The operating systems market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $47.53 billion in 2024 to $48.58 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to personal computing boom, business adoption, software licensing models, operating system upgrades.
The operating systems market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $52.6 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to cloud computing, remote work and collaboration, mobile devices, data privacy and security, sustainability and green computing. Major trends in the forecast period include cloud-based solutions, mobile-centric solutions, ai and automation integration, subscription and saas models, open source and collaboration, user experience (ux) design.
The growth of the operating systems market has been significantly influenced by the increasing demand for computer systems. The surge in the adoption of computers has created a greater need for operating systems to efficiently manage tasks such as memory management, file handling, process management, input and output functions, and hardware control, including devices like printers and disk drivers. For instance, in July 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a US-based government agency, reported that in 2023, the total export trade value for computer and peripheral manufacturing reached $48.8 billion, with Texas leading all U.S. states, contributing $12.2 billion in exports for these products. As a result, the growing demand for computer systems has contributed to the expansion of the operating systems market.
The adoption of 5G networks featuring optimized high-speed connectivity is poised to be a driving force for the global operating system market in the future. 5G technology represents the fifth-generation cellular network standard designed to substantially increase transmission speeds to up to 20 Gbps, reduce latency, and enhance the flexibility of wireless services. The anticipated widespread deployment of 5G networks will lead to a rise in mobile devices capable of harnessing the improved speeds and reduced latency offered by 5G technology, thereby fueling the demand for operating systems tailored for high-speed connectivity. As an example, data from The Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) indicates that by the end of 2022, there were 1.15 billion 5G subscribers, marking a significant increase from 619 million in 2021, representing an 85.9% year-on-year growth. 5G subscriptions now constitute 10.7% of all global mobile subscriptions and are projected to reach 16% by the end of 2023, with 1.77 billion subscribers. Consequently, the adoption of 5G networks is a key driver for the growth of the operating system market.
Major companies operating in the operating systems market are striving to gain a competitive edge by introducing innovative technologies in operating systems, such as HarmonyOS 4. HarmonyOS is a distributed operating system designed to enable seamless and efficient collaboration among devices. It is adaptable to various types of hardware and can function across a wide range of internet-connected devices, including smartphones, wearables, and televisions. For instance, Huawei unveiled the latest iteration of its mobile operating system, HarmonyOS 4, which includes features like a new app controller for enhanced security against malicious applications.
In January 2022, Access Group, a UK-based software company, acquired Vincere for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows Access Group to expand its international presence in the recruitment operating systems market, particularly in the UK, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. The goal is to create a comprehensive ecosystem that supports recruitment agencies of all sizes, from start-ups to large enterprises. Vincere is a Singapore-based company specializing in recruitment operating systems.
Major companies operating in the operating systems market include Microsoft Corporation, Apple Inc., Manjaro GmbH & Co KG, Canonical Ltd., Debian, IBM Corporation, SUSE, Google LLC, Red Hat Inc., Oracle Corporation, Vmware Inc., Citrix Systems Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co, Dell Technologies Inc., Lenovo Limited, Fujitsu Fujitsu, NEC Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Samsung Corporation, LG Corporation, Xiaomi Corporation, OnePlus Technology Co Ltd., Oppo, Vivo Communication Technology Co Ltd., Realme, ASUSTeK Computer Inc., Acer Inc., Micro-Star International Co Ltd., Gigabyte Technology, Intel Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Nvidia Corporation.
Operating Systems (OS) are essential software that manage a computer's hardware and software resources, creating a platform for other applications to function. The OS enables communication between the user and the device, handling key tasks such as file management, memory allocation, process scheduling, and input/output operations.
The primary types of operating systems include Windows, macOS, Linux, and others. The Windows operating system functions as an interface connecting end users to computer hardware. Diverse OS products encompass Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, and others, and they are employed in both computers and mobile devices. These operating systems are distributed through various channels, including business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) avenues.
The operating systems market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides operating systems market statistics, including operating systems industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an operating systems market share, detailed operating systems market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the operating systems industry. This operating systems market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the operating systems market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the operating systems market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the operating systems market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the operating systems & productivity software publishing market report are Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, France, Germany, UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.
The operating systems market includes revenues earned by entities by developing and distributing software programs enabling computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
This product will be delivered within 3-5 business days.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Operating Systems Global Market Report 2025 provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.This report focuses on operating systems market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Reasons to Purchase:
- Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 15 geographies.
- Assess the impact of key macro factors such as conflict, pandemic and recovery, inflation and interest rate environment and the 2nd Trump presidency.
- Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.
- Identify growth segments for investment.
- Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
- Understand customers based on the latest market shares.
- Benchmark performance against key competitors.
- Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis
- Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis.
- All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format.
Description
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for operating systems ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The operating systems market global report answers all these questions and many more.The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.
- The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.
- The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
- The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include: the Russia-Ukraine war, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
- The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers the growth trajectory of COVID-19 for all regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets.
- The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
- The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers.
Scope
Markets Covered:
1) By Operating System: Windows; Mac Os; Linux; Other Operating Systems2) By Product: Windows; Linux; Android; iOS; macOS; Other Products
3) By Device Type: Computer; Mobile
4) By Distribution Channel: Business-To-Business (B2B); Business-To-Consumer (B2C)
Subsegments:
1) By Windows: Windows 10; Windows 11; Windows Server; Windows Embedded2) By Mac OS: MacOS Ventura; MacOS Monterey; MacOS Big Sur; MacOS Catalina
3) By Linux: Ubuntu; Fedora; Debian; Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
4) By Other Operating Systems: Chrome OS; UNIX; BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution); Android OS for Non-Mobile Devices
Key Companies Mentioned: Microsoft Corporation; Apple Inc.; Manjaro GmbH & Co KG; Canonical Ltd.; Debian
Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita.
Data Segmentation: Country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
Delivery Format: PDF, Word and Excel Data Dashboard.
Companies Mentioned
The major companies featured in this Operating Systems market report include:- Microsoft Corporation
- Apple Inc.
- Manjaro GmbH & Co KG
- Canonical Ltd.
- Debian
- IBM Corporation
- SUSE
- Google LLC
- Red Hat Inc.
- Oracle Corporation
- Vmware Inc.
- Citrix Systems Inc.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co
- Dell Technologies Inc.
- Lenovo Limited
- Fujitsu Fujitsu
- NEC Corporation
- Toshiba Corporation
- Samsung Corporation
- LG Corporation
- Xiaomi Corporation
- OnePlus Technology Co Ltd.
- Oppo
- Vivo Communication Technology Co Ltd.
- Realme
- ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
- Acer Inc.
- Micro-Star International Co Ltd.
- Gigabyte Technology
- Intel Corporation
- Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
- Nvidia Corporation
Table Information
Report Attribute | Details |
---|---|
No. of Pages | 175 |
Published | April 2025 |
Forecast Period | 2025 - 2029 |
Estimated Market Value ( USD | $ 48.58 Billion |
Forecasted Market Value ( USD | $ 52.6 Billion |
Compound Annual Growth Rate | 2.0% |
Regions Covered | Global |
No. of Companies Mentioned | 33 |