Skills
Python or R: which do data analyst jobs ask for?
Short answer
Python, by a wide margin. Python leads (56% against 14% for R) in analyst listings that name tools on realanalystjobs.com on 11 October 2026. R remains common in statistics-heavy fields such as research and healthcare.
Python and R by market
Shares are of listings that name at least one tool.
| Roles | Python | R |
|---|---|---|
| All analyst roles | 56% | 14% |
| Data analyst titles | 65% | 24% |
| United States | 54% | 15% |
| India | 52% | 10% |
| United Kingdom | 57% | 8% |
Python and R in analyst listings
Which to learn
Python if you are choosing one: more postings, and it carries over to automation and engineering work.
R if you are aiming at clinical, academic or statistics-heavy teams, which still use it widely.
Where the numbers come from
Every number on this page is computed from the live analyst roles on realanalystjobs.com on 11 October 2026, read from the employers' own career pages and re-checked daily, and it updates as roles open and close. H-1B figures come from the USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub (data as of 2026-06-30). Nothing is estimated or projected.
Frequently asked
Is R still used by data analysts?
Yes, in 14% of analyst listings that name tools.
Is Python more in demand than R?
Python leads (56% against 14% for R).
Do I need both?
Rarely. Learn one well; postings that name both usually accept either.
See the roles
Browse every live analyst role.
Pulled from company career pages, re-checked daily. Free to browse.
