Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Germany

Germany: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 17.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
17.9%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
34th
of 110 countries
All-time high
19.0%
in 2008
All-time low
14.9%
in 1996
Years of data
30
1990–2023

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Germany, 1990–2023

051015201990200620231990: 15.4 %1991: 14.9 %1996: 14.9 %1997: 15.1 %1998: 15.2 %1999: 15.4 %2000: 15.3 %2001: 15.4 %2002: 15.9 %2003: 16.4 %2004: 18.1 %2005: 18.6 %2006: 18.3 %2007: 18.5 %2008: 19 %2009: 18.9 %2010: 18.1 %2011: 17.9 %2012: 18.4 %2013: 18.5 %2014: 18.6 %2015: 18.7 %2016: 18.8 %2017: 18.8 %2018: 18.6 %2019: 18.6 %2020: 17.6 %2021: 17.4 %2022: 17.9 %2023: 17.9 %

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 Germany is 17.9%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Germany peaked at 19.0% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 14.9%, in 1996.

That places Germany 34th out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Germany, 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, 15-64 years old, both sexes (%) in Germany, 1990 to 2023.
Year % Change
1990 15.4%
1991 14.9% -2.9%
1996 14.9% -0.2%
1997 15.1% +1.7%
1998 15.2% +0.5%
1999 15.4% +1.2%
2000 15.3% -0.7%
2001 15.4% +0.6%
2002 15.9% +3.7%
2003 16.4% +2.9%
2004 18.1% +10.5%
2005 18.6% +2.8%
2006 18.3% -1.6%
2007 18.5% +1.1%
2008 19.0% +2.6%
2009 18.9% -0.7%
2010 18.1% -3.8%
2011 17.9% -1.5%
2012 18.4% +3.1%
2013 18.5% +0.5%
2014 18.6% +0.4%
2015 18.7% +0.5%
2016 18.8% +0.7%
2017 18.8% -0.2%
2018 18.6% -1.2%
2019 18.6% +0.1%
2020 17.6% -5.4%
2021 17.4% -1.2%
2022 17.9% +2.9%
2023 17.9% +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 15.1% 14.9% 15.4% 6
2000s 17.4% 15.3% 19.0% 10
2010s 18.5% 17.9% 18.8% 10
2020s 17.7% 17.4% 17.9% 4

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 31 Hungary 18.8% compare
  2. 32 Italy 18.8% compare
  3. 33 Zambia 17.9% compare
  4. 35 Malawi 17.9% compare
  5. 36 Chile 17.8% compare
  6. 37 Israel 17.6% compare

See the full ranking of 155 places →

More education data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Germany?
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Germany was 17.9% 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 Germany?
The highest recorded value was 19.0% in 2008.
What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 14.9% in 1996.
How does Germany rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
Germany ranks 34th out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Germany 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, 15-64 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 Germany. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/participation-rate-of-youth-and-adults-in-formal-and-non-formal-education-and-training-in-5/germany/

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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, 15-64 years old, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
155 places, 3,147 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release