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 0.5% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
0.5%
Change on year
down 17.8%
World rank
40th
of 51 countries
All-time high
0.8%
in 2005
All-time low
0.4%
in 1990
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
The most recent figure for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada is 0.5%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 17.8% on the previous year and down 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada peaked at 0.8% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1990.
That places Canada 40th out of 51 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.4% | — |
| 1991 | 0.5% | +21.8% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | +32.8% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -6.7% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | -13.1% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +16.2% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | +8.0% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | +21.3% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | +9.9% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | -9.6% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | -9.9% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | -9.0% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 0.7% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -15.2% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | +11.8% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | -19.9% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | +12.1% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | +19.4% |
| 2024 | 0.5% | -17.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 37 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 0.6% compare
- 38 Costa Rica 0.6% compare
- 39 Switzerland 0.5% compare
- 41 Dominican Republic 0.5% compare
- 42 Peru 0.4% compare
- 43 France 0.4% 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 0.5% 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2005.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1990.
- How does Canada rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Canada ranks 40th out of 51 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 down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, 55-64 years old, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release