Versioning Policy

The PostgreSQL Global Development Group releases a new major version containing new features about once a year. Each major version receives bug fixes and, if need be, security fixes that are released at least once every three months in what we call a "minor release." For more information on the minor release schedule, you can view the minor release roadmap.

If the release team determines that a critical bug or security fix is too important to wait until the regularly scheduled minor release, it may make a release available outside of the minor release roadmap.

The PostgreSQL Global Development Group supports a major version for 5 years after its initial release. After its five year anniversary, a major version will have one last minor release containing any fixes and will be considered end-of-life (EOL) and no longer supported.

Version Numbering

Starting with PostgreSQL 10, a major version is indicated by increasing the first part of the version, e.g. 10 to 11. Before PostgreSQL 10, a major version was indicated by increasing either the first or second part of the version number, e.g. 9.5 to 9.6.

Minor releases are numbered by increasing the last part of the version number. Beginning with PostgreSQL 10, this is the second part of the version number, e.g. 10.0 to 10.1; for older versions this is the third part of the version number, e.g. 9.5.3 to 9.5.4.

Upgrading

We always recommend that all users run the latest available minor release for whatever major version is in use.

Major versions usually change the internal format of system tables and data files. These changes are often complex, so we do not maintain backward compatibility of all stored data. A dump/reload of the database or use of the pg_upgrade module is required for major upgrades. We also recommend reading the upgrading section of the major version you are planning to upgrade to. You can upgrade from one major version to another without upgrading to intervening versions, but we recommend reading the release notes of all intervening major versions prior to doing so.

Upgrading to a minor release does not normally require a dump and restore; you can stop the database server, install the updated binaries, and restart the server. For some releases, manual changes may be required to complete the upgrade, so always read the release notes before upgrading.

While upgrading will always contain some level of risk, PostgreSQL minor releases fix only frequently-encountered bugs, security issues, and data corruption problems to reduce the risk associated with upgrading. For minor releases, the community considers not upgrading to be riskier than upgrading.

Releases

Version Current minor Supported First Release Final Release
16 16.2 Yes September 14, 2023 November 9, 2028
15 15.6 Yes October 13, 2022 November 11, 2027
14 14.11 Yes September 30, 2021 November 12, 2026
13 13.14 Yes September 24, 2020 November 13, 2025
12 12.18 Yes October 3, 2019 November 14, 2024
11 11.22 No October 18, 2018 November 9, 2023
10 10.23 No October 5, 2017 November 10, 2022
9.6 9.6.24 No September 29, 2016 November 11, 2021
9.5 9.5.25 No January 7, 2016 February 11, 2021
9.4 9.4.26 No December 18, 2014 February 13, 2020
9.3 9.3.25 No September 9, 2013 November 8, 2018
9.2 9.2.24 No September 10, 2012 November 9, 2017
9.1 9.1.24 No September 12, 2011 October 27, 2016
9.0 9.0.23 No September 20, 2010 October 8, 2015
8.4 8.4.22 No July 1, 2009 July 24, 2014
8.3 8.3.23 No February 4, 2008 February 7, 2013
8.2 8.2.23 No December 5, 2006 December 5, 2011
8.1 8.1.23 No November 8, 2005 November 8, 2010
8.0 8.0.26 No January 19, 2005 October 1, 2010
7.4 7.4.30 No November 17, 2003 October 1, 2010
7.3 7.3.21 No November 27, 2002 November 27, 2007
7.2 7.2.8 No February 4, 2002 February 4, 2007
7.1 7.1.3 No April 13, 2001 April 13, 2006
7.0 7.0.3 No May 8, 2000 May 8, 2005
6.5 6.5.3 No June 9, 1999 June 9, 2004
6.4 6.4.2 No October 30, 1998 October 30, 2003
6.3 6.3.2 No March 1, 1998 March 1, 2003