Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada
Canada: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 5.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
5.3%
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
41st
of 105 countries
All-time high
5.4%
in 2021
All-time low
4.3%
in 1999
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada, 1990–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada stood at 5.3%.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada peaked at 5.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 1999.
Canada ranks 41st of 105 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.4% | — |
| 1991 | 4.6% | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 5.0% | +8.7% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 4.5% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 4.5% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 4.8% | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 4.9% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 4.8% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 4.8% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 4.8% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 5.0% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 5.1% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 5.1% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 5.3% | +3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.6% | 4.3% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 4.4% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2% | 4.9% | 5.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 38 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 6.1% compare
- 39 Nigeria 5.9% compare
- 40 Dominican Republic 5.6% compare
- 42 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.5% compare
- 43 Ecuador 4.4% compare
- 44 United States of America 4.3% compare
More education data for Canada
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133,275 (1996)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 291,075 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 273,465 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.70 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0607 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada was 5.3% 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 1999.
- How does Canada rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Canada ranks 41st out of 105 countries with data for 2024.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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, 25-54 years old, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release