations. In any case, they’d probably be impossible to prove, given the decentralized way in which Ubuntu is currently distributed.
After all, Canonical seemingly has little idea how many people use Ubuntu in the first place, an issue I wrote about last summer, and which Joe Panettieri visited more recently.
Ubuntu Forums
With the caveat above in mind, let’s take a look at the median age of Ubuntu users, at least as they are represented on the Ubuntu Forums.
There have been a couple of polls on the forums measuring users’ age. Problematically, however, both have a small sample size, and the samples are self-selected; moreover, they represent only members of the forum community, which is likely not exemplary of Ubuntu’s user base as a whole.
To the extent that they are representative of at least a part of the Ubuntu community, however, the polls suggest that the greatest number of Ubuntu users are between 20 and 30 years old–which would have been my hunch.
Ubuntu Seniors
Notably, however, one of the data sets from the Ubuntu Forums implies that a not-insignificant portion of the community is older than 50. That conclusion is backed up by anecdotal evidence of the presence of seniors among a group where we might not expect to find many, given that they were contemplating retirement before Linux even hit the desktop.
Different authors have written about why Linux can work for the elderly, and an “Ubuntu for Seniors” project has even been registered on Launchpad, although it appears dormant. Nonetheless, the retired crowd seems to be an important part of the Ubuntu demographic, even though it may often be overlooked.
Other Ages
Another important age group within the Ubuntu community is the one in between the two sets discussed above: people in their 30s and 40s.
I say this is an important range because it includes some of the community’s most prominent leaders. Mark Shuttleworth, born in September 1973, is 36. Jane Silber, Canonical CEO, graduated from college in 1985, which would probably put her in her mid-40s.
In addition, another Ubuntu Forums thread on age, while reinforcing the conclusion that a majority of users are in their 20s or close to it, there are a substantial number of outliers in their 40s and 50s.
Why It Matters
It’s impossible–for me, and probably even for Canonical–to come up with solid figures for the median age of Ubuntu users. But the data above hopefully provide some hints.
And these numbers matter. Just as it’s important to understand how the Ubuntu community breaks down according to nationality, it’s also useful to know how old most of us are if we plan on fulfilling Shuttleworth’s dream of putting Ubuntu on every PC.
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Never mind how old.
Let’s talk about moving ‘Smolt’ into the Ubuntu repository and making users install configuration data accessible for hard data on true Ubuntu usage patterns.
This would not only help Canonical but also help OEMs to say ‘yes’ we will offer machines with Ubuntu now that we understand the metrics of current use.
This has been unquantifiable for too long.
Smolt is needed.
Mmm. I am not sure people above 50 are seniors, and I am not sure about this whole article
However, I think for Canonical it is important to know a bit about the *buntu’s user base, not so much in terms of their age, but more in terms of their work responsibilities, and IT spending decision power. Also, are they likely to recommend Ubuntu on the data server? On the cloud? Corporate desktops? Etc.
I think geographic location is important, a lot more than age distribution. Where can Canonical make money? That’s an interesting question. At the end of the day, Canonical needs to capitalize on its huge user base, and getting to know more about their users can only be good. They should have an anonymous poll in their page, probably. I fail to see, though, how the users’ age distribution per se is very significant.
Wow, you’re on a kick. They’re 11. And the company behind Ubuntu can’t get the spelling right on its promos. It’s because it’s so young, I know.
[...] How Old Are Ubuntu Users? Notably, however, one of the data sets from the Ubuntu Forums implies that a not-insignificant portion of the community is older than 50. That conclusion is backed up by anecdotal evidence of the presence of seniors among a group where we might not expect to find many, given that they were contemplating retirement before Linux even hit the desktop. [...]
“given that they were contemplating retirement before Linux even hit the desktop.”
Linux was on the desktop at least 15 years ago. I doubt there were many folks who are in their 50′s now were contemplating retirement then. Because Linux on the desktop is new to the author does not make it new to me, or others in their mid 40′s.
Age only matters in the eyes of the beholder. I first started in Linux with Mandrake 5? and since than I’ve learned to build computers and enjoy every OS up to and now Ubuntu 10.04. At this point in my life at nearly 70 years of age I feel age is irrelevant and pointless to worry about. People who are interested in learning a subject will learn it at what ever age they’re and those who aren’t willing, never will. If your trying to figure out a way dumb down a OS to reach the masses your wasting your time.
Just keep moving Linux along as you have been and everything will work out ok, my opinion.
I’m 13 ans my sister is 5
I’m in my early 60′s and have been an enthusiastic Ubuntu user for several years. I agree that a demographics collection utility should be delivered with the Ubuntu distribution FOR OPTIONAL USE.
Demographic data can help Ubuntu development and is to be supported.
I fail to see how it matters. If the masses are found to be in the 20s is the trend of development going to more games or social networking…because older folks don’t do those things.
The age is moot just like age on the internet is moot. It may be interesting to find out but it offers no value.
Why don’t we also find out the average users favourite colour, this is also fairly pointless but could help shape the default theme. Or how many showers they have a week. It’s all meaningless.
For the record I’m a 30 year old white English male working as a NOC engineer and have used Linux since Mandrake 7 (1999 before it became Mandriva).
[...] How old are Ubuntu users … http://www.thevarguy.com/2010/05/10/how-old-are-ubuntu-users/ [...]
I can give some example of people who are using Ubuntu (and Mint)
- I, 52 years old
-My wife, 53 years old
-My older son, 21 years old
-My younger son, 17 years old
-My daughter, 18 years old
-My father, 87 years old
-My mother, 85 years old
-One of my best friend, 36 years old (and his wife, 38 years old)
Matsi: wow, 87. I don’t think I know any 87-year-old computer users (though I’m sure that will change over time as people who grew up in the information age get older), much less ones running on Ubuntu.