EuroWire, BRUSSELS: Online learning continued to gain traction across the European Union in 2025, with 34.8% of internet users reporting participation in online courses or the use of digital learning materials, according to data released by Eurostat. The figure represents an increase from 33.4% in 2024 and reflects a sustained upward trend in digital education adoption across the bloc.
The latest data highlight a marked rise in engagement compared with pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, only 21.4% of internet users across the EU reported using online learning resources. The increase of more than 13 percentage points over six years indicates that digital platforms have become a more integral component of education, training, and skills development across multiple sectors.
Country-level data show significant variation in adoption rates. The Netherlands recorded the highest share of internet users engaged in online learning activities in 2025, at 60.2%. Ireland followed closely at 59.7%, while Finland and Sweden also reported high participation rates of 50.7% and 50.6%, respectively. These figures indicate that in several northern and western European countries, a majority or near-majority of internet users are actively using digital education tools.
EU online learning participation continues upward trend
In contrast, lower participation levels were recorded in parts of southeastern Europe. Romania reported the lowest rate, with 11.8% of internet users engaged in online learning. Bulgaria followed at 18.4%, while Cyprus reported a participation rate of 21.0%. The gap between leading and trailing countries exceeds 48 percentage points, underscoring uneven adoption of online education across the EU despite overall growth.
Eurostat’s data also distinguish between different forms of online learning. In 2025, 17.3% of EU internet users reported taking part in structured online courses. Ireland recorded the highest participation in this category at 29.6%, followed by Finland at 29.3% and the Netherlands at 28.5%. These figures indicate that while formal online courses are gaining traction, they remain less widely used than broader forms of digital learning.
Informal digital learning drives broader participation
A larger share of users reported engaging with online learning materials outside formal course structures. In 2025, 30.5% of EU internet users said they used digital educational resources such as tutorials, videos, or other self-guided materials. The Netherlands again ranked highest in this category at 55.1%, followed by Ireland at 50.4% and Hungary at 46.4%. This pattern suggests that informal learning formats continue to play a central role in digital education uptake.
The data were published to coincide with the International Day for Digital Learning, observed on March 19. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, compiled the figures as part of ongoing monitoring of digital skills and internet usage across member states. The findings provide a standardized, comparable overview of how individuals engage with online education tools across the region.
The sustained increase in online learning participation reflects broader integration of digital technologies into education systems, workplaces, and everyday life across the European Union. The data confirm that digital learning is now a common activity for a significant share of the EU population, while also highlighting persistent disparities in access and usage between countries.