The Rust Foundation’s 10th annual survey, conducted between November 17th and December 17th, 2025, gathered responses from 7,156 completed surveys – a slight decrease from the 7,310 responses received the previous year. The results largely mirror those from 2024.
Growing Adoption
Rust’s adoption continues to climb. In 2018, 74.5% of survey respondents reported using Rust, while 17.4% had never used it. By 2025, 91.7% of respondents use Rust, with an additional 4.9% having used it previously, leaving only 3.4% who have never tried the language.
For those not currently using Rust, the reasons varied. Approximately one-third of the 358 respondents indicated a preference for another language, while a similar number cited external factors preventing its use. A quarter found Rust “too difficult to learn,” and just under 10% were put off by the community. However, a significant 60% of this group expressed an intention to use Rust when the opportunity arises.
Increased Productivity and Positive Trends
Among current Rust users, the frequency of use is increasing, with 55% utilizing the language daily and 15% using it less than weekly. 57% of respondents now report being “productive writing Rust,” while less than 2% stated they “can’t write Rust code.”
The survey also revealed that 40% of respondents now use Rust for the majority of their operate coding. Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that “Using Rust helps us achieve our goals,” with 85% affirming this statement – up from 82% in the previous year and 72% in 2022. Fewer respondents reported that “Adopting Rust has been challenging,” with 31% agreeing, compared to 34% last year and 38% in 2022.
Respondents are experienced programmers, with 61% having more than 10 years of programming experience and 22% between 5 and 10 years. Only 5% have less than 3 years of experience.
Job Market Perceptions
A new question in this year’s survey explored perceptions of the Rust job market. While 35% agreed that existing Rust jobs are attractive, opinions were more divided regarding job accessibility. Only 19% agreed it is easy for senior programmers to find Rust jobs, while a mere 3% agreed it is easy for junior programmers.
Despite perceived difficulties in finding employment, respondents remain enthusiastic about Rust, with 93% believing it provides a real benefit over other languages, 84% finding it fun to use, and only 35% considering it significantly more complicated than other languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of respondents to the 2025 Rust survey had never used the language?
3.4% of respondents had never used Rust.
What was the most common reason given by respondents who are not currently using Rust?
A third of respondents said they preferred another language, while almost as many said they no longer had the opportunity to use Rust due to factors outside their control.
What percentage of respondents use Rust for the majority of their work coding?
40% of respondents use Rust for the majority of their work coding.
As Rust continues to evolve, will its growing community and perceived benefits translate into increased job opportunities, particularly for those new to the field?
