The Raspberry Pi microcomputer has sold more than 5 million units since its launch in early 2012, Digital Spy reports.

Platform holder the Raspberry Pi Foundation took to Twitter to announce the sales milestone, which comes just 16 months after the PC reached 1.75 million sales.

"Just confirmed the big news we've all been waiting for: we've now sold more than 5 million Raspberry Pis," the organisation tweeted.

Raspberry Pi is a low-cost device that runs the Linux operating system and comes uncased without keyboard or monitor, designed to boost interest in computer programming at grassroots level.

Several iterations of the DIY machine have been released during the last three years, including the power-efficient B+ model and the current-generation Raspberry Pi 2.

The Raspberry Pi 2, which is available for just $35, will run Windows 10 when the operating system launches later this year.