Online Education Surges in Russia, Topping 8 Million Learners

Driven by demand for career growth and flexibility, Russia’s online education sector grew by 19% in 2024, reaching over 8 million users.

Over the past five years, the number of Russians receiving online education has skyrocketed from 3.1 million to 8.1 million—an increase of 2.6 times, according to business daily Vedomosti.

In 2024, nearly one in three continuing education students in Russia used exclusively digital formats. That’s 2.8 million people learning through fully remote or tech-assisted platforms.

The market for online education grew 19% last year, reaching 145 billion rubles (roughly $1.6 billion). The average annual cost per learner remained under 18,000 rubles, or about $200.

Remote learning is also gaining traction in higher education. Around 840,000 Russians earned degrees online in 2019. By 2024, that number had grown to 2.3 million students, with another 6 million upgrading their skills remotely.

Nearly 1 million students took online courses during the 2023–2024 academic year. Surveys show that 56% of Russians have participated in online training at least once—62% of women and 50% of men.

Professional advancement remains the top motivation, cited by 39% of respondents. Others took courses to broaden their knowledge (29%), respond to employer requirements (21%), or increase income (18%).