How to install R on Ubuntu

R provides a common runtime for statistical analysis, data processing, and reproducible reports. On Ubuntu, the distribution archive supplies a packaged runtime that receives updates through the same APT workflow as the rest of the operating system.

The r-base package installs the interactive R command, the noninteractive Rscript command, and the recommended base packages. This method stays with the version selected for the installed Ubuntu release instead of adding a third-party repository.

Ubuntu publishes r-base in the Universe repository component. Standard installations commonly enable Universe already, while reduced images and custom APT source sets may omit it; an unavailable-package error therefore points to the enabled Ubuntu components before it points to R itself.

1. Open a terminal with sudo privileges.
2. Refresh the APT package index.

   $ sudo apt update

3. Install the R runtime from the Ubuntu archive.

   $ sudo apt install --assume-yes r-base

   The package version changes with the Ubuntu release and archive updates. The r-base metapackage also installs r-recommended and the noninteractive Rscript command.

4. Check the installed package source.

   $ apt-cache policy r-base
   r-base:
     Installed: 4.5.2-1ubuntu2
     Candidate: 4.5.2-1ubuntu2
     Version table:
    *** 4.5.2-1ubuntu2 500
           500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu resolute/universe arm64 Packages
           100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

   The release name, architecture, mirror, and version differ between hosts. The installed and candidate values should identify the intended Ubuntu archive package.

5. Confirm the installed R runtime version.

   $ R --version
   R version 4.5.2 (2025-10-31) -- "[Not] Part in a Rumble"
   Copyright (C) 2025 The R Foundation for Statistical Computing
   Platform: aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu
   ##### snipped #####

6. Evaluate an expression with Rscript.

   $ Rscript --vanilla -e 'mean(c(3, 7, 11))'
   [1] 7

   The numeric result confirms that Rscript can start the installed runtime, parse an expression, and print its value without an interactive session.