India Educational Toys Market Size & Trends
The India educational toys market size was estimated at USD 2.83 billion in 2023 and it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.0% from 2024 to 2030. The projected growth can be attributed to aspects such increasing awareness regarding role of early childhood education in overall growth of children, significance of early age learning in cognitive development, availability of numerous alternatives that offer extremely helpful educational toys and acknowledgement by parents and educators. In addition, constant encouragement by government bodies related to education and welfare of children to innovate and launch such products has been assisting the market to grow at rapid pace.
The India market accounted for a share of 5.3% of the global educational toys market in 2023. The educational toys market in India has been growing at rapid pace. The toys industry in country has cultural significance as well as deep-rooted presence across its history. Making of toys can dated back to ancient civilisation times in India. However, with overall economic growth of the region, retain industry started exploring this market. The industry has evolved through lot of phases in terms of technology of making, designs, textures, materials used in making and more. In recent past, educational toys have been generating greater demand in the country. Emergence of science kits, coding game apps and other such combinations of fun and learning have been fuelling this industry like never before.
After technology took over the world, toys such as remote controlled cars, robotic games, and interactive toys gained huge attention from customers. International businesses, domestic companies operating on large scale and brands marketed by big retails stores collected unprecedented revenues from toys industry in India. Mass-manufactured toys dumped in market by technologically advanced nations also occupied a large market share in India. Global companies such as Mattel, Hasbro, Lego have also entered the Indian toys market.
In terms of educational toys, the demand is growing every year. Mainly, increased awareness in educators has led to this scenario. Schools and other learning environment are now fully equipped with such toys as they provide stimulation for cognitive development, psychological growth and help in understanding concepts such as gravity, volume, depth, length, basic math, logic and more.
Market Concentration & Characterization
The India educational toys industry is growing at accelerating pace and growth stage is identified as high. This industry is characterized by the presence of global companies as well as domestic brands. In additions, local vendors and artisans also hold significant share of the market. The industry is poised to grow at rapid pace mainly owing to constant growth in population of the country. The educational toys market in India is fragmented in nature.
Degree of innovation is moderate in the industry. International companies have been adopting innovation as their key strategy to expand their market share. The key technologies involved in this are robotics, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality as well. This industry has always been providing overwhelming response to innovative products launched by makers while adopting cutting-edge technologies.
The level of M&A (mergers & acquisitions) is moderate in the industry. Instead of complete merger or acquisition, companies prefer partnerships or collaborations where they enter in long term contracts for particular function of the business. In addition, key market participants tend to establish tie-ups with online and offline retail stores to support their distribution.
Age Insights
Educational toys for toddlers accounted for a share of 54.0% in 2023. Toys designed for this age group (1-3 years) primarily drive the industry. As per the United Nations, India has more than 300 million children aged 0 to 14, the highest number globally. It is projected that by 2036, India will account for approximately 17% of the world's child population. Parents and caregivers of toddlers increasingly prefer use of educational toys instead of conventional games or toys, as they keep them busy with activities at hand. In addition, the completely immersive experience takes them on learning journey where they explore and discover unknown facts.
The demand for educational toys developed for pre-schoolers (3 - 5 years) is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.7% from 2024 to 2030. A slight intricate than the toys for toddlers, these products comprise of memory and alphabet games, floor puzzles, building blocks, counting and math games, and art related games as well. After development of basic motor skills and knowledge about fundamental things such as spatial awareness, parents tend to prefer giving these sorts of toys to their children.
Distribution Channel Insights
The offline sales of educational toys in India accounted for a share of 65.3% in 2023. Places such as supermarkets & hypermarkets, specialty stores, shopping malls, local toy stores in towns are part of offline distribution channels. These places are closer to residential areas and workspaces as well, where parents of young children spend most of their day. The distribution is effective through this channel as it provides added features to experience such as immediate possessions and opportunity to examine aspects such as quality, materials used and the overall durability.
The online sales of educational toys are expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% from 2024 to 2030. The privacy factor offered by online shopping experience is accompanied by several other added factors such as doorstep delivery, reviews by previous customers, product descriptions, return & refund policy, customer support services and more. These aspects are encouraging great number of customers to opt for online shopping to educational toys. In addition, increased availability of internet, growing information accessibility, and unceasing growth in smart phone technology penetration has resulted in upsurge in use of online retailing websites. Furthermore, lucrative discounts offered by global and domestic e-retailers are luring more number of buyers towards them.
Product Insights
Building & construction sets accounted for share of 25.6% in 2023. Role-play toys, STEM toys, art & craft kits, music toys, interactive toys, games & puzzles, instruments, language and literacy toys, brainteasers, etc. are some other types of the educational toys available in the industry. Distinguish characteristics of constructions sets attract more consumers. Such sets toys fascinate children and generate more responsiveness from them. Unknowingly, children are engaged in activities such as experiment, discovery, effort, and more. These sets encourage them to use their imaginations to optimum level while keeping them abide to a particular form in order to let them explore different possibilities to complete the task at hand.
The demand for STEM toys is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.8% from 2024 to 2030. Children who belong to the age group of 5 years and above often tend to like these toys as they involve comparatively complex instruments and methods in it. These toys help them learn more than basic skills and assist them in enhancing their cognitive comprehension.
Key India Educational Toys Company Insights
The India educational toys market is characterized by local vendors, brands, artisans and other market participants contributing to the competitive landscape, which already has the presence of global and well-established brands.
Key India Educational Toys Companies:
- Smartivity
- Mattel, Inc.
- Hasbro
- Lego
- Bandai Namco
- Funskool
- Hamleys
- Playgro
- Intelliskills
- Shumee
Recent Developments
- In May 2023, well-known brand is Indian toys industry, Funskool India Ltd. launched range of educational toys which are designed to enhance physical abilities, coordination, motor skills, creativity among children.