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 24.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
24.6%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
13th
of 110 countries
All-time high
24.6%
in 2024
All-time low
13.6%
in 2003
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain, 1990–2024

05101520251990200720241990: 15.1 %1991: 15.6 %1992: 16.3 %1993: 16.8 %1994: 17.2 %1995: 17.7 %1996: 17.9 %1997: 17.6 %1998: 15.3 %1999: 17.4 %2000: 14.7 %2001: 14.1 %2002: 13.7 %2003: 13.6 %2004: 15 %2005: 19.1 %2006: 20 %2007: 20.4 %2008: 19.7 %2009: 19.9 %2010: 18.2 %2011: 18.3 %2012: 18.6 %2013: 18.8 %2014: 17.9 %2015: 17.7 %2016: 17.4 %2017: 17.9 %2018: 18.6 %2019: 18.8 %2020: 19.4 %2021: 22.7 %2022: 23.5 %2023: 24.3 %2024: 24.6 %

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 24.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 37.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Spain peaked at 24.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2003.

That places Spain 13th out of 110 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.

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, 15-64 years old, both sexes (%) in Spain, 1990 to 2024.
Year % Change
1990 15.1%
1991 15.6% +3.2%
1992 16.3% +4.7%
1993 16.8% +3.1%
1994 17.2% +2.4%
1995 17.7% +2.9%
1996 17.9% +1.0%
1997 17.6% -1.9%
1998 15.3% -13.1%
1999 17.4% +13.9%
2000 14.7% -15.4%
2001 14.1% -4.0%
2002 13.7% -3.5%
2003 13.6% -0.6%
2004 15.0% +10.8%
2005 19.1% +27.1%
2006 20.0% +4.6%
2007 20.4% +2.1%
2008 19.7% -3.2%
2009 19.9% +0.8%
2010 18.2% -8.4%
2011 18.3% +0.6%
2012 18.6% +1.2%
2013 18.8% +1.5%
2014 17.9% -5.0%
2015 17.7% -0.9%
2016 17.4% -1.7%
2017 17.9% +2.6%
2018 18.6% +3.9%
2019 18.8% +1.4%
2020 19.4% +2.8%
2021 22.7% +17.3%
2022 23.5% +3.6%
2023 24.3% +3.3%
2024 24.6% +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 16.7% 15.1% 17.9% 10
2000s 17.0% 13.6% 20.4% 10
2010s 18.2% 17.4% 18.8% 10
2020s 22.9% 19.4% 24.6% 5

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 10 Belgium 26.0% compare
  2. 11 Ireland 25.5% compare
  3. 12 Portugal 25.5% compare
  4. 14 Timor-Leste 24.5% compare
  5. 15 Malta 23.0% compare
  6. 16 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 22.9% compare

See the full ranking of 155 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 24.6% 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 24.6% in 2024.
What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2003.
How does Spain rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
Spain ranks 13th out of 110 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 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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, 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 Spain. 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/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, 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