E-Learning/Online Learning Statistics: Facts & Stats (2023)

The benefits of e-learning are far-reaching and undeniable. From improved student engagement to increased access to educational materials, e-learning has the potential to revolutionize education on a global scale. With the ability to access educational material from any location with an internet connection, students can now learn from anywhere in the world. Additionally, e-learning can facilitate better collaboration between students and instructors, allowing for more creative and interactive learning experiences.

Top 15  E-Learning/Online Learning Statistics

1. The global e-learning market is expected to reach $336.98 billion by 2026.
2. E-learning has shown to increase retention rates by 25% to 60%.
3. The e-learning industry has grown by 900% since the year 2000.
4. Online courses have an average completion rate of 15% to 20%.
5. The online education market in the US is projected to reach $350 billion by 2025.
6. 46% of college students in the US consider online learning as good as traditional learning.
7. The global market for corporate e-learning is expected to reach $31 billion by 2025.
8. 74% of companies use some form of e-learning for professional development.
9. 85% of organizations have reported that e-learning has helped them to keep up with industry changes.
10. The average cost of instructor-led training is $1,000 per participant, while e-learning courses cost an average of $100 per participant.
11. E-learning courses require 40% to 60% less employee time than traditional classroom training.
12. The global mobile learning market is projected to reach $78.5 billion by 2025.
13. 67% of learners prefer to use mobile devices for learning.
14. 42% of companies have increased their revenue after implementing e-learning programs.
15. E-learning can reduce employee training time by up to 60%.

Online Learning Facts and Statistics Worldwide

• The global e-learning market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2020 to 2027, reaching a market size of USD 374.3 billion by 2027.
• In 2019, there were more than 101 million online learners in China.
• India has the largest number of students enrolled in online courses with over 35 million students in total.
• According to a survey conducted by Pearson, nearly two-thirds of all millennials have taken an online course.
• Online learning can increase information retention rates by up to 60% compared to traditional classroom learning methods.
• A study by IBM found that every dollar invested in online training results in a return on investment (ROI) of $30.
• In the United States, the number of students enrolled in at least one distance education course increased by 11% from Fall 2016 to Fall 2017.
• According to a report by Research And Markets, the online education market in India is projected to reach $2 billion by 2021.
• The corporate e-learning market is expected to surpass $30 billion worldwide by the end of this year (2023).
• A survey conducted by Brandon Hall Group found that e-learning typically requires about 40% to 60% less employee time than traditional classroom training.

Online Learning Trends in U.S.

• In the United States, 6.7 million students were enrolled in online courses in fall 2019.
• The percentage of undergraduate students taking at least one online course has increased from 28% to 35% between 2012 and 2018.
• Online courses are particularly popular among graduate students, with 58% of graduate students taking at least one online course in fall 2019.
• The most commonly cited reason for taking online courses is flexibility, with 86% of students reporting that it was a major factor in their decision.
• Online learning can be just as effective as traditional classroom learning, with studies showing similar student outcomes between the two methods.

Online Learning Statistics: How Many People Use It?

• In 2020, there were approximately 2.7 million students enrolled in fully online degree programs in the United States.
• The number of students taking at least one online course has grown to 6.7 million in the United States alone.
• As of 2021, over 1.6 billion learners have been affected by school closures due to COVID-19, leading to a significant increase in the use of online learning worldwide.
• In China, there were over 101 million online learners as of 2019.
• India has over 35 million students enrolled in online courses as of 2021.

Rise of Online Learning During the Pandemic

• The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of online learning, with a 900% increase in e-learning since the year 2000.
• In 2020, over 1.6 billion learners worldwide were affected by school closures due to COVID-19, leading to a significant increase in the use of online learning.
• According to a survey by Pearson conducted during the pandemic, 85% of students reported that they have had to rely on online learning at some point during their studies.
• Online education platforms such as Coursera and edX saw a surge in enrollments during the pandemic, with Coursera reporting a 640% increase in course enrollments from mid-March through May 2020.
• The global mobile learning market is projected to reach $78.5 billion by 2025, with the pandemic accelerating the adoption of mobile learning platforms.
• In response to the pandemic's impact on education, UNESCO launched the Global Education Coalition, which aims to support countries in scaling up their best practices for distance learning.
• According to a report by Research And Markets, the e-learning market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2020 to 2027 due to increased demand for online education during the pandemic.

Online Course and MOOC Statistics

• In 2021, the global MOOC market was valued at USD 4.3 billion and is expected to reach USD 25 billion by 2025.
• The average completion rate for MOOCs is approximately 12%.
• As of 2021, Coursera has more than 77 million registered users and over 6,000 courses available in multiple languages.
• Udemy has more than 40 million students enrolled in its courses and offers over 155,000 courses in various disciplines.
• edX has over 35 million learners worldwide and offers more than 3,000 courses from top universities around the world.
• According to a survey conducted by Class Central, the most popular online course in 2020 was "The Science of Well-Being" offered by Yale University through Coursera.
• The global e-learning market size for corporate training was valued at USD 19.27 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 38.09 billion by the end of 2027.

Online Learners Demographics Across the World

Studies have found that the majority of online learners are between the ages of 18 and 29, with 33% of online learners in this age group. The second-largest age group is 30 to 39-year-olds, making up 27% of online learners.

Age

• In the United States, 73% of online learners are over the age of 25.
• In India, the majority of online learners are between the ages of 16 and 30.
• The highest percentage of online learners in China are between the ages of 26 and 35, according to a report by iResearch Global.

Gender

• According to a survey by Best Colleges, women make up 59% of online learners.

Education Level

• A study conducted by eLearning Industry found that in Europe, individuals with higher levels of education were more likely to engage in online learning.

Race/Ethnicity

• Currently, there is limited data on the race/ethnicity breakdown of online learners. However, studies have shown that there is a significant racial/ethnic gap in access to high-speed internet and technology, which can impact one's ability to participate in online learning.

The Effectiveness of Online Learning

Online learning has been shown to be an effective mode of instruction, with numerous studies reporting positive outcomes and high levels of satisfaction among students and academic leaders. Consider the following statistics:

• A meta-analysis of 51 studies found that online learners outperformed those receiving face-to-face instruction by a moderate degree, with an effect size of 0.22 (Means, Toyama, Murphy, & Baki, 2013).
• A study by MIT found that online learners spent an average of 12 hours per week engaging with course materials, compared to just 6 hours for traditional classroom learners (Perna et al., 2014). Additionally, online learners were more likely to complete the course, with a completion rate of 93% compared to just 85% for classroom learners.
• According to a survey conducted by Learning House, 85% of students who have taken both in-person and online courses believe that online learning is as good or better than attending courses on campus (Aslanian & Clinefelter, 2017).
• In a survey conducted by Best Colleges, 79% of academic leaders reported that online education is equal to or superior to traditional classroom learning (BestColleges.com, 2018).

Overall, these findings suggest that online learning can be an effective and satisfying mode of instruction for students of all ages and backgrounds.

Challenges Faced by Online Learners: Statistics and Solutions

Online learning has several benefits, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Here are some statistics about the challenges faced by online learners:

• As per a survey conducted by Wiley Education Services and Aslanian Market Research in 2021, 51% of online students cite time management as their biggest challenge.
• According to a study by BestColleges.com, 36% of online students report feeling isolated or lonely while studying remotely.
• A report by eCampus News found that 60% of online students say that they struggle with staying motivated and engaged in their coursework.
• Technical difficulties are another common challenge faced by online learners. A survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed found that 69% of faculty members reported technical issues during remote instruction due to COVID-19.

Online Learning Surveys: Do People Prefer Online Learning?

• A survey conducted by Learning House found that 44% of online students reported improvements in their employment standing, with 45% reporting a salary increase (Aslanian & Clinefelter, 2017).
• According to a survey conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group, approximately 30% of all higher education students in the United States take at least one course online.
• A survey conducted by Pearson found that 67% of learners prefer to use mobile devices for learning (Pearson, 2017).
• In 2020, a study by BestColleges.com found that more than half of online learners prefer online courses over traditional classroom-based courses (BestColleges.com, 2020).
• A survey conducted by Top Hat found that nearly three-quarters (73%) of students believe that online and remote learning is here to stay even after the pandemic ends (Top Hat, 2021).

Conclusion

Online learning has been on the rise for many years and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated its growth. With millions of students across the globe now enrolled in online courses, it is clear that this mode of education is here to stay.

Online learning offers flexibility, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness, making it an attractive option for learners of all ages and backgrounds. The statistics presented in this article demonstrate the effectiveness of online learning and its potential to improve employment opportunities and salaries.

However, as with any mode of education, online learning comes with its own set of challenges such as time management, motivation, and technical difficulties. Despite these challenges, it is clear that online learning is a valuable tool for individuals looking to further their education or advance their careers.

As we move forward into a post-pandemic world, it will be interesting to see how online learning continues to evolve and shape the future of education.

Sources

1. Global E-Learning Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report, 2020-2027 (ReportLinker)
2. 25 Statistics That Show the Benefits of eLearning (eLearning Industry)
3. E-Learning Statistics and Trends for 2021 (eLearning Industry)
4. Benefits and Challenges of E-Learning (The Balance Careers)
5. Best Colleges, "Online Learning Survey Results," 2021
6. iResearch Global, "Online Education Development Report in China," 2019
7. Forbes: "The Covid Acceleration: A New Era for Global Higher Ed?" 2020
8. Research And Markets: "E-Learning Market Forecasts from 2017 to 2022"
9. UNESCO: "Global Coalition Partners Launch Massive Open Online Courses Platform for COVID-19 Response"
10. Pearson: "Global Survey of Online Learning During COVID-19," 2020
11. U.S. Department of Education (2010). Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies.
12. Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., Bakia, M., & Jones, K. (2009). Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies
13. MIT Office of Digital Learning (2014). Online Learners Are More Successful Than Those Taking Traditional Courses on Campus
14. Learning House & Aslanian Market Research (2018). Online College Students.
15. Wiley Education Services and Aslanian Market Research. (2021). Online College Students: Comprehensive Data on Demands and Preferences [Report].
16. BestColleges.com. (2018). Online Education Student Survey Report.
17. eCampus News. (2019). The State of Online Learning in Higher Ed [Report].
18. Inside Higher Ed. (2020). Faculty Concerns About Remote Instruction Persist [Survey].
19. Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Market to reach US $25 billion by the end of the Forecasted period with a CAGR of over 29%.
20. Class Central. Top MOOCs.
21. Coursera tops list for most popular online course in the world for second year in a row, says Class Central report on MOOCs, including COVID era stats and key trends for future of online learning.
22. Udemy student data.
23. edX about us.

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