International Language Studying Market Statistics in 2024 & Future Traits

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By Calvin S. Nelson


Key Language Studying Market Statistics

  • The language studying market was valued at $52.7 billion in 2022 and is forecast to develop to succeed in $337.2 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 20.8%.
  • As of September 2023, the main language studying app by income is Duolingo, having made nearly $26 million in IAP that month.
  • In Q3 of 2023, Duolingo was downloaded 47.6 million occasions, with 16.5 million downloads going down in August.
  • Asian languages like Japanese and Korean are extra in style with Gen Z, which is the largest group of language learners in lots of international locations.
  • European languages like Italian and Spanish are extra in style amongst learners aged 40 and above.
  • Duolingo was downloaded nearly 50 million occasions within the APAC area in 2023, with nearly all of downloads (21.01 million) going down in Q3.

Highest paying foreign languages by number of speakers

Supply: Newsdle

English is essentially the most spoken language worldwide, with nearly 1.5 billion folks talking it both natively or fluently in 2023. So, it’s no shock that it’s additionally the most studied language on the planet. Fluency in English may give folks a leg up when in search of employment and make worldwide communications simpler.

Certainly, in Continental Europe, English is the mostly studied language, with an estimated 96% of scholars studying English. It’s additionally the commonest language on the favored language studying app Duolingo, topping the scores in 122 international locations.

Different in style languages to be taught are French, Spanish, and Mandarin. For native English audio system within the UK, understanding these languages can imply high-paying jobs. Within the US, Spanish is the commonest language to be taught, because it’s taught to 93% of scholars in school.

Language Studying Market Worth

Language learning global market size

Language learning global market size

Supply: International Market Insights

In 2022, the language studying market was valued at $52.7 billion, in accordance to International Market Insights. It’s forecast to develop to succeed in $337.2 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 20.8%.

English, Spanish, and Mandarin languages are forecast to be the largest segments all through the interval, with the Spanish section rising at a CAGR of twenty-two%.

The biggest progress is anticipated to be within the 18-20 years section of the market, as extra younger folks get inquisitive about different cultures and overseas languages are more and more in demand by employers.

EFL Market Statistics

English language learning market value 2016-2022

English language learning market value 2016-2022

Since English is the most well-liked language to be taught worldwide, it’s no shock that the English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) market is substantial by itself.

In 2022, EFL’s income was $5.6 billion after a major dip throughout COVID-19. The pandemic had a major opposed affect in the marketplace because of the social distancing and journey restrictions, main the income of the EFL market to lower from $8.86 billion in 2019 to  simply $3.3 billion in 2020, after which additional to $2.75 billion in 2021.

Main Language-Studying Suppliers

Leading language apps by revenue, 2023

Leading language apps by revenue, 2023

Supply: Statista

Due to technological developments and elevated curiosity within the topic, language-learning apps are getting increasingly in style and changing into massive gamers out there. 

As of September 2023, the main language studying app by income is Duolingo, having made nearly $26 million in IAP that month. It was additionally essentially the most downloaded language studying app worldwide in September 2023 – it was downloaded a whopping 16.3 million occasions.

We now take a better take a look at Duolingo and different in style language studying apps, like Babbel and Mondly.

Duolingo

Top language learning apps by quarterly downloads 2022-2023

Top language learning apps by quarterly downloads 2022-2023

Given its recognition, it’s no shock Duolingo is the highest-earning language studying app worldwide. In 2022, it made $369.5 million – nearly $120 million greater than the 12 months earlier than. 74% Duolingo’s income comes from subscriptions, and 12% is generated by promoting.

As our infographic reveals, Duolingo can also be essentially the most downloaded language-learning app, by far. In Q3 of 2023, it was downloaded 47.6 million occasions, with August being the height month (16.5 million downloads). The identical quarter additionally accounted for 24.2 million day by day energetic Duolingo customers (DAUs).

In keeping with Duolingo’s 2023 report, English, Spanish, and French have been the most well-liked languages in 2023, taking first place in 122, 34, and 22 international locations, respectively. These figures have been pretty comparable in 2022

Babbel

Average revenue per user for Babel app

Average revenue per user for Babel app

Supply: Statista

The German language studying service Babbel won’t be as in style as Duolingo, however its common income per person (ARPU) is almost twice as excessive, $17, in comparison with Duolingo’s $6.76, as of 2022. Its complete income that 12 months was €247 million ($270 million), which is sort of $100 million lower than Duolingo’s. 

When it comes to DAUs and downloads, Babbel’s January 2022 day by day energetic customers amounted to 750,000 throughout each iOS and Android. The app was downloaded 966,980 occasions in September 2023.

After all, in comparison with Duolingo’s 24.6 million DAUs and 16 million downloads (September 2023), these quantities are fairly small. Let’s take a look at another language-learning suppliers.

Mondly

Mondly number of downloads for 2022 - 2023

Mondly number of downloads for 2022 - 2023

Supply: Statista

The recognition of the Romanian language studying supplier Mondly is sort of on par with Babbel’s. In January 2023, Mondly had 1.28 million downloads, which was its greatest month to this point.

However in September 2023, it was downloaded 767,740 occasions, in comparison with Babbel’s 966,327 and Duolingo’s 16.3 million downloads.

When it comes to income, Mondly lags behind Duolingo and Babbel. In September 2023, its IAP income amounted to $713,325, in comparison with Babbel’s $4.4 million.

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta stone app number of downloads 2022 to 2023

Rosetta stone app number of downloads 2022 to 2023

Supply: Statista

The Rosetta Stone model is among the most well-known language-learning manufacturers world wide. Nonetheless, its downloads statistics depart quite a bit to be desired, in comparison with Duolingo and even Babbel.

Rosetta Stone’s greatest month by way of downloads was December 2022, when it was downloaded 334,169 occasions. Since then, nonetheless, the downloads have gone down, and the useful resource was solely downloaded 224,324 occasions in September 2023.

Language Studying Market by Technology

Duolingo learners by country

Duolingo learners by country

Supply: Duolingo

On this part, we check out the language-learning market statistics and traits throughout completely different generations.

Studying a language is useful to folks of all ages, and at this time, all generations have accessible methods of doing so. A report by Duolingo suggests that completely different generations have completely different studying habits and are inquisitive about studying completely different languages.

For instance, we all know that Gen Z is the largest group of language learners in lots of international locations, and that they’re most inquisitive about Asian languages like Japanese and Korean. These studying patterns might stem from their curiosity in popular culture phenomena from these areas, together with Otaku tradition, Okay-pop, manga, and anime.

However, European languages like Italian and Spanish are far more in style amongst learners aged 40 and above. For them, touring is a large motivator. And Duolingo “streaks” over one year are significantly prevalent amongst older learners, significantly these aged and above – 30% of them have such streaks, in comparison with solely 7% of youngsters.

Language Studying Market Statistics by Area

Now, let’s check out among the regional statistics and traits within the language studying market.

USA

Leading online education services ranked by brand awareness

Leading online education services ranked by brand awareness

Supply: Statista

Relating to overseas language schooling companies model consciousness, Rosetta Stone takes the lead within the US with 63% of the inhabitants understanding about it. Babbel is second with 48%, and Duolingo is third with 42%.

Nonetheless, the American utilization statistics of language studying companies inform a unique story. Duolingo takes the lead, with 23% of US language-learning shoppers utilizing it. The well-known Rosetta Stone service shares the second spot with Babbel, with solely 8% of shoppers utilizing every.

Europe

Market share of language learning apps among 20-34 year old Europeans

Market share of language learning apps among 20-34 year old Europeans

As you’ll be able to see from our infographics, Duolingo is a agency chief in lots of European international locations as of 2021 for the 20 to 30-year-olds cohort. And the EMEA area noticed 13.61 million downloads in Q3 of 2023, a major 3.3 million greater than the earlier quarter. Its IAP income within the area that quarter was 24.53 million – 2.3 million greater than in Q2.

Not like the US, the place Duolingo is the third-most-known schooling service, it takes the lead in Europe. For instance, 49% of Web customers within the UK know about Duolingo. By comparability, solely 41% and 40%, respectively, learn about Rosetta Stone and Babbel, the 2 essentially the most well-known suppliers within the US.

APAC

Language learning apps by downloads in the APAC region for 2023

Language learning apps by downloads in the APAC region for 2023

The Asia-Pacific area language studying market statistics inform us that Duolingo shines right here, too. In 2023, it was the hottest language-learning app in Vietnam, The Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. Different in style instruments are ELSA, Cake, and EWA. 

When it comes to the full quantity of downloads, Duolingo was downloaded nearly 50 million occasions within the APAC area in 2023, with nearly all of downloads (21.01 million) going down in Q3. Its APAC IAP income that 12 months amounted to $23.95 million.

Travelling for Studying Languages Statistics

Distribution of English language learning revenue in 2022, by country

Distribution of English language learning revenue in 2022, by country

Supply: Statista

Along with app- and web-based studying, many suppliers provide classroom-based studying in a rustic the place the learner is surrounded by native audio system. English-speaking international locations provide many alternatives like that, with the UK, the US, and Australia making essentially the most income from such companies. 

Our world is extra related than ever, we’re fostering connections at a pace that was arduous to think about even a few many years in the past. Communication is pivotal on this world, which is why the marketplace for language studying options is rising at an exponential price, and increasingly individuals are studying overseas languages. 

And like all market, the language studying market is impacted by present traits. Let’s take a better take a look at a few of them.

Tech Developments

Integrating know-how into schooling has been a mainstay for a few years, but it surely’s been considerably accelerated through the COVID-19 pandemic. We noticed on this information how in style the language studying apps are internationally, not least due to their democratization of overseas language studying.

A few of them, corresponding to Duolingo, are leveraging AI to providing a studying course of that adjusts to the learner’s fashion and errors

These tech and AI developments can help particular person learners by tailoring classes to handle particular wants and permitting them a alternative of language studying options that work for them. We anticipate much more immersive and interactive language studying experiences to return sooner or later as know-how advances additional.

Gamification

Apps like Duolingo have been on the forefront of gamification as a studying device, and it’s superior quickly in recent times. Gamification parts like rewards and badges are utilized by language studying instruments to inspire learners, including a component of enjoyable to language studying and supporting steady engagement and progress.

Such options encourage customers of all ages to follow repeatedly and persist of their studying journey. For that motive, the gamification development is more likely to develop – each out and in of the classroom- as educators discover new methods to make language studying a extra accessible, dynamic, and interactive.

Globalization

We already talked about how globalization and eradicating journey restrictions post-pandemic are serving to the language studying market advance. The emphasis on branching out into worldwide markets and shoppers’ famend curiosity in journey are fueling this progress.

Furthermore, we anticipate that Technology Z, being the most various technology to this point, and their curiosity in overseas language media will considerably affect the market, too, because the technology’s buying energy will increase within the subsequent few years.

Language Studying Statistics Takeaways for 2024

We regarded on the language studying market statistics and traits, so that you now have a superb grasp of the place the market goes. We dived into the key gamers of the language studying market and the regional and generational traits and explored the potential future traits of the market.

Total, we’d say that the worldwide language market continues to be poised to develop, with key traits corresponding to globalization enjoying a pivotal position in its development. We look ahead to seeing how know-how, and AI specifically, will change the language studying market within the close to future.

Sources

Click on to broaden sources

  1. Language Studying Market Measurement, by Language, by Studying Mode, by Studying Sort, by Finish Person, Forecast 2022-2032 (International Market Insights)
  2. Language Studying Market by Age Group, Language, Finish Person, and Geography – International Forecast to 2030 (Meticulous Analysis)
  3. Essentially the most spoken languages worldwide in 2023 (Statista)
  4. Income of the worldwide English language studying market from 2013 to 2022 (Statista)
  5. Distribution of English language studying income in 2022, by nation (Statista)
  6. Variety of downloads of chosen language studying apps within the Asia-Pacific area in 2023YTD, by market
  7. Variety of downloads of main cellular language studying apps worldwide from September 2022 to September 2023 (Statista)
  8. Main language studying apps worldwide in September 2023, by income (Statista)
  9. Variety of day by day energetic Duolingo customers worldwide from third quarter 2020 to third quarter 2023 (Statista)
  10. Language studying apps – Statistics & Details (Statista)
  11. Annual income generated by Duolingo Inc. from 2019 to 2022 (Statista)
  12. Market share of main multilingual language studying apps amongst customers aged between 20 to 34 years in chosen European markets in 2021 (Statista)
  13. Common income per person (ARPU) of language studying apps worldwide as of 2022 (Statista)
  14. Distribution of income generated by Duolingo in 2022, by section (Statista)
  15. Variety of Duolingo app downloads worldwide from 1st quarter 2017 to third quarter 2023, by area (Statista)
  16. Main on-line schooling companies ranked by model consciousness in the US in 2022 (Statista)
  17. Main on-line schooling companies ranked by model consciousness in the UK in 2022 (Statista)
  18. Share of shoppers in the US who ever used chosen language studying on-line packages and cellular apps as of Could 2023 (Statista)
  19. Main language studying apps worldwide in September 2023, by downloads (Statista)
  20. Hottest overseas language studying cellular functions in Vietnam as of June 2021 (Statista)
  21. Duolingo in-app buy income worldwide from 1st quarter 2017 to third quarter 2023, by area (Statista)
  22. Annual income generated by Babbel from 2013 to 2022 (Statista)
  23. Variety of Babbel day by day energetic customers (DAU) by way of iOS worldwide from January 2019 to January 2022 (Statista)
  24. Variety of Babbel day by day energetic customers (DAU) by way of Google Play Retailer worldwide from January 2019 to January 2022 (Statista)
  25. Highest Paying Overseas Language Jobs (Newsdle)
  26. What Are the Most Studied Languages within the World? (Newsdle)
  27. Duolingo language report reveals modifications in prime 10 languages studied world wide (Duolingo)
  28. 2023 Duolingo Language Report (Duolingo)
  29. 2022 Duolingo Language Report (Duolingo)
  30. Particular report: Which technology is most critical about their streak? (Duolingo)
  31. Expensive Duolingo: How does language studying differ between generations? (Duolingo)
  32. On the Cusp of Maturity and Dealing with an Unsure Future: What We Know About Gen Z So Far (Pew Analysis Middle)

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