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 8.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
8.8%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
12th
of 51 countries
All-time high
8.9%
in 2023
All-time low
0.3%
in 1993
Years of data
29
1993–2024

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain, 1993–2024

024681993200820241993: 0.26 %1994: 0.264 %1996: 0.394 %1997: 0.47 %1998: 0.346 %2000: 0.67 %2001: 0.738 %2002: 0.82 %2003: 1.1 %2004: 1.2 %2006: 4.7 %2007: 5.3 %2008: 5.5 %2009: 5.5 %2010: 5.1 %2011: 5 %2012: 5.2 %2013: 5.3 %2014: 4 %2015: 4 %2016: 3.7 %2017: 4.1 %2018: 4.7 %2019: 4.8 %2020: 4.9 %2021: 6.9 %2022: 7.9 %2023: 8.9 %2024: 8.8 %

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 Spain is 8.8%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 120.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain peaked at 8.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1993.

Spain ranks 12th of 51 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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 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, 55-64 years old, both sexes (%) in Spain, 1993 to 2024.
Year % Change
1993 0.3%
1994 0.3% +1.5%
1996 0.4% +49.1%
1997 0.5% +19.4%
1998 0.3% -26.5%
2000 0.7% +93.8%
2001 0.7% +10.1%
2002 0.8% +11.2%
2003 1.1% +33.4%
2004 1.2% +11.1%
2006 4.7% +287.8%
2007 5.3% +11.9%
2008 5.5% +4.5%
2009 5.5% -0.4%
2010 5.1% -7.7%
2011 5.0% -0.7%
2012 5.2% +4.2%
2013 5.3% +1.2%
2014 4.0% -24.3%
2015 4.0% -1.4%
2016 3.7% -5.6%
2017 4.1% +10.3%
2018 4.7% +13.6%
2019 4.8% +2.4%
2020 4.9% +3.0%
2021 6.9% +39.8%
2022 7.9% +15.5%
2023 8.9% +11.4%
2024 8.8% -0.1%

Spain compared with similar countries

  • Spain's 8.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.0%, 1.3× the median. (28 countries reporting)
  • Spain's 8.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.6%, 2.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain 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.

YearChange FromTo
2006 +287.8% 1.2% 4.7%
2000 +93.8% 0.3% 0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.3% 0.3% 0.5% 5
2000s 2.8% 0.7% 5.5% 9
2010s 4.6% 3.7% 5.3% 10
2020s 7.5% 4.9% 8.9% 5

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 9 Slovenia 11.4% compare
  2. 10 Ireland 10.1% compare
  3. 11 Portugal 9.3% compare
  4. 13 Belgium 8.1% compare
  5. 14 Malta 7.5% compare
  6. 15 Italy 7.3% compare

See the full ranking of 78 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 8.8% 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 Spain?
The highest recorded value was 8.9% in 2023.
What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1993.
How does Spain rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
Spain ranks 12th out of 51 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 120.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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, 55-64 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-17/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, 55-64 years old, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
78 places, 1,544 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release