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Looking for the latest statistics and facts on the topic of learning loss?
My updated guide for 2024 has everything you need, and more.
Feel free to use the jump links below to go to the section that interests you the most. I cover the statistics related to COVID’s impact on learning and also stats/facts about learning loss in general.
Or use this jump link to quickly jump to the KEY STATS section.
Also, all the references and resources I used in crafting my guide are listed at the bottom of the page.
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Jump here: Learning Loss KEY Statistics, Facts and Trends for this Year| Detailed Learning Learning Loss Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year
Table of Contents
Learning Loss KEY Statistics, Facts and Trends for this Year
Key Learning Learning Loss Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024
- COVID-19 school closures affected over 1.6 billion students worldwide.
- Students lost 5 months in math and 4 months in reading during the 2020-2021 school year.
- Math performance for grades 3-8 dropped 5-10 percentile points in spring 2021 compared to 2019.
- COVID-19 learning losses could cost this generation $10 trillion in lifetime earnings.
- Dutch students lost a fifth of a school year’s progress while learning from home.
- Students retained only 70% of typical reading gains when returning to school in fall 2020.
- Students retained less than 50% of typical math gains when returning to school in fall 2020.
- 463 million children worldwide couldn’t access remote learning during school closures.
- Belgian students’ scores decreased by 0.19 standard deviations compared to the previous year.
- The average student could fall seven months behind academically due to COVID-19 closures.
- Low-income students’ learning loss is estimated at 12.4 months, double the average.
- South African primary students learned 57-70% less in 2020 than in a typical year.
- The percentage of children in low- and middle-income countries unable to read a simple text by age 10 could increase from 53% to 63%.
- The UK’s attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and peers could widen by 36%.
- Only 60% of Los Angeles middle and high school students actively participated in online learning during closures.
- Kindergarteners’ literacy skills were 31% behind expectations in fall 2020.
- Italian students lost 0.19 standard deviations in test scores after 8-10 weeks of school closures.
- Students in developing Asia and the Pacific could lose 5.4% of projected lifetime earnings due to school closures.
- 92% of children in India lost at least one specific language ability from the previous year.
- 82% of children in India lost at least one specific mathematical ability from the previous year.
Detailed Learning Learning Loss Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year
How Many Students Worldwide Were Affected By School Closures Due To COVID-19?
According to UNESCO, over 1.6 billion students worldwide were affected by school closures due to COVID-19.
What Was The Average Learning Loss In Mathematics And Reading By The End Of The 2020-2021 School Year?
A McKinsey study found that students lost an average of 5 months of learning in mathematics and 4 months in reading by the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
How Did Students In Grades 3-8 Perform In Math In Spring 2021 Compared To Spring 2019?
NWEA research suggests that students in grades 3-8 performed 5-10 percentile points lower in math in spring 2021 compared to spring 2019.
What Is The Estimated Lifetime Earnings Loss For This Generation Of Students Due To COVID-19 Related Learning Losses?
The World Bank estimates that this generation of students could lose $10 trillion in lifetime earnings due to COVID-19 related learning losses.
How Much Learning Progress Did Students In The Netherlands Make While Learning From Home?
A study in the Netherlands found that students made little or no progress while learning from home, with learning loss equivalent to a fifth of a school year.
What Percentage Of Typical Reading Gains Did Students Retain When Returning To School In Fall 2020?
Research from Brown University projected that students would return in fall 2020 with roughly 70% of the learning gains in reading relative to a typical school year.
What Percentage Of Typical Math Gains Did Students Retain When Returning To School In Fall 2020?
The same Brown University study estimated students would return with less than 50% of the learning gains in math.
How Many Children Worldwide Were Unable To Access Remote Learning During School Closures?
UNICEF reports that at least 463 million children worldwide were unable to access remote learning during school closures because of COVID.
How Did Students’ Scores In Belgium Change Compared To The Previous Year?
A study in Belgium found that students’ scores decreased by approximately 0.19 standard deviations compared to the previous year.
How Many Months Behind Academically Could The Average Student Fall Due To COVID-19 Closures?
Research from Stanford University suggests that the average student could fall seven months behind academically due to COVID-19 closures.
How Does The Learning Loss For Low-Income Students Compare To The Average Student?
The learning loss for low-income students is estimated to be 12.4 months, nearly twice that of the average student.
How Much Less Did Primary School Students In South Africa Learn In 2024 Compared To A Typical Year?
A study in South Africa found that primary school students learned 57-70% less in 2024 than in a typical year.
How Might School Closures Affect The Percentage Of Children In Low- And Middle-Income Countries Unable To Read A Simple Text By Age 10?
The World Bank predicts that the percentage of children in low- and middle-income countries unable to read a simple text by age 10 could increase from 53% to 63% due to school closures.
By What Percentage Could The Attainment Gap Between Disadvantaged Pupils And Their Peers Widen In The UK?
In the UK, the Education Endowment Foundation estimates that the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers could widen by 36%.
What Percentage Of Middle And High School Students In Los Angeles Actively Participated In Online Learning During School Closures?
A study in Los Angeles found that only about 60% of middle and high school students were actively participating in online learning during school closures.
How Far Behind Were Kindergarteners’ Literacy Skills In Fall 2024 Compared To Previous Years?
Research from Ohio State University suggests that kindergarteners’ literacy skills were 31% behind expectations in fall 2024 compared to previous years.
How Did Students’ Test Scores In Italy Change After 8-10 Weeks Of School Closures?
A study in Italy found that students lost approximately 0.19 standard deviations in their test scores after 8-10 weeks of school closures.
What Percentage Of Projected Lifetime Earnings Might Students In Developing Asia And The Pacific Lose Due To School Closures?
The Asian Development Bank estimates that students in developing Asia and the Pacific could lose 5.4% of projected lifetime earnings due to school closures because of COVID pandemic.
What Percentage Of Children In India Lost At Least One Specific Language Ability From The Previous Year?
In India, a study by Azim Premji University found that 92% of children lost at least one specific language ability from the previous year. The same Indian study reported that 82% of children lost at least one specific mathematical ability from the previous year.
Learning Loss Statistics Facts and Trends for 2024 (Conclusion)
My updated guide for 2024 lists the best and latest statistics, facts and trends about learning loss and how to prevent losing information you learned as much as possible.
I hope you enjoyed it because the guide is now over.
During my research, I consulted these resources below:
References:
- Learning loss- https://fordhaminstitute.org/glossaries/learning-loss
- Learning Loss- https://www.edglossary.org/learning-loss/
- What Is Learning Loss?- https://teachermade.com/learning-loss/
- Understanding learning loss- https://www.prometheanworld.com/resource-center/blogs/understanding-learning-loss/
- Why we don’t use the term “learning loss”- https://www.cityyear.org/national/stories/education/why-we-dont-use-the-term-learning-loss/
- Addressing Student Learning Loss After The Pandemic- https://www.varnett.org/apps/pages/addressing-learning-loss-after-pandemic
- OPINION: Can we please stop talking about so-called learning loss?- https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-can-we-please-stop-talking-about-so-called-learning-loss/
- The state of learning loss: 7 takeaways from the latest data- https://www.chalkbeat.org/2022/7/19/23269210/learning-loss-recovery-data-nwea-pandemic/
- Pandemic catch-up: What will it take for left-behind students to learn to read?- https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2022/12/learning-loss-pandemic
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.