Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America
United States of America: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 52.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
52.3%
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
63rd
of 110 countries
All-time high
55.9%
in 2012
All-time low
45.5%
in 1994
Years of data
31
1994–2024
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America, 1994–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 52.3% for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in 2024.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America peaked at 55.9% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 45.5%, in 1994.
United States of America ranks 63rd of 110 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 45.5% | — |
| 1995 | 45.6% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 47.7% | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 48.5% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 49.0% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 49.2% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 48.1% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 49.4% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 50.0% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 50.7% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 51.1% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 51.6% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 51.5% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 52.6% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 53.0% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 54.2% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 55.1% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 55.6% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 55.9% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 53.8% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 53.9% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 54.2% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 54.2% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 54.6% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 54.3% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 54.4% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 53.6% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 52.2% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 52.4% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 51.7% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 52.3% | +1.1% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 52.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 66.1%, 79% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.6% | 45.5% | 49.2% | 6 |
| 2000s | 51.2% | 48.1% | 54.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.6% | 53.8% | 55.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.5% | 51.7% | 53.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 60 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 52.9% compare
- 61 Côte d'Ivoire 52.8% compare
- 62 Namibia 52.5% compare
- 64 Bangladesh 52.0% compare
- 65 Türkiye 51.3% compare
- 66 Jordan 51.3% compare
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America was 52.3% 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 55.9% in 2012.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.5% in 1994.
- How does United States of America rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- United States of America ranks 63rd 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 States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America 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