SANTA CRUZ, USA: According to the recently released 2009 Global Developer Population and Demographics Study, the global developer population in 2009 will represent a break from previous Evans Data Corp projections as a result of changing economic conditions around the globe.

These include North America, Japan, and Western Europe where the most severe impact will be in 2009, with the growth projections from the prior forecast reduced 78 percent. 

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The 2009 impact on the “rest of world” will be much less severe but still represents a significant decrease of 35 percent vs. last year's forecast.

For the years 2010 and 2011, some measure of recovery is projected however full recovery to prior forecasted levels of growth are not expected until 2012.

“This set of research was designed to be complimentary to our Global Development Research Series, providing product management and marketing professionals a very discrete and granular country view of developer populations and demographics today and into the future,” states John Andrews, CEO of Evans Data.

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“Our unique research capabilities provide product professionals a very sound and precise way to plan and execute on their global product and service strategies as these geographies experience tremendous change,” he added.

Other findings based on responses from over 1200 developers from around the world:

* From 2009-2011, the developer population in India and China is expected to grow 22 percent
* In 2009 the EMEA region has the largest developer population with 5.6 million
* Today, 15 countries comprise over two-thirds of the global developer population