Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain

Spain: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 18.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
18.5%
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
12th
of 105 countries
All-time high
18.5%
in 2024
All-time low
3.2%
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2024

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain, 1990–2024

51015201990200720241990: 3.2 %1991: 3.4 %1992: 4.3 %1993: 4.3 %1994: 4.8 %1995: 5.3 %1996: 5.4 %1997: 5.4 %1998: 5.1 %1999: 6 %2000: 5.4 %2001: 5.3 %2002: 5.3 %2003: 5.7 %2004: 6.2 %2006: 13.4 %2007: 13.9 %2008: 13.1 %2009: 13.3 %2010: 12.6 %2011: 12.6 %2012: 12.6 %2013: 12.9 %2014: 11.7 %2015: 11.5 %2016: 11 %2017: 11.5 %2018: 12.2 %2019: 12.4 %2020: 12.9 %2021: 16.7 %2022: 17.6 %2023: 18.2 %2024: 18.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Spain recorded 18.5% for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in 2024. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 58.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain peaked at 18.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 1990.

Spain ranks 12th of 105 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain, year by year

Annual values for 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 (%) in Spain, 1990 to 2024.
Year % Change
1990 3.2%
1991 3.4% +7.1%
1992 4.3% +25.0%
1993 4.3% +1.3%
1994 4.8% +11.7%
1995 5.3% +9.2%
1996 5.4% +1.9%
1997 5.4% +0.2%
1998 5.1% -4.9%
1999 6.0% +17.6%
2000 5.4% -10.5%
2001 5.3% -2.4%
2002 5.3% +1.0%
2003 5.7% +6.7%
2004 6.2% +8.8%
2006 13.4% +117.5%
2007 13.9% +3.8%
2008 13.1% -6.1%
2009 13.3% +2.1%
2010 12.6% -5.7%
2011 12.6% +0.4%
2012 12.6% -0.1%
2013 12.9% +2.2%
2014 11.7% -9.3%
2015 11.5% -1.6%
2016 11.0% -4.6%
2017 11.5% +5.0%
2018 12.2% +5.9%
2019 12.4% +2.0%
2020 12.9% +3.5%
2021 16.7% +30.0%
2022 17.6% +5.3%
2023 18.2% +3.0%
2024 18.5% +1.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 4.7% 3.2% 6.0% 10
2000s 9.1% 5.3% 13.9% 9
2010s 12.1% 11.0% 12.9% 10
2020s 16.8% 12.9% 18.5% 5

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 9 Luxembourg 19.8% compare
  2. 10 Malta 18.8% compare
  3. 11 Portugal 18.5% compare
  4. 13 Belgium 16.6% compare
  5. 14 Belarus 16.2% compare
  6. 15 Ireland 15.0% compare

See the full ranking of 150 places →

More education data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain?
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain 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 Spain?
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 Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 1990.
How does Spain rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
Spain ranks 12th out of 105 countries with data for 2024.
Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 58.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Spain 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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Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/participation-rate-of-youth-and-adults-in-formal-and-non-formal-education-and-training-in-11/spain/

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About this data

Indicator
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 (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
150 places, 3,020 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release