Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium
Belgium: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 75.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
75.2%
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
3rd
of 110 countries
All-time high
75.2%
in 2023
All-time low
61.6%
in 1998
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium, 1990–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium stood at 75.2%. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium peaked at 75.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 61.6%, in 1998.
Belgium ranks 3rd of 110 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.1% | — |
| 1991 | 62.4% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 63.5% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 64.0% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 63.2% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 65.2% | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 66.0% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 66.7% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 61.6% | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 66.2% | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 64.4% | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 65.2% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 65.0% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 65.8% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 66.4% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 63.0% | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 64.1% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 64.6% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 65.9% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 66.9% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 66.8% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 65.5% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 63.7% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 65.2% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 66.7% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 66.5% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 69.7% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 69.8% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 68.5% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 69.1% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 69.5% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 74.2% | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 73.3% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 75.2% | +2.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 75.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.1%, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 75.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.3%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.2% | 61.6% | 66.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.2% | 63.0% | 66.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.2% | 63.7% | 69.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.1% | 69.5% | 75.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 1 Netherlands 76.1% compare
- 2 Denmark 75.4% compare
- 4 Sweden 74.0% compare
- 5 Norway 73.8% compare
- 6 Luxembourg 73.3% compare
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium was 75.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 75.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.6% in 1998.
- How does Belgium rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Belgium ranks 3rd out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-24 years old, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release