What country is homeschooling most popular in?

The United States is the most popular country for homeschooling, with an estimated 3 to 4 million students learning outside traditional schools.

The US has supported home education for decades, with legal frameworks in all 50 states and a large network of homeschool co-ops and resources. Growth accelerated significantly after 2020.

Outside the US, homeschooling is growing fast in several other countries. The UK, Australia, and Canada all have established homeschool communities and clear legal protections for families who choose this path.

In the GCC, demand for flexible, home-based education has risen sharply. Families across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait are increasingly choosing structured online schooling over traditional classrooms. Many opt for an accredited British curriculum delivered entirely online, which gives children the same qualifications as school-based peers.

Here are the countries with the largest or fastest-growing homeschool populations:

• United States (largest overall)
• United Kingdom
• Australia
• Canada
• UAE and wider GCC

For families in the GCC, a fully online school offering Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels can provide the structure of a real school without a physical building. Students attend live lessons, submit assignments, and follow a recognised qualification pathway.

At Digital International School, students across GCC locations follow the British curriculum through live daily lessons with qualified instructors. It combines the flexibility of homeschooling with the rigour of an accredited academic programme.