Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training was 55.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
55.1%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
64th
of 119 countries
All-time high
61.8%
in 2001
All-time low
50.4%
in 2007
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2024

02040602000201220242000: 61.62001: 61.82002: 61.42003: 61.22004: 61.22005: 50.52006: 50.52007: 50.42008: 50.72009: 52.52010: 52.82011: 52.42012: 52.92013: 53.52014: 53.42015: 53.12016: 52.82017: 52.92018: 52.72019: 53.22020: 54.52021: 57.32022: 562023: 56.12024: 55.1

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 55.1% for participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 61.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 50.4%, in 2007.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 64th out of 119 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 61.6%
2001 61.8% +0.4%
2002 61.4% -0.7%
2003 61.2% -0.4%
2004 61.2% +0.0%
2005 50.5% -17.4%
2006 50.5% -0.1%
2007 50.4% -0.2%
2008 50.7% +0.6%
2009 52.5% +3.6%
2010 52.8% +0.6%
2011 52.4% -0.8%
2012 52.9% +1.0%
2013 53.5% +1.0%
2014 53.4% -0.1%
2015 53.1% -0.6%
2016 52.8% -0.4%
2017 52.9% +0.1%
2018 52.7% -0.3%
2019 53.2% +1.0%
2020 54.5% +2.3%
2021 57.3% +5.2%
2022 56.0% -2.3%
2023 56.1% +0.2%
2024 55.1% -1.9%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 55.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 69.1%, 80% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 55.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69.1%, 80% of the median. (40 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 56.2% 50.4% 61.8% 10
2010s 53.0% 52.4% 53.5% 10
2020s 55.8% 54.5% 57.3% 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 61 South Africa 55.4% compare
  2. 62 Armenia 55.2% compare
  3. 63 Montenegro 55.1% compare
  4. 64 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 55.1% compare
  5. 66 United States of America 54.6% compare
  6. 67 Jordan 54.4% compare

See the full ranking of 139 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 55.1% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 61.8% in 2001.
What is the lowest participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 50.4% in 2007.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 64th out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
Is participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/participation-rate-in-formal-and-non-formal-education-and-training-by-sex-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
139 places, 2,463 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed