API tasks: time allocation worldwide 2020

Published by
Lionel Sujay Vailshery,
Feb 21, 2022
Most people working with application programming interfaces (APIs) spend 29.5 percent their time on API coding and programming, according to a 2020 state of the API survey. Tasks like debugging and testing also take up a bulk of developers' time. An API is a software intermediary that enables applications to interact with each other. An API can be a web-based system, database system, etc.

Time allocation of application programming interface (API) tasks worldwide as of 2020

CharacteristicShare of respondents
Coding/programming APIs 29.5%
Debugging & manual testing 17%
Automated testing 10.8%
Designing & mock APIs 8.7%
API documentation 6.1%
Managing others who use APIs 5.8%
Meetings about API 5.7%
Collaborating on APIs 4.9%
API monitoring 4.3%
Publishing APIs 2.5%
Managing API artifacts 2.5%
Writing about APIs 2.2%
Showing entries 1 to 12 (12 entries in total)
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of respondents29.5%29.5%17%17%10.8%10.8%8.7%8.7%6.1%6.1%5.8%5.8%5.7%5.7%4.9%4.9%4.3%4.3%2.5%2.5%2.5%2.5%2.2%2.2%Coding/programming APIsDebugging & manual testingAutomated testingDesigning & mock APIsAPI documentationManaging others who use APIsMeetings about APICollaborating on APIsAPI monitoringPublishing APIsManaging API artifactsWriting about APIs
0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%22%24%26%28%30%32%34%

© Statista 2025
Download
Show detailed source information?
Register for free
Already a member?
Log in
Source

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

September 2020

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

June to July 2020

Number of respondents

13,586 respondents

Special properties

developers, testers, and executives

Citation formats
Access all statistics starting from $2,388 USD yearly *

* For commercial use only

Basic Account

For single users
$0 USD
Always free
Register now
Access limited to Free Statistics. Premium Statistics are not included.
  • Free Statistics
Based on your interests

Starter Account

For single users
$199 USD
per month, billed annually 1
Buy now
  • Free Statistics
  • Premium Statistics

Professional Account

For teams of up to 5 people
$1,299 USD
per month, billed annually 1
Buy now
  • Free + Premium Statistics
  • Reports
  • Market Insights

1 All prices do not include sales tax. The account requires an annual contract and will renew after one year to the regular list price.

Compare accounts
Leading companies trust Statista:
paypal google adobe pg samsung telekom
Statista is a great source of knowledge, and pretty helpful to manage the daily work.
Christof Baron

Christof Baron
CEO, MindShare Germany

Statistics on " Enterprise software "

Other statistics that may interest you Enterprise software

Overview

5

Segments

6

Companies

6

Special focus: M&A

4

Special focus: SaaS

4

Discover Statista

Need help with using Statista for your research? Tutorials and first steps
Do you have any questions about our business solutions?

We provide you with detailed information about our Professional Account.

All features, all contents, at all times: Learn more about our professional solutions.

* For commercial use only

Basic Account

For single users
$0 USD
Always free
Register now
Access limited to Free Statistics. Premium Statistics are not included.
  • Free Statistics
Based on your interests

Starter Account

For single users
$199 USD
per month, billed annually 1
Buy now
  • Free Statistics
  • Premium Statistics

Professional Account

For teams of up to 5 people
$1,299 USD
per month, billed annually 1
Buy now
  • Free + Premium Statistics
  • Reports
  • Market Insights

1 All prices do not include sales tax. The account requires an annual contract and will renew after one year to the regular list price.

Compare accounts
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.