Distance Learning Statistics 2024: Future Is Bright

The way in which we learn things is constantly changing. Traditional education has now become a thing of the past for many people, as more and more people are turning to online, mobile, and online learning.

If you have been watching this online learning trend growing in popularity, then you might find yourself tempted to switch things up a little and try out a new style of learning.

But before you do that, it might be handy for you to learn some statistics about distance learning.

In this guide, we’re taking a look at online learning and some of the most crucial statistics associated with this type of online education.

So, if you are considering distance learning, and want to learn more before you dive right in, you are in the best place.

Check out this guide for some of the most important distance learning statistics that you should know!

What Is Distance Learning?

First things first, let’s take a look at what distance learning is.

Distance learning, also sometimes known as distance education, is the type of learning that involves educating undergraduate students who are not necessarily present in school in the traditional sense.

This may also involve situations in which the student and teacher are in two different locations and/or two different time zones.

Remote learning has always been seen as an alternative route of education.

But due to the COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020, and the subsequent effects that this has had on normal life, distance learning became a lot more mainstream.

Suddenly, a lot of people were forced into incorporating online learning, and as a result, they got to experience education in a way that they never had before.

Online learning programs are quite a broad term, and it essentially includes any type of education where the student and teacher are separated by time or distance.

Due to the circumstances of online learning, technology is often heavily involved in the learning process as this allows the teacher and students to connect.

Now that that is cleared up, let’s take a look at why these online learning statistics are important.

Why Are These Statistics Important?

Well, there are lots of reasons why statistics about online learning are important.

The main reason for this is that they can tell you a lot about corporate learning, whether it works in general, and whether this type of education is a good choice for you.

Information on distance learning is not only valuable to those considering this type of education, but to the education system as a whole.

Statistics on Distance learning can help highlight areas where improvement is needed and areas where distance learning is working well.

All in all, these statistics are totally invaluable to anybody considering online learning or anybody who works in this area.

So with no further ado, let’s dive right in and take a look at some online learning statistics.

Distance Learning Statistics You Should Know

Now that we have taken a good look at what online learning is, let’s take a look at some of the most important online learning statistics that you should know.

E-Learning Is On The Rise

All statistics show that e-learning is on the rise and seen as the terms e-learning and distance learning can be used interchangeably, this means that distance learning is on the rise too!

In 2021, the e-learning market surpassed a market value of $315 billion. This is a huge amount of money, and it is largely due to the uptake of distance learning during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Online courses have always existed, but until people got a chance to experience this style of learning for free during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people didn’t see it as a real option.

But after experiencing this style of learning, a lot of people realized that they actually liked it, which is why more people have taken advantage of this style of distance education courses since then.

Distance Learning Is Most Popular In Western Countries

While there are mobile learning courses available in most countries across the globe, data has shown that distance learning is most popular in Westernized countries. Especially in the USA and Europe.

Out of the entire online learning industry, the USA and Europe make up around 70% of the consumers of this education.

This means that the majority of e-learning and blended learning is completed by people living in these countries.

This is a very clear statistic, and it is very interesting as there could be a number of factors that contribute to this, which could be a possible area for future research.

But It Does Depend On The Provider’s

As the last education statistics have shown, the vast majority of distance learning resources are used by those living in the USA and Europe.

However, further research suggests that the course provider does have an impact on where the course is consumed.

One of the largest distance learning providers in the world is Coursera.

Data provided by Coursera found that in 2021, the highest number of remote learners on their online platforms came from the USA and India, rather than the USA and Europe.

In 2021, there were 17.3 million learners getting their education through Coursera in the USA. This was closely followed by 13.6 million users actively learning through Coursera in India.

None of the European countries even made the top 5, so this really shows that not all distance learning providers are popular across the globe.

Distance Learning Has Become More Popular In Europe

Despite there not being a single European country listed in the top 5 countries for Coursera, distance learning is becoming increasingly popular in Europe.

In 2020, 23% of people surveyed stated that they had participated in an online learning course.

By the following year, this number had increased by a whopping 4% with more than 27% of EU citizens aged between 16 and 74 reporting their participation in at least one online course.

It is likely that this increase is partly due to the taster of distance learning that people had during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It Is Particularly Popular In Ireland

Of all the countries where distance learning has become more popular, Ireland has had one of the largest increases.

A study has found that in 2021, the EU country that had the highest number of people participating in online learning in Ireland.

This study found 46% of learners in Ireland aged between 16 and 74 were doing massive open online courses or accessing their online learning material.

The study didn’t discover why this type of learning has become so popular in Ireland, but no matter the reason why, it is clear that distance learning is a hit in this country.

Higher Education Institutions Are Making The Switch

All across the globe, it is clear that the full potential of distance learning is really being realized. This not only applies to base-line education but higher education too, as statistics have shown.

One study by Think Impact found that around 75% of schools in the USA offering higher education had planned to shake up traditional education and pivot to online learning instead.

This statistic is likely contributed to by the results of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is still a valuable statistic to see.

More People Are Completing Online Courses

Distance learning allows you to complete qualifications that would traditionally be taught in schools, but it also allows you to complete a variety of other courses online too.

You can learn languages online through courses without needing formal education qualifications, and this is something that a lot of people are taking advantage of.

Both Udemy and Coursera offer a variety of different courses, including things such as business courses, language courses, fitness courses, and so much more.

Both of these providers have recorded huge amounts of people signing up for their courses.

In 2021, Coursera reported that they had around 20 million new registrations for their courses. This means that around 20 million new users registered for their courses in the 12 months that make up 2021.

This is a huge amount, but they are still beaten by Udemy which recorded around 50 million users in the same year.

Coursera Has Good Reviews

One of the scariest things about distance learning is finding out whether, or not, the courses that you are thinking of buying are any good.

If you are looking for an online course provider that has excellent reviews, then Coursera looks like a good option to consider.

According to a study completed by Coursera, around 81% of learners completing courses on their online learning platforms gave their course a 5-star rating.

The same study also found that 94% of learners would recommend Coursera to a friend.

E-Learning Isn’t Only For Those Studying

When you think about distance learning, it is easy to assume that the only people who will want to access these courses are only the students enrolled and those actively studying.

However, this isn’t the case, as a lot of employers reportedly plan to take advantage of distance learning.

One study by Finances Online found that around 93% of companies globally planned to adopt online learning.

A lot of companies recognized the potential of distance learning, and the fact that this could be incredibly beneficial to employees when it comes to upskilling and developing existing skills. So e-learning and distance learning isn’t only for students.

Using Distance Learning Could Benefit Your Company

A similar study by TechJury found that 42% of companies that use e-learning as part of their upskilling processes generates more income.

Distance learning can really help improve your company culture, and make workers feel valued within the company and this can really positively impact your company.

If your employees feel valued, then they will perform better at work and this will then translate into your company’s profits.

That’s without even mentioning the new skills that said employees will be developing through most online learning courses offered by their employers.

Pace Plays A Big Role In The Popularity Of Distance Learning

Traditional education doesn’t work for everyone, and surprisingly this is something that society has only really recognized over the last few decades.

Distance learning initially became popular because it was an alternative form of education to traditional learning, and this is part of why distance learning is so popular today.

A study by LinkedIn Learning found that 58% of learners prefer to learn at their own pace, and this is something that distance learning offers.

Unlike traditional education where you must do everything at the pace of the teacher, distance learning allows you to do things at your own pace.

This is especially beneficial to employees who are taking advantage of distance learning qualifications that are offered by their employers.

Distance learning allows them to fit in education as and when they can around their shifts, so it works really well.

Students Prefer Online Classes

It is clear that online learning benefits can be vast for a number of different people.

It benefits employees, it benefits employers and all-in-all it benefits anybody who doesn’t gel with traditional educational formats. It also seems that online students enjoy distance learning too.

A study by the University of Potomac found that around 70% of online college students surveyed preferred online classes and distance learning to traditional education.

There was a range of different things that contributed to this, including reduced costs, no commute, and flexibility.

All in all, it seems that online classes are becoming increasingly popular across the globe, and this only strengthens the popularity of distance learning.

Summary

In this guide, we have taken a look at some of the most valuable online learning statistics that are currently available.

These statistics show all sorts of things, but all in all, they suggest that distance learning is becoming increasingly popular, not only in the USA (How Many Teachers in the US) but across the world.

Distance learning can be incredibly beneficial not only for students, but for employers looking to upskill their employees, and simply for those looking to learn new skills, rather than formal education.

Thanks for reading!