Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium
Belgium: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 8.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium stood at 8.3%. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 26.6% on the previous year and up 125.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium peaked at 8.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2001.
That places Belgium 16th out of 49 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.9% | — |
| 2002 | 2.3% | +22.9% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | +30.1% |
| 2004 | 3.2% | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | +33.8% |
| 2006 | 3.5% | -17.0% |
| 2007 | 4.1% | +16.6% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -16.3% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | +15.1% |
| 2011 | 4.2% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | -13.4% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | +7.7% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | +22.0% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | -20.9% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | -18.1% |
| 2022 | 6.5% | +110.6% |
| 2023 | 8.3% | +26.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 8.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.7%, 2.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 8.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.7%, 1.1× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.2% | 1.9% | 4.2% | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 3.7% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.0% | 3.1% | 8.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium was 8.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 8.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2001.
- How does Belgium rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Belgium ranks 16th out of 49 countries with data for 2023.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 125.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release