# Linus Torvalds

_Finnish software engineer (born 1969)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/linus-torvalds
Last updated: 2026-11-02

> Linus Benedict Torvalds is a Finnish and American software engineer who is the creator and lead developer of the Linux kernel since 1991. He also created the distributed version control system Git.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 28 December 1969 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Helsinki ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P19))
- **Citizenship:** United States; Finland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P27))
- **Occupation:** programmer; software developer; writer; inventor; blogger; computer scientist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P106))
- **Education:** University of Helsinki; Svenska normallyceum ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P69))
- **Spouse:** Tove Torvalds ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P26))
- **Official website:** torvalds-family.blogspot.com ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P856))
- **Awards:** Millennium Technology Prize; Computer Pioneer Award; Suuret suomalaiset; Lovelace Medal; honorary doctor of Stockholm University; EFF Award; doctor honoris causa of the University of Helsinki; Computer History Museum Fellow; Internet Hall of Fame; European of the Year; IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award; Nokia Foundation Recognition Award; Takeda Awards ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P166))
- **YouTube:** UCTRlMXh1ucCFQ9fZWCFfXWA ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P2397))
- **LinkedIn:** linustorvalds ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253#P6634))

## Questions

**When was Linus Torvalds born?**  
Linus Torvalds was born on 28 December 1969 in Helsinki.

**Where did Linus Torvalds study?**  
Linus Torvalds was educated at University of Helsinki, Svenska normallyceum.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Linus Torvalds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q34253](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34253) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: LinuxCon Europe Linus Torvalds 03 (cropped).jpg by Krd (photo) Von Sprat (crop/extraction) (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LinuxCon_Europe_Linus_Torvalds_03_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Linus Torvalds, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: LinuxCon Europe Linus Torvalds 03 (cropped).jpg — Krd (photo) Von Sprat (crop/extraction), CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Linus Torvalds". DigiNepal. Last updated 2 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/linus-torvalds. Retrieved 7 November 2026.