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 4.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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
In 2024, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 4.8%. That is the lowest value across all 30 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% on the previous year and down 14.4% 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 21.0% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2024.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 39th of 104 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.7% | — |
| 1991 | 12.4% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 14.2% | +14.7% |
| 1993 | 12.5% | -12.2% |
| 1994 | 13.2% | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 18.3% | +38.7% |
| 2000 | 19.8% | +8.0% |
| 2001 | 20.0% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 20.6% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 19.6% | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 21.0% | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 6.3% | -70.2% |
| 2007 | 6.0% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 6.5% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 6.0% | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 4.9% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 5.1% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -5.4% |
| 2023 | 5.1% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -6.3% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 4.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.6%, 56% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 4.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.2%, 77% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | -70.2% | 21.0% | 6.3% |
| 1999 | +38.7% | 13.2% | 18.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.9% | 12.4% | 18.3% | 6 |
| 2000s | 14.0% | 6.0% | 21.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 4.8% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 4.8% | 5.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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 4.8% 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 21.0% in 2004.
- 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 4.8% in 2024.
- 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 39th out of 104 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 down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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, 25-54 years old, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release