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

Sweden: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 45.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
45.7%
Change on year
up 5.6%
World rank
1st
of 110 countries
All-time high
45.7%
in 2023
All-time low
23.9%
in 2001
Years of data
26
1997–2023

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Sweden, 1997–2023

010203040501997201020231997: 31.2 %1999: 32.2 %2000: 25.6 %2001: 23.9 %2002: 25 %2003: 35.8 %2004: 39.5 %2005: 27 %2006: 28.1 %2007: 28.5 %2008: 31.8 %2009: 32 %2010: 34.3 %2011: 34.4 %2012: 35.9 %2013: 36.9 %2014: 37.4 %2015: 37.5 %2016: 37.4 %2017: 38 %2018: 38.8 %2019: 41.8 %2020: 36.9 %2021: 42.2 %2022: 43.3 %2023: 45.7 %

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 Sweden is 45.7%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

The figure is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Sweden peaked at 45.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 2001.

That places Sweden 1st out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Sweden, 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 Sweden, 1997 to 2023.
Year % Change
1997 31.2%
1999 32.2% +3.2%
2000 25.6% -20.5%
2001 23.9% -6.6%
2002 25.0% +4.4%
2003 35.8% +43.3%
2004 39.5% +10.5%
2005 27.0% -31.7%
2006 28.1% +4.2%
2007 28.5% +1.3%
2008 31.8% +11.6%
2009 32.0% +0.7%
2010 34.3% +7.1%
2011 34.4% +0.3%
2012 35.9% +4.4%
2013 36.9% +2.8%
2014 37.4% +1.4%
2015 37.5% +0.1%
2016 37.4% -0.2%
2017 38.0% +1.7%
2018 38.8% +2.1%
2019 41.8% +7.7%
2020 36.9% -11.6%
2021 42.2% +14.4%
2022 43.3% +2.4%
2023 45.7% +5.6%

Sweden compared with similar countries

  • Sweden's 45.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.9%, 2.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Sweden's 45.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 16.7%, 2.7× the median. (41 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Sweden 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
2003 +43.3% 25.0% 35.8%
2005 -31.7% 39.5% 27.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 31.7% 31.2% 32.2% 2
2000s 29.7% 23.9% 39.5% 10
2010s 37.2% 34.3% 41.8% 10
2020s 42.0% 36.9% 45.7% 4

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 2 Denmark 39.1% compare
  2. 3 Netherlands 36.1% compare
  3. 4 Finland 34.0% compare

See the full ranking of 155 places →

More education data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Sweden?
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Sweden was 45.7% 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 Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 45.7% in 2023.
What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 2001.
How does Sweden rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
Sweden ranks 1st out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sweden 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 Sweden. 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-5/sweden/

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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