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 1.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.4%
Change on year
up 14.5%
World rank
24th
of 43 countries
All-time high
10.5%
in 2002
All-time low
1.2%
in 2014
Years of data
28
1992–2024

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1992–2024

2468101992200820241992: 4.4 %1993: 3.4 %1994: 3.6 %1999: 7.8 %2000: 9.5 %2001: 9.5 %2002: 10.5 %2003: 9.5 %2004: 10.4 %2006: 1.8 %2007: 1.6 %2008: 1.7 %2009: 2 %2010: 1.8 %2011: 1.5 %2012: 1.3 %2013: 1.3 %2014: 1.2 %2015: 1.3 %2016: 1.5 %2017: 1.4 %2018: 1.4 %2019: 1.4 %2020: 1.6 %2021: 1.4 %2022: 1.4 %2023: 1.2 %2024: 1.4 %

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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 1.4%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 14.5% on the previous year and up 16.1% 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 10.5% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2014.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 24th of 43 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

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, male (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1992 to 2024.
Year % Change
1992 4.4%
1993 3.4% -22.7%
1994 3.6% +5.6%
1999 7.8% +116.5%
2000 9.5% +21.2%
2001 9.5% -0.2%
2002 10.5% +10.4%
2003 9.5% -9.1%
2004 10.4% +9.7%
2006 1.8% -83.2%
2007 1.6% -7.7%
2008 1.7% +5.4%
2009 2.0% +14.5%
2010 1.8% -9.1%
2011 1.5% -14.0%
2012 1.3% -12.9%
2013 1.3% -3.1%
2014 1.2% -4.7%
2015 1.3% +5.3%
2016 1.5% +15.2%
2017 1.4% -9.2%
2018 1.4% +1.5%
2019 1.4% +2.8%
2020 1.6% +11.2%
2021 1.4% -13.9%
2022 1.4% +4.2%
2023 1.2% -11.6%
2024 1.4% +14.5%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 1.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.6%, 19% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 1.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 29% of the median. (32 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.

YearChange FromTo
1999 +116.5% 3.6% 7.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 4.8% 3.4% 7.8% 4
2000s 6.3% 1.6% 10.5% 9
2010s 1.4% 1.2% 1.8% 10
2020s 1.4% 1.2% 1.6% 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 21 Germany 2.8% compare
  2. 22 Australia 2.5% compare
  3. 23 Israel 2.4% compare
  4. 25 Cyprus 1.1% compare
  5. 26 Indonesia 1.1% compare
  6. 27 Brazil 1.1% compare

See the full ranking of 58 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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 1.4% 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 10.5% in 2002.
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 1.2% in 2014.
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 24th out of 43 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 up 16.1%. 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, 55-64 years old, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/participation-rate-of-youth-and-adults-in-formal-and-non-formal-education-and-training-in-19/united-kingdom/

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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, male (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
58 places, 1,034 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release