Support Period in Days
Data Sources
The raw data for this chart is based on release dates of all the major WordPress versions.
Support period is the difference (in days) between the release date until the version end-of-life, or when it was no longer receiving updates.
History
Supported versions receive regular updates fixing bugs and security vulnerabilities by releasing minor versions.
At the beginning, each major version was supported until the next major version was released.
The introduction of Automatic Updates in WordPress 3.7 was a game changer. It made it easier to support older versions by releasing new minor versions fixing security vulnerabilities automatically in the background. Since then, all major versions are actively supported. When new vulnerability discovered, core developers release a new minor version fox all major versions – back to WordPress 3.7.
Until WordPress 3.7 the support period was equal to version lifespan – the period between two major WordPress versions.
Since WordPress 3.7 the support period is larger than version lifespan – the period since the release date.
There were many discussions to stop supporting older WordPress versions, but they were not accepted.
Historical Data
| 5.6 | Support period of 3 months, 84 days. | -119 | -59% ▼ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | Support period of 7 months, 203 days. | -133 | -40% ▼ |
| 5.4 | Support period of 11 months, 336 days. | -140 | -29% ▼ |
| 5.3 | Support period of 1 year, 476 days. | -189 | -28% ▼ |
| 5.2 | Support period of 2 years, 665 days. | -75 | -10% ▼ |
| 5.1 | Support period of 2 years, 740 days. | -77 | -9% ▼ |
| 5.0 | Support period of 2 years, 817 days. | -385 | -32% ▼ |
| 4.9 | Support period of 3 years, 1,202 days. | -161 | -12% ▼ |
| 4.8 | Support period of 4 years, 1,363 days. | -184 | -12% ▼ |
| 4.7 | Support period of 4 years, 1,547 days. | -112 | -7% ▼ |
| 4.6 | Support period of 5 years, 1,659 days. | -126 | -7% ▼ |
| 4.5 | Support period of 5 years, 1,785 days. | -126 | -7% ▼ |
| 4.4 | Support period of 5 years, 1,911 days. | -112 | -6% ▼ |
| 4.3 | Support period of 6 years, 2,023 days. | -117 | -5% ▼ |
| 4.2 | Support period of 6 years, 2,140 days. | -127 | -6% ▼ |
| 4.1 | Support period of 6 years, 2,267 days. | -104 | -4% ▼ |
| 4.0 | Support period of 6 years, 2,371 days. | -141 | -6% ▼ |
| 3.9 | Support period of 7 years, 2,512 days. | -125 | -5% ▼ |
| 3.8 | Support period of 7 years, 2,637 days. | -49 | -2% ▼ |
| 3.7 | Support period of 7 years, 2,686 days. | +2,602 | 3,098% ▲ |
| 3.6 | Support period of 3 months, 84 days. | -149 | -64% ▼ |
| 3.5 | Support period of 8 months, 233 days. | +52 | 29% ▲ |
| 3.4 | Support period of 6 months, 181 days. | -3 | -2% ▼ |
| 3.3 | Support period of 6 months, 184 days. | +23 | 14% ▲ |
| 3.2 | Support period of 5 months, 161 days. | +30 | 23% ▲ |
| 3.1 | Support period of 4 months, 131 days. | -120 | -48% ▼ |
| 3.0 | Support period of 8 months, 251 days. | +70 | 39% ▲ |
| 2.9 | Support period of 6 months, 181 days. | -10 | -5% ▼ |
| 2.8 | Support period of 6 months, 191 days. | +9 | 5% ▲ |
| 2.7 | Support period of 6 months, 182 days. | +34 | 23% ▲ |
| 2.6 | Support period of 5 months, 148 days. | +40 | 37% ▲ |
| 2.5 | Support period of 4 months, 108 days. | -79 | -42% ▼ |
| 2.3 | Support period of 6 months, 187 days. | +56 | 43% ▲ |
| 2.2 | Support period of 4 months, 131 days. | +17 | 15% ▲ |
| 2.1 | Support period of 4 months, 114 days. | -278 | -71% ▼ |
| 2.0 | Support period of 1 year, 392 days. | +80 | 26% ▲ |
| 1.5 | Support period of 10 months, 312 days. | +41 | 15% ▲ |
| 1.2 | Support period of 9 months, 271 days. | +131 | 94% ▲ |
| 1.0 | Support period of 5 months, 140 days. | -81 | -37% ▼ |
| 0.7 | Support period of 7 months, 221 days. | +221 | 100% ▲ |