A Comprehensive Look at WordPress Usage and Security in 2024–2025

WordPress is one of the most powerful and user-friendly content management systems (CMS) on the web. The platform has seen tremendous growth since its release in 2003, and, through the years, it has become the preferred choice for bloggers, small businesses, large corporations, e-commerce ventures, and everything in between. From personal journals to enterprise-level websites, the flexibility, gigantic ecosystem of plugins, and the mammoth library of themes catapulted WordPress to the top tier of web technologies.

But success has its responsibility and risks involved. The minute a technology spreads so pervasively on the internet, it becomes the hacker's holy grail by default. This article goes in-depth on data related to WordPress usage as of 2024–2025, including how many sites are active, how many are live but dormant, and most importantly, how many actually get compromised daily and monthly. We will discuss critical aspects of WordPress security, reasons behind common vulnerabilities, and best practices for securing your website.

1. The Phenomenal Rise of WordPress

Before we get into the specific data for 2024–2025, it’s crucial to understand the journey that brought WordPress to its present status. WordPress started as a blogging platform, a fork of an older blogging software called b2/cafelog. Over the first decade of its life, it won the hearts of developers, hobbyists, and content creators alike for one simple reason: it was easy to install, configure, and customize.

From 2010 onwards, WordPress began evolving from a mere blogging tool into a full-fledged CMS. Its core team introduced features such as Custom Post Types (CPTs), themes with a responsive design approach, and plugin capabilities that could transform a simple blog into an e-commerce store, a portfolio website, or a large-scale news site. By 2014–2015, WordPress had already gained immense popularity, being used by millions of websites globally.

1.1 Growth Trajectory

• 2010–2015: WordPress gained traction among freelancers and small businesses for building simple yet professional websites. The platform held around 23% of the CMS market share by 2015.

• 2016–2020: Larger organizations started adopting WordPress thanks to improvements in its performance, scalability, and security. New plugin ecosystems, page builders, and advanced hosting solutions (like Managed WordPress hosting) boosted its popularity further. By 2020, WordPress powered approximately 38% of the entire web, according to W3Techs.

• 2021–2023: The introduction of full site editing (FSE) and continued refinement of the Gutenberg block editor made WordPress more user-friendly. By late 2023, WordPress usage hovered around 43–44% of websites online.

1.2 Standing on the Threshold of 2024–2025

By 2024, WordPress was no longer just a CMS—it had become an entire ecosystem. With tens of thousands of themes and plugins, numerous hosting solutions dedicated to WordPress, and a global community of enthusiasts, developers, and support professionals, WordPress was a giant. Its presence is felt in nearly every corner of the internet, from small personal sites to the official blogs and portals of major news networks, universities, and Fortune 500 companies.

2. Current Usage Statistics: How Many WordPress Websites Are Online?

Let’s delve into the figures that reveal WordPress’s massive footprint on the internet. In 2024–2025, these numbers become even more staggering. While it is impossible to get a precise count of every single website, web technology surveys and data analytics from major sources like W3Techs, BuiltWith, and hosting companies like WP Engine or SiteGround offer reliable snapshots and estimates.

2.1 Total Number of WordPress Websites

By the end of 2024, estimates suggest:

• Total Websites on the Internet: Roughly 2 billion domains exist on the internet, but not all of them host active websites. According to Internet Live Stats, there could be anywhere between 300–400 million actively maintained websites at any given time, with many domains simply redirected or parked.

• WordPress-Powered Sites: WordPress continues to dominate the CMS space, powering an estimated 45–46% of websites that use a recognizable CMS. When factoring in websites that do not use a CMS, the overall figure drops slightly, but the majority of those 300–400 million active sites still rely on some form of CMS. Analysts predict that in 2024, the number of active WordPress websites is somewhere between 120–150 million.

These broad estimates only tell part of the story; some websites go dormant, others remain in development (not publicly accessible), and many more stand abandoned for extended periods.

2.2 Live vs. Dormant WordPress Websites

An interesting aspect of WordPress usage is the distinction between live and dormant or abandoned sites. Not all WordPress sites are actively maintained or visited regularly. According to 2024 surveys by BuiltWith:

• Active (Live) WordPress Sites: Approximately 65–70% of WordPress installations show some regular visitor traffic and content updates. This suggests that out of the 120–150 million WordPress sites, up to 90–105 million could be considered “live.”

• Dormant or Low-Activity Sites: The remaining 30–35% show either no recent content updates, minimal visitor traffic, or no traffic at all. A large portion of these may be test or staging sites, neglected personal blogs, or abandoned projects.

2.3 Regional Distribution

WordPress usage varies by region, but the platform’s global community ensures it is well-represented almost everywhere:

• North America: Home to major hosting providers and developers, consistently ranking as one of the largest user bases for WordPress. Estimates put nearly 30–35% of WordPress websites in the United States alone.

• Europe: Another major market, particularly in countries like the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. Europe accounts for around 20–25% of total WordPress sites.

• Asia: Rapid growth in countries such as India, China (despite local competitors), Japan, and Southeast Asian nations. This region is seeing a boom in small business websites, with WordPress capturing 20–25% of total usage in Asia.

• Other Regions: Latin America and Africa are steadily increasing their WordPress adoption thanks to better internet access, more entrepreneurial ventures, and local language support in WordPress plugins and themes.

2.4 Overall WordPress Usage (2024–2025)

2.5 Regional Distribution of WordPress Websites

3. The Security Landscape: How Many WordPress Websites Get Hacked?

With WordPress powering such a staggering number of websites, it is naturally a prime target for malicious actors. Hacking attempts range from small-scale defacements to large-scale exploits aiming to capture sensitive user information. Over the years, WordPress has made strides in improving its security posture, with frequent updates, a robust plugin review process, and an active community that quickly patches vulnerabilities. Yet, the platform’s massive footprint makes it a perpetual target.

3.1 Understanding “Hacks” and “Attacks”

It’s important to clarify some key terms:

• Attempted Hacks or Attacks: Not all attempts succeed. Many bots and hackers routinely probe sites for vulnerabilities, and some estimates from security firms like Wordfence suggest that tens of thousands of automated hacking attempts happen against popular WordPress sites each day.

• Successful Hacks: A “successful hack” implies that the attacker found a vulnerability—be it a plugin, theme, or core WordPress file—and managed to breach the site’s defenses, potentially defacing it, installing malware, or stealing data.

3.2 Estimated Daily and Monthly Hacking Attempts

Security companies have reported eye-opening statistics about the sheer number of malicious probes targeting WordPress websites. Here’s a snapshot of the situation:

• Daily Attacks:

  • Wordfence’s 2024 security report indicated that, on average, around 90,000 to 100,000 hack attempts occur per hour across all WordPress sites monitored by their plugin. Scaling this number globally and across all security providers suggests that there could be millions of attempted hacks per day.

  • These numbers can fluctuate dramatically depending on ongoing global events, newly disclosed vulnerabilities, or major plugin security advisories.

• Successful Hacks Per Day:

  • Of these millions of attempts, a small percentage succeed. Nevertheless, when we consider a small fraction of a very large number, it can still be substantial.

  • Reliable estimates place successful daily hacks of WordPress sites anywhere between 8,000 to 12,000 across the globe. This can vary based on how promptly site owners apply updates or patch critical vulnerabilities.

• Monthly Hacking Totals:

  • If we assume a baseline of around 10,000 successful hacks per day, that amounts to roughly 300,000 successful breaches a month.

  • Some months see spikes due to newly discovered zero-day vulnerabilities or highly publicized exploit kits, driving the count even higher.

3.3 Factors Influencing Hacking Statistics

1. Plugin Vulnerabilities: A significant portion of WordPress hacks occur via outdated or insecure plugins. A single vulnerability in a widely used plugin can affect hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of websites overnight.

2. Theme Vulnerabilities: Similarly, certain themes might contain weaknesses in their code or rely on outdated scripts, allowing hackers an entry point.

3. Weak Credentials: Brute force attacks are exceedingly common. Many websites still use weak administrator usernames (like “admin”) and simple passwords.

4. Hosting Environments: Shared hosting environments can pose additional risks if misconfigurations allow cross-site exploits.

5. Lack of Updates: Failing to update WordPress core, themes, and plugins is a leading cause of site compromises. Many successful hacks occur on older versions of WordPress that are missing critical security patches.

3.4 Hacking and Security Statistics

3.5 Common Attack Vectors and Contributing Factors

4. Diving Deeper into Hacking: Why WordPress Is a Target

Given its extensive user base, WordPress is the “low-hanging fruit” for hackers. This is not to say WordPress is inherently insecure—rather, it’s a matter of popularity. Hackers look for the highest number of potential victims with the least amount of effort. With millions of WordPress sites in the wild, a single exploit can yield a broad array of targets.

4.1 Incentives for Hackers

1. Data Theft: Many WordPress sites collect user data—email addresses, personal details, and, in the case of e-commerce sites, payment or billing information. Such data is valuable on the black market.

2. Resource Hijacking: Some hackers compromise sites to use server resources for sending spam emails or running cryptocurrency mining scripts.

3. SEO Spam and Redirection: Attackers insert hidden links or create spam pages to boost their own or their clients’ sites. Others might redirect a hacked site’s traffic to malicious or phishing sites.

4. Website Defacement: Some hackers do it for bragging rights. Particularly older or poorly maintained sites become easy targets for “script kiddies” looking to display hacking capabilities.

4.2 Common Attack Vectors

• SQL Injection: Attackers manipulate form inputs or URLs to inject malicious SQL queries, often targeting plugin or theme vulnerabilities.

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Scripts inserted into web pages run in visitors’ browsers, allowing attackers to steal session cookies or other sensitive data.

• Brute Force and Credential Stuffing: Hackers use automated bots to try thousands of username-password combinations. When site owners reuse passwords from data breaches, WordPress sites become easy targets.

• File Inclusion Vulnerabilities: Insecure code can allow attackers to upload malicious files or execute arbitrary code.

4.3 Best Practices for WordPress Security

5. Real-World Data: Examples of High-Profile Hacks

Over the past few years, we’ve seen notable cases of major websites falling victim to vulnerabilities:

1. Large News Portals: High-traffic sites running outdated plugins faced defacements or malicious redirects. Often, the culprit was an unpatched plugin that had been exploited.

2. E-commerce Breaches: WooCommerce (the leading e-commerce plugin for WordPress) is generally secure, but vulnerabilities in extensions or insecure server setups have led to compromised payment information on certain sites.

3. Personal Blogs of Influencers: Even well-known public figures with large followings have had their blogs hacked, primarily through simple brute force or social engineering attacks targeting reused credentials.

These incidents underscore that no site is too large or too small to be targeted. The best way to stay safe is consistent vigilance, timely patches, and strong security practices.

6. Mitigating Risk: Best Practices for WordPress Security

While the hacking statistics may sound alarming, it’s important to note that many WordPress sites remain secure due to proactive steps taken by administrators and developers. If you’re running—or planning to run—a WordPress site, adopting best practices can drastically reduce your risk of being hacked.

6.1 Keep Everything Updated

• Core Updates: Always update your WordPress installation to the latest stable version. Minor releases often contain critical security patches.

• Plugin and Theme Updates: Outdated plugins or themes are the most common attack vectors. Regularly check for updates and remove plugins you no longer need.

6.2 Use Strong Login Credentials

• Unique Usernames: Avoid the default “admin” username. Instead, choose a unique admin username.

• Complex Passwords: Use long, complex passwords. Consider passphrases or a password manager. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.

6.3 Implement Security Plugins and Firewalls

Several reputable security plugins offer protective features such as firewalls, malware scanning, brute force protection, and IP blocking. Examples include:

• Wordfence

• iThemes Security

• Sucuri Security

6.4 Regular Backups

Should the worst happen, having a recent backup can be a lifesaver. Store backups in secure off-site locations. Managed WordPress hosting providers often include automated backups, but always verify the reliability and restore process of your hosting solution.

6.5 Limit Login Attempts and Enforce 2FA

Brute force attacks remain an ever-present threat. Tools that limit the number of incorrect login attempts can thwart automated scripts. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a one-time code sent via SMS, email, or authenticator app.

6.6 Use Secure Hosting and SSL

• SSL Certificates: Encrypting data transmission protects user information and builds trust with visitors.

• Managed WordPress Hosting: Providers specialized in WordPress often include server-level caching, malware scanning, and advanced firewall rules tailored to WordPress websites.

7. The Ongoing Battle Between Hackers and Site Owners

The relationship between hackers and website administrators can be thought of as an arms race. As developers patch vulnerabilities, attackers discover new exploits, especially in third-party plugins or newly introduced features. WordPress core developers push out frequent patches and rely on an active community of researchers who help identify and fix security holes.

7.1 Coordinated Disclosure

Many vulnerabilities are discovered by “white hat” researchers who coordinate with the WordPress security team or plugin authors. By the time a vulnerability goes public, a patch is often already available. The critical factor is how quickly site owners apply those patches. Delays in updating site software create a window of opportunity for hackers.

7.2 Zero-Day Exploits

A zero-day vulnerability is one that is exploited before it becomes publicly known or patched. These represent the most dangerous type of threat because they leave site owners with minimal or no immediate recourse until a fix is developed. While not extremely common, zero-day exploits can affect widely used plugins and thus lead to large-scale compromises in a matter of days—or even hours.

8. The Human Element: User Awareness and Behavior

Even the most technologically robust solutions falter when the human element fails. People remain a significant factor in WordPress security, whether due to negligence, lack of knowledge, or simple oversight:

1. Phishing Attacks: Admins might inadvertently disclose credentials through convincing phishing emails or websites.

2. Social Engineering: Hackers impersonate tech support or hosting providers to trick site owners into revealing sensitive data.

3. Reusing Passwords: As data breaches become more frequent across different web services, reusing passwords puts WordPress administrators at significant risk.

Educating site owners and administrators is paramount. Creating a culture of security awareness—such as recognizing suspicious links or adopting strong password management—can significantly reduce the odds of a successful hack.

9. How Hosting Providers Are Responding

Hosting companies play a pivotal role in safeguarding WordPress installations. In 2024–2025, many providers have introduced more advanced measures:

1. Managed WordPress Hosting: Hosts like WP Engine, Kinsta, and Flywheel specialize in WordPress, offering staging environments, automated backups, enhanced firewall rules, and one-click updates to make the update process seamless.

2. Server Hardening: Many hosts employ server-level rules to block common attack patterns, rate-limit suspicious behavior, and isolate compromised websites.

3. Malware Scanning: Routine scans can identify infected files or suspicious activity early, preventing the spread of malware or spam campaigns.

10. Case Studies: Security Successes and Failures

10.1 Success: A Rapidly Updated E-commerce Site

Take the example of an online fashion retailer running on WordPress with WooCommerce. Through prompt updates, diligent plugin management, and server-level security measures, the site endures thousands of daily hacking attempts but remains uncompromised. Automated backups and a dedicated security plugin quickly blacklist malicious IP addresses. When a new vulnerability was discovered in a popular payment gateway plugin, the retailer updated it within hours, avoiding any intrusion.

10.2 Failure: A Neglected Business Blog

Now consider a small business blog that hasn’t been updated for a year. The theme is obsolete, and the admin password is the same as the user’s Gmail account password. An old plugin with a known SQL injection flaw opens the door. A hacker infiltrates the site, injects spammy links, and the site is soon blacklisted by search engines. The business owner only discovers the problem weeks later when web traffic plummets and customers complain about suspicious redirects.

These examples highlight the stark difference in outcomes driven by consistent security practices versus neglect.

11. Future Outlook: WordPress Security in 2025 and Beyond

11.1 Technological Advancements

1. Automatic Updates: WordPress continues to evolve its auto-update feature. By 2025, more plugin authors opt-in to auto-update frameworks that protect their users from delayed patch installations.

2. Enhanced Core Security Features: The WordPress core team is actively exploring new ways to sandbox code execution and block suspicious queries, reducing the need for site owners to rely solely on third-party security plugins.

3. Tighter Plugin Repository Controls: Expect more rigorous screening of plugins before they are allowed on the official WordPress.org repository. This includes automated scans for malicious or insecure code.

11.2 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI-driven security solutions are gaining traction. These systems can:

• Analyze traffic patterns to identify unusual activity.

• Detect malicious scripts more accurately by learning from past attacks.

• Proactively block zero-day exploits by recognizing suspicious behaviors.

11.3 Community and Ecosystem Growth

As WordPress cements its position as an industry leader, its community remains one of its greatest assets. User forums, developer communities, and security experts collectively strengthen WordPress:

• Faster Patch Cycles: Community reporting helps close security holes swiftly.

• Security Awareness: Conferences like WordCamp and events dedicated to WordPress often feature in-depth security workshops, raising awareness at the grassroots level.

• Global Localization: Better translations and localized content make it easier for non-English speaking users to adopt best security practices.

12. Key Takeaways for WordPress Users

1. WordPress Dominates the Web: By 2024–2025, it powers around 45–46% of sites that use a CMS, possibly accounting for 120–150 million active websites.

2. Most WordPress Sites Are Live: An estimated 65–70% show regular activity, while 30–35% remain dormant.

3. Hacking Attempts Are Ubiquitous: Millions of attacks happen daily, with around 8,000–12,000 successful hacks each day on average. Neglected or outdated sites are most at risk.

4. Security is Achievable: By using strong credentials, keeping everything updated, and employing security plugins, most WordPress site owners effectively mitigate threats.

5. Human Factors Matter: Social engineering, phishing, and password reuse remain huge security pitfalls.

6. The Future is More Secure: Advancements in automatic updates, AI-powered threat detection, and community collaboration promise a more secure WordPress ecosystem.

13. Conclusion: Embracing the Power of WordPress Responsibly

WordPress's remarkable adoption rate into 2024–2025 speaks to its resilience, flexibility, and community-driven nature. The platform has democratized web publishing on an unprecedented scale, allowing individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, and massive corporations to create a powerful online presence without grappling with prohibitively complex coding requirements.

But with great power comes great responsibility. The same easy-to-use features that make WordPress attractive also make it an enticing target for malicious actors. Knowledge and diligence are your best friends in the arms race between hackers and site administrators. Regular updates, robust security configurations, and proper user education can go a long way toward keeping your site safe. Far from being an insecure platform, WordPress's track record of frequent updates and dedicated security patches is a testament to the hard work of thousands of contributors worldwide.

If you are considering launching a WordPress site—or already run one—take the time to understand the security nuances of the platform. Treat your WordPress site like any valuable asset. Best practices outlined in this article aren't theoretical; they represent lessons learned from real-world attacks and successes. Implementing these measures can drastically reduce your site's risk of falling victim to a hack, ensuring your data remains secure and your users stay safe.

In the bigger picture, WordPress's dominance is both a testament to its strengths and a clarion call for stronger security across the board. The more site owners, hosting providers, and plugin developers commit to ironclad security, the more the entire ecosystem benefits. As 2025 unfolds, expect WordPress to further refine its approach to security and usability. Whether you're a budding blogger or a seasoned entrepreneur, WordPress still stands as a premier choice—so long as you embrace it responsibly.