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 18.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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 18.5%. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.7% on the previous year and up 62.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal peaked at 18.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1990.
Portugal ranks 11th of 105 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.3% | — |
| 1991 | 2.4% | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 4.1% | +74.1% |
| 1994 | 4.5% | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 4.5% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | -17.3% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | +10.9% |
| 2000 | 4.1% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | -12.8% |
| 2003 | 4.5% | +26.1% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | +26.6% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | -13.1% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 6.4% | +21.1% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | +22.7% |
| 2010 | 6.9% | -12.5% |
| 2012 | 12.3% | +78.3% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 11.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 11.3% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 11.7% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 12.1% | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 12.3% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | +27.4% |
| 2022 | 17.6% | +18.0% |
| 2023 | 16.6% | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 18.5% | +11.7% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 18.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.3%, 2.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 18.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.8%, 2.4× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +78.3% | 6.9% | 12.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.8% | 2.3% | 4.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.2% | 3.6% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.2% | 6.9% | 12.3% | 9 |
| 2020s | 15.9% | 11.7% | 18.5% | 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 18.5% 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 18.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1990.
- How does Portugal rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Portugal ranks 11th out of 105 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 62.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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, 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