MacOS Statistics

Among desktop operating systems in the United States, macOS is the second most-used OS in the country, gathering 29.62%. Meanwhile, Windows command the industry with a 57.37% market share in the country.

Despite its continued growth, Apple’s macOS is still only a niche participant in the desktop operating system industry.

Let’s look at the statistics of the current macOS users and how popular it is today.

MacOS Statistics Overview 2023

MacOS holds about 29.62% of the personal computer and macOS version market share. This number demonstrates Macintosh’s dominance in the desktop PC market.

According to Winfrey's proposed one billion device count, there should be around 100 million active Mac users at the beginning of 2023.

Learn more about macOS statistics by reading on.

MacOS Market Share by Device

Windows has traditionally been the most popular as various PC makers like Dell, HP, and Lenovo support it. However, current statistics reveal that Windows is gradually losing its market share in the United States to macOS and, to a lesser extent, ChromeOS.

Macbooks persisted, though, despite the setback. The reasons are:

1. In the US, macOS commands 29.62% of the desktop and laptop os market.

(Serpwatch)

One reason for Windows’ present decline is unquestionably macOS and Chrome OS’s growing popularity. From its peak of 92.37% in January 2009, Windows’ share of the US desktop OS market has plummeted to its current level of 57.37%.

The download trajectory of Windows’ market share in the country is forecast to continue through 2023.

2. In the United States, the average penetration rate of macOS computers is around 23%, up from 17% in 2019.

(Computer World)

More and more businesses and educational sectors adopt Apple products like macOS computers in the US. Apple even offers “Apple Education,” which provides discounts for university students and educators 

Read this Reddit thread to discover how to avail of that discount:

      Apple's Student discount
by      u/xXheroin-bobXx in      applehelp   

With that, the average penetration of Macs has become apparent since its first launch.

Statistics on MacOS User Demographic

The average age of Apple consumers is between 18 to 45, and they fall into three categories:

• Single
• Married
• Married with children

Approximately 66% of Apple’s customers are women, compared to 34% of men. In addition, Apple’s core demographic tends to be younger and less likely to be retired than the general population. 

As a result, Millennials and Generation X consumers are the brand’s biggest fans.

Let’s take a look at other macOS demographics:

3. In January 2023, macOS Catalina had a global macOS market share of 87.44 percent. 

(Statista)

Soon after its release in October 2019, Apple’s macOS Catalina (10.15) surpassed all previous macOS versions in popularity. 

However, Apple has been misreporting its market share since it labeled Big Sure 11 and Catalina 10.15, as the insider has pointed out.

4. In the United States, 31% of MacBook users are between 25 and 34.

(Serpwatch)

In 2022, young millennials and Gen Z still make up the bulk of MacBook users in the United States, according to Apple’s analysis of age demographics. 

This age group is either embarking on their first professional endeavor or wrapping up their formal education, both of which benefit significantly from using a Macbook. 

These people prefer a Macbook due to its speed and features that allow smooth multi-tasking, like Mac’s easy and convenient split screen feature.

Further data shows that Apple gathered $10.8 billion in revenue from Macbooks alone in 2022’s first quarter.

5. Small towns and rural areas account for 53% of all MacBook users in the United States.

(Serpwatch)

Only 30% of Apple laptop customers live in prominent metropolitan regions, even though many creative types, like programmers and designers, rely on them for work. 

On the other hand, over half of laptop owners do not reside in major cities.

6. Apple had a 49.2% macOS market share in the fourth quarter of 2022.

(Patently Apple)

Microsoft’s Windows runs on desktop computers, tablets, and 2-in-1s. Meanwhile, Apple has stuck to its policy of reserving macOS for desktops and MacBooks.

Then, Apple adopted iPadOS for its tablet lineup. As a result, the iPad has cornered the market, as 60% of all tablet computers in the US are iPads.

MacOS Trends Statistics

When the ‘90s hit, the popularity of MacBooks began to surge. Mac OS X, which succeeded System 7 in availability, was released to the public in 2000. 

The company’s trademark slogan, “Think Different,” debuted the same year. Marking the onset of macOS’ rise and popularity in the market.

Here are the trends that made Macs rise and become known to the public:

7. Apple shipped around 28.9 million Macs globally in 2021.

(Zippia)

The introduction of the three new Mac models powered by the M1 chip in the fourth quarter of 2020 catalyzed this expansion. 

The spike in MacBook sales accelerated after Apple said it would no longer use Intel CPUs in its computers - putting macOS on the map regarding computer operating systems.

8. Apple shipped an estimated 6.9 million Macs, up from 5.25 million in the same period last 2018.

(Macrumors)

Apple increased its position in the PC market by 32%, moving up to fourth place from sixth in 2019 with 2.7 million units sold in the United States.

9. Apple shipped 23 million Macs in 2020, up 29.1% from 18 million in 2019.

(Macrumors)

In 2021, they released their first updated iMac equipped with the latest Apple Silicon. With that, Apple successfully updated its Mac portfolio to use Apple Silicon chips, and sales of the Mac will continue to increase significantly in a couple of years. 

10. MacOS is used by 87% of engineering professionals to execute their tasks.

(Computer world)

The foundation of macOS is Unix. Unix is widely recognized as the most stable and secure operating system for programmers. As a result, this bodes well for Mac developers in several ways.

PC operating system distribution for software development worldwide from 2018 to 2022

11. 100 million Mac users use Apple Arcade on their laptops.

(Niche Gamer)

Despite the significant decline in subscriber numbers, PlayStation Plus continues to lead the pack of home console services with over 45 million users. At the same time, Xbox Game Pass trails well behind, with over 25 million subscribers. 

While the competition is limited to its consoles, the Xbox Game Pass is also available on PC. Moreover, Apple Arcade is available on numerous popular platforms like iPhone, iMac, MacBooks, and Apple TV.

Apple’s Total Generated Revenue

Apple has seen the most success in the US. The Americas account for 43% of total revenue, with the US contributing close to 40%.

Let’s see what else is going on in terms of Apple’s revenue from the statistics below:

12. 93.8% is the generated sales in the US alone during 2015.

Macintosh is well-received in the US, and most sales are generated in the Americas. Here is the breakdown below:

13. Mac's annual revenue increased from $13.6 billion in 2009 to $40 billion in 2022.

(Business of Apps)

Despite Apple’s shift in focus from personal computers to mobile devices, the Mac continues to be an integral part of the company’s offerings.

While PC sales have been stagnant or falling for the past decade, Apple’s income and unit sales have been increasing practically annually since 2009.

14. Mac sales have increased significantly from 2009 ($10.3 million) to 2022 ($26.1 million).

(Business Apps)

Sales of personal computers increased in 2020, but the market has been in steady decline for the past ten years. But Apple is an exception, with rising sales practically since 2009.

 

Final Thoughts

The statistics shown can't be wrong - Apple is succeeding where its rivals have failed. The company sold over 8 million devices despite conflict during the economic recession of COVID-19. 

When Apple released the updated M2 MacBooks in July 2022, it was another indication of the rise among macOS users. Because of its competitive price and widespread popularity, Apple’s MacBooks, Mac Minis, and iMacs continue to increase demand after receiving the M2 silicon.