Online courses: in 35 of 36 European countries more people take them than before the pandemic
27% of Spaniards aged 16–74 did an online course in the past three months, against 15% in 2019; Italy 19% and 7%, Cyprus 17% and 6%. Only Romania is below its 2019 level.
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During the pandemic everyone had to study online, and many thought it would pass. It did not: after the 2020–2022 peak the share fell almost everywhere but stayed above pre-pandemic levels. Adults and the young keep learning on their own — honest good news beside the bad news about schools.
Lines: share of people aged 16–74 who did an online course on any subject in the past 3 months, %.
- Spain: did an online course in 3 months % of people 16–74
2019: 14.8; 2025: 27.2
- Italy: did an online course in 3 months % of people 16–74
2019: 7.1; 2025: 19.4
- Cyprus: did an online course in 3 months % of people 16–74
2019: 5.7; 2025: 16.7
- Romania: did an online course in 3 months % of people 16–74
2019: 3.0; 2025: 2.6
Eurostat survey on ICT use in households (isoc_ci_ac_i): an online course in 3 months, % of all people aged 16–74. Countries with data for 2019 and 2025: 36.
Czechia, Germany and Ireland have a series break in 2021; without them the picture holds. "Online course" includes school and university study from age 16 and says nothing about which course or how long. Small countries fluctuate a lot.
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And skills? In Cyprus more young people use AI than have basic digital skills.