Check Python Version
You can check your Python version by running python ‐‐version in your terminal or command line.
$ python ‐‐version Python 3.9.5
End of Life Python Versions (Table)
But when does security support for your Python version end? To learn about the end-of-life of different Python versions, check out the following table:
| Version | Released | Security Support (EOL) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.9 | 05 Oct 2020 | Ends 05 Oct 2025 |
| 3.8 | 14 Oct 2019 | Ends 14 Oct 2024 |
| 3.7 | 27 Jun 2018 | Ends 27 Jun 2023 |
| 3.6 | 23 Dec 2016 | Ends 23 Dec 2021 |
| 3.5 | 30 Sep 2015 | Ends 13 Sep 2020 |
| 3.4 | 16 Mar 2014 | Ends 18 Mar 2019 |
| 3.3 | 29 Sep 2012 | Ends 29 Sep 2017 |
| 2.7 | 03 Jul 2010 | Ends 01 Jan 2020 |
To summarize:
- Python version 3.9 end-of-life (EOL) is 05 Oct 2025.
- Python version 3.8 end-of-life (EOL) is 14 Oct 2024.
- Python version 3.7 end-of-life (EOL) is 27 Jun 2023.
- Python version 3.6 end-of-life (EOL) is 23 Dec 2021.
- Python version 3.5 end-of-life (EOL) is 13 Sep 2020.
- Python version 3.4 end-of-life (EOL) is 18 Mar 2019.
- Python version 3.3 end-of-life (EOL) is 29 Sep 2017.
- Python version 2.7 end-of-life (EOL) is 01 Jan 2020.
What is the Security Support Lifespan (EOL) of Python Versions?
Each Python version is officially supported by the Python Software Foundation, the organization behind the Python programming language (please support them to foster innovation!).
During the lifespan of a Python version, it will receive bug fixes approximately every two months for 18 months. After that, only security updates will be released for 5 years. So, the lifespan of full Python version with regards to security support is approximately five years.
You can still use the Python version afterwards. However, it’s not recommended as known security issues won’t necessarily get fixed after the end-of-life period.
“The code base for a release cycle which has reached end-of-life status is frozen and no longer has a branch in the repo. The final state of the end-of-lifed branch is recorded as a tag with the same name as the former branch, e.g. 3.3 or 2.6.” — Python.org Devguide
Active Branches
So, which are the branches that are currently under development? You can find those here (source):
| Branch | Schedule | Status | First release | End-of-life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| main | PEP 664 | features | 2022-10-03 | 2027-10 |
| 3.10 | PEP 619 | prerelease | 2021-10-04 | 2026-10 |
| 3.9 | PEP 596 | bugfix | 2020-10-05 | 2025-10 |
| 3.8 | PEP 569 | security | 2019-10-14 | 2024-10 |
| 3.7 | PEP 537 | security | 2018-06-27 | 2023-06-27 |
| 3.6 | PEP 494 | security | 2016-12-23 | 2021-12-23 |
To keep your Python secure and efficient, make sure to regularly update your Python by following our detailed guide:
👉 Recommended Tutorial: How to Update Your Python?