Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal
Portugal: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 71.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
71.9%
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
12th
of 110 countries
All-time high
73.0%
in 2021
All-time low
38.6%
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal, 1990–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal stood at 71.9%.
That represents a change of up 5.4% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal peaked at 73.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 38.6%, in 1990.
Portugal ranks 12th of 110 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 38.6% | — |
| 1991 | 41.8% | +8.3% |
| 1992 | 46.9% | +12.1% |
| 1993 | 50.8% | +8.4% |
| 1994 | 53.5% | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 54.7% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 55.0% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 53.7% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 50.6% | -5.9% |
| 1999 | 51.0% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 51.4% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 50.1% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 47.8% | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 51.8% | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 52.8% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 54.0% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 54.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 55.4% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 57.2% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 61.2% | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 62.9% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 65.5% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 66.4% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 67.8% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 69.9% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 71.1% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 69.5% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 69.2% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 69.1% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 69.2% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 69.8% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 73.0% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 72.6% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 68.2% | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 71.9% | +5.4% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 71.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.1%, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 71.9% 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 | 49.7% | 38.6% | 55.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.6% | 47.8% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.1% | 62.9% | 71.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.1% | 68.2% | 73.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal was 71.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 73.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.6% in 1990.
- How does Portugal rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Portugal ranks 12th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal 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