Basic mobile cellular coverage now reaches 99% of children globally. This connectivity underpins a digital learning market projected to reach $31.4 billion, even as student performance faces significant challenges.
Key Takeaways
- 99% of children globally live in places with at least basic mobile-cellular coverage (ITU statistic)
- $31.4 billion global digital learning market size in 2024 (global spending forecast for digital learning)
- $21.9 billion global e-learning market size in 2023 (Global Industry Analysts estimate)
- $8.2 billion global language learning market size in 2023 (IMARC estimate)
- NAEP reading scores for 4th graders in the US fell from 2019 to 2022 by 7 points (NAEP trend reporting)
- In 2020, 18% of students in OECD countries were low performers in mathematics below Level 2 (OECD PISA 2022 analysis)
- Global learning poverty is estimated at 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries not reaching minimum proficiency in reading (World Bank; learning poverty metric)
- In OECD countries, average public expenditure on education as a share of GDP was 4.7% in 2021 (OECD Education at a Glance)
- Gartner estimated worldwide IT spending on public cloud at $680.0 billion in 2024 (Gartner IT spending forecast)
- Gartner estimated worldwide spending on IT software at $746.7 billion in 2024 (Gartner forecast)
With learning poverty at 70 percent, rising education spending and proven tools like tutoring and adaptive software are crucial.
Related reading
01 · Category
Enrollment & Demographics1 stats
01
99% of children globally live in places with at least basic mobile-cellular coverage (ITU statistic)https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx
Interpretation
Enrollment & Demographics Interpretation
For the Enrollment & Demographics angle, the fact that 99% of children worldwide live in areas with at least basic mobile-cellular coverage suggests a strong foundation for reaching learners through mobile-enabled education and related services.
02 · Category
Market Size8 stats
01
$31.4 billion global digital learning market size in 2024 (global spending forecast for digital learning)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/digital-learning-market-102770
02
$21.9 billion global e-learning market size in 2023 (Global Industry Analysts estimate)https://www.strategyr.com/PressRelease/ELearning_Market_2024.asp
03
$8.2 billion global language learning market size in 2023 (IMARC estimate)https://www.imarcgroup.com/language-learning-market
04
$3.1 billion global virtual classroom market size in 2023 (IMARC estimate)https://www.imarcgroup.com/virtual-classroom-market
05
$6.4 billion global education robotics market size in 2023 (IMARC estimate)https://www.imarcgroup.com/education-robotics-market
06
$9.9 billion global STEM education market size in 2023 (IMARC estimate)https://www.imarcgroup.com/stem-education-market
07
$13.2 billion global classroom management software market size in 2023 (IMARC estimate)https://www.imarcgroup.com/classroom-management-software-market
08
$2.8 billion global education content market size in 2023 (IMARC estimate)https://www.imarcgroup.com/education-content-market
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size for educational technologies is expanding quickly, with global digital learning reaching $31.4 billion in 2024, far outpacing narrower segments like virtual classrooms at $3.1 billion in 2023 and language learning at $8.2 billion in 2023.
More related reading
03 · Category
Performance & Outcomes5 stats
01
NAEP reading scores for 4th graders in the US fell from 2019 to 2022 by 7 points (NAEP trend reporting)https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading/nation/achievement/?grade=4
02
In 2020, 18% of students in OECD countries were low performers in mathematics below Level 2 (OECD PISA 2022 analysis)https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/pisa-2022-results/
03
Global learning poverty is estimated at 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries not reaching minimum proficiency in reading (World Bank; learning poverty metric)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/education/brief/learning-poverty
04
The RAND review found that tutoring can produce learning gains of about 0.3 to 0.5 standard deviations (RAND evidence review)https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1106-1.html
05
A randomized study of adaptive math software (DreamBox) reported improved math outcomes by 1-2 months of learning progress vs. control (peer-reviewed study)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6429061/
Interpretation
Performance & Outcomes Interpretation
From a performance and outcomes perspective, education systems are still struggling to deliver results at scale, with US 4th grade NAEP reading scores dropping 7 points from 2019 to 2022 and learning poverty estimated at 70% of children in low and middle income countries falling short of minimum reading proficiency, even as interventions like tutoring and adaptive software show gains of roughly 0.3 to 0.5 standard deviations or 1 to 2 months.
04 · Category
Cost & Funding6 stats
01
In OECD countries, average public expenditure on education as a share of GDP was 4.7% in 2021 (OECD Education at a Glance)https://www.oecd.org/education/education-at-a-glance/
02
Gartner estimated worldwide IT spending on public cloud at $680.0 billion in 2024 (Gartner IT spending forecast)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-05-16-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-public-cloud-end-user-spending-to-grow
03
Gartner estimated worldwide spending on IT software at $746.7 billion in 2024 (Gartner forecast)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-10-xx-gartner-forecasts-it-spending
04
World Bank estimates the cost of achieving SDG 4 (education) is about $148 billion per year (World Bank / UNESCO SDG4 financing)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/education/brief/education-financing-sdg4
05
UNESCO estimates that additional investment of about $39 billion per year is needed to ensure lower secondary education for all (UNESCO SDG financing notes)https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000372973
06
$10.6 billion global market for educational software in 2024 (Fortune Business Insights forecast)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/education-software-market-102775
Interpretation
Cost & Funding Interpretation
In OECD countries, public education spending averaged 4.7% of GDP in 2021 while global education funding gaps remain large, with World Bank costing SDG 4 at about $148 billion per year and UNESCO estimating an additional $39 billion annually for lower secondary education, even as the education software market reached $10.6 billion in 2024.
report visual · Comparison
Educational Statistics
Showcase key education indicators side by side: access (coverage), learning outcomes (learning poverty), and education spending (public expenditure).
99% of children globally live in places with at least basic mobile-cellular coverage (ITU statistic)99%
Global learning poverty is estimated at 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries not reaching minimum profici
70%
In OECD countries, average public expenditure on education as a share of GDP was 4.7% in 2021 (OECD Education at a Glanc
4.7%
source-verifieditu.int · worldbank.org · oecd.org2021
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Educational Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/educational-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Educational Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/educational-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Educational Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/educational-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report
+9 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)