E-learning Statistics

Learning is the key to success. Unlike earlier times, when learning was a matter of walking miles and crossing rivers, gaining education and knowledge today has become quite comfortable. The traditional methods of learning had their disadvantages which made it difficult for the students to cope with the studies during their hectic schedules. And that is why the E-learning market has been undergoing a revolution like never before!

The flexibility of time and place, self-centered approaches, time-saving are some of the salient features of online education. You can now sit at your place and learn even from remote areas. Online education is also known as blended learning, digital learning, or E-learning.

This article will give you a detailed insight into how important is online education and why it is continuously rising.

On this page, you’ll find:


Key E-learning Statistics

Here are the top stats from the plethora of figures we have collected for you:


  • 2019 reports say that the global e-learning market was sized at $101 billion dollars, approximately. (Statista)
  • It is estimated that by 2025, a massive open online course could have a worth of $25.33 billion. (Global News Wire)
  • Online learning provides 25-60% retention rates, while offline provides very low. (Shift learning)
  • Digital learning also provides a way to revenue generation; as said by 42% of companies. (Shift learning)
  • The market growth rate has been 900% for the last few decades. (E learn 2 grow)
  • A study of 2,500 businesses showed that those with “comprehensive training programs” had 218% higher profits per employee and 24% higher profit margins per employee. (E-learning Infographics)
  • The self-paced e-learning product market in 2016 rose to €46.67 billion and is expected to decrease to US$ 33.5 billion in 2021. (Statista)
  • In 2002, 1.6 million students were found to be taking one online course. (wwwmetrics)
  • There has been a 350% increase in the enrollment ratio from 2002 to 2010. (wwwmetrics)
  • E-learning is used by more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies regularly. (Skills couter)

E-learning Market

With the world turning gradually into a ‘global village’, distance learning has shown a quick boost. Learning across borders is now possible even from remote locations. Mobile learning is on its way to replace offline education due to various reasons like reduced spending on accommodation or infrastructure. The following statistics refer to the trendy culture of blended learning worldwide.


  • 2019 reports say that the global e-learning market was sized at $101 billion dollars, approximately. (Statista)
  • Revenue of $18 billion US dollars is supposed to have been generated by the learning management system market, somewhere around the same period. (Statista)
  • It is expected that this industry will reach over $370 billion US dollars, by 2026. (Statista)
  • E-learning is now used by 90% of corporations. (AOL)
  • Online education helped Dow Chemical save $34 million. The learning costs were reduced to $11 from $95 per student. (E student)
  • E-learning is also helpful when it comes to saving your time, i.e. less than 40-60%. (E student)
  • It is reported that the number of undergraduate students taking only one or more online courses has risen from 15.6% in 2004 to 43.1% in 2018. (Guide2research)
  • Similarly, it was observed that the number of undergraduate students taking online courses full time has also risen from 3.8% in 2008 to 10.8% in 2016. (Guide2research)
  • The number of graduated students too has been reported to increase from 16.5% in 2008 to 45.6% in 2016. (Guide2research)
  • 28% of organizations conduct online compliance training fully. (Guide2research)

Online Education in the USA

Due to the sudden outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic, when students were forced to shift to online learning, people all over the world have doubted its effectiveness and impacts- both positive and negative. Here are some key statistics that indicate the prevalence of digital learning in the United States.


  • As per the data of 2017, 4.6 million students were somewhere engaged in E-learning. (Education data)
  • This can be further divided into- 3 million students enrolled in at least one online course, where 1.6 million students engaged in online learning exclusively. (Education data)
  • The number of undergraduate and graduate students exclusively in the United States is reported to have increased by 42.59% from 2012 to 2017. (Online school reports)
  • On the other hand, college enrollment was reduced by 7% between 2010 and 2016. (Online education reports)
  • Digital learning has been found helpful by 43% of American students. (Statista)
  • The E-learning market specifically in the USA is forecasted to grow by $72.41 somewhere between 2020 and 2024. (BusinessWire)
  • It is estimated that by 2025, a massive open online course could have a worth of $25.33 billion. (Global News Wire)
  • Online learning provides 25-60% retention rates, while offline provides very low. (Shift learning)
  • Digital learning also provides a way to revenue generation; as said by 42% of companies. (Shift learning)
  • It is also observed that in comparison with offline learners, digital learners gain 5 times more training. (Shift learning)

Online Education in the UK

With the advancement of technology, greater emphasis is laid on learning as it is the key to success. Talking about the United Kingdom, it has set up a board called the Quality of Assurance Agency (QAA). It has been appointed as the code of practice for learning. Here are the figures denoting digital learning culture in the UK.


  • This industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 5.7% in the UK. (Ibis world)
  • The United Kingdom government has taken several initiatives to enhance digital learning. It invested around £1.8 billion in the same. (Earning market place)
  • As observed, between May and June 2020, 87% of parents were reported to have their children homeschooled. (Office for national statistics)
  • The average number of hours spent on digital learning was found directly proportional to age, i.e. 5 to 10 years (10 hours) and 11 to 15 years (16 hours). (Office for national statistics)
  • There were 52% of parents found their children struggling with online learning. (Office for national statistics)
  • 54% of people agreed that digital learning indeed demands a new set of skills to cope with technology. (Earning market place)
  • The e-learning of the United Kingdom was found to be worth around £472 million. (Earning market place)
  • The majority of E learners belong to 16 to 24 years of age. (Statista)
  • The percentage of males taking online courses was 16%. (Statista)
  • On the other hand, the percentage of females enrolled in online courses was 11%. (Statista)

Revenue Generated by the E-learning Market

The industry has been making huge revenue globally and will surpass other industries’ very soon. The statistics presented below will give you an idea of how digital learning can be an important source of revenue generation for companies who are unwilling to turn towards e-learning.


  • The market’s revenue has crossed $200 billion in 2019.
  • By 2026, the global corporate market’s worth is expected to be $50 billion. (E learn 2 grow)
  • 72% of organizations have experienced an improvement in their performance due to a sense of competition. (E learn 2 grow)
  • The market growth rate has been 900% for the last few decades. (E learn 2 grow)
  • Talking about one of the world’s emerging economic leaders, China’s e-learning market expected revenue of 315 billion yuan, by 2020. (Statista)
  • In 2019, the segment of service providers accounted for about 60% market share in e-learning. (Gm insights)
  • 42% of US organizations have found their incomes increased. (eLearning Industry)
  • A study of 2,500 businesses showed that those with “comprehensive training programs” had 218% higher profits per employee and 24% higher profit margins per employee. (E-learning Infographics)
  • Online university courses are expected to have the highest revenue in Russia, among other levels of digital education, at 15 billion Russian rubles in 2021. (Statista)
  • The self-paced e-learning product market in 2016 rose to $46.67 billion and is expected to decrease to $ 33.5 billion in 2021. (Statista)

The Rise in Online Education

People are drawing towards e-learning for the last few decades. However, the pandemic has added to its spread. Universities, colleges, schools all over the globe started working remotely, boosting the usage of online education. And, digital learning might become the only source of learning shortly. The statistics presented below provide an insight into its spread.


  • In 2002, 1.6 million students were found to be taking one online course. (wwwmetrics)
  • There has been a 350% increase in the enrollment ratio from 2002 to 2010. (wwwmetrics)
  • 90% of corporations are conducting distance learning.  (Guide2research)
  • 98% of the corporations planned to inculcate digital learning in their program by 2020. (eLearning Industry)
  • The global E-learning market will grow at a rate of 15% from 2020 to 2026. (Guide2research)
  • 60% of internet users prefer digital learning because it suits their schedule in today’s sedentary lifestyle. (Skills couter)
  • Thailand, Philippines, China, and India comprise the growing global e-learning markets, having a more than 30% growth rate annually. (Skills couter)
  • Corporate training has become a $200 billion sector, with more than half of this amount in e-learning. (Skills couter)
  • More than 80 percent of the global online operation is accounted for by video web activity, with a great deal of this being courses and video learning. (Skills couter)
  • E-learning is accepted by more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies. (Skills couter)

Frequently Asked Questions

Students do prefer online learning because of the flexibility in the learning hours, and the self-centered approach it provides.

Rising patronage among students can be attributed to the advancement of online education in the USA. … A survey shows that 52% of U.S. graduate students find that their online college education offers a better learning experience than their college-level education in the classroom.

Exam results have shown that distance learners can get equal, or better scores in exams compared to conventional students since they study more. Distance courses are now being offered by several of the world’s top universities.

The percentage of students taking online courses has increased to 43.1% in 2017.

One cannot get proper feedback about the student’s performance and it may cause social isolation.

Conclusion

Students all over the world are turning towards digital learning, finding it precise, time-saving, and suitable to their learning methods. The article consisted of all the key and general statistics of online education. After going through the article, what are your thoughts about online education now?

Author: Shubham Calmblay

Shubham Calmblay, founder of appsthatdeliver.com, has a decade of experience with various Google products. He has authored 1,000+ guides for ATD, published on prestigious tech blogs. His work has garnered recognition from Protocol.com, Leadsbridge.com, MadMobile.com, and numerous other leading publications and corporations.