Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 52.9% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1990–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 52.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 61.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 46.8%, in 1993.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 60th out of 110 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.8% | — |
| 1991 | 47.8% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 50.0% | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 46.8% | -6.6% |
| 1994 | 47.9% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 60.1% | +25.3% |
| 2000 | 61.3% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 60.9% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 61.1% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 60.6% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 60.7% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 49.2% | -19.0% |
| 2006 | 49.5% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 49.5% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 50.0% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 52.3% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 52.1% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 51.2% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 52.3% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 52.4% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 52.8% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 52.2% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 52.3% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 51.5% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 51.8% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 51.7% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 52.4% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 54.9% | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 54.6% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 54.0% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 52.9% | -2.1% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 52.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 66.1%, 80% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 52.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.3%, 80% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +25.3% | 47.9% | 60.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.1% | 46.8% | 60.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | 55.5% | 49.2% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.0% | 51.2% | 52.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.8% | 52.4% | 54.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 57 Viet Nam 53.8% compare
- 58 Kyrgyzstan 53.2% compare
- 59 Nigeria 53.0% compare
- 61 Côte d'Ivoire 52.8% compare
- 62 Namibia 52.5% compare
- 63 United States of America 52.3% compare
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 52.9% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 61.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.8% in 1993.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 60th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release