Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America
United States of America: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 12.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
12.9%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
75th
of 110 countries
All-time high
14.0%
in 2013
All-time low
9.7%
in 1995
Years of data
31
1994–2024
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America, 1994–2024
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 States of America is 12.9%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America peaked at 14.0% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 9.7%, in 1995.
United States of America ranks 75th of 110 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 9.8% | — |
| 1995 | 9.7% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 10.0% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 10.2% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 10.3% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 10.4% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 10.0% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 10.3% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 10.5% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 10.8% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 11.0% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 10.9% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 11.0% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 11.2% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 11.3% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 11.5% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 12.1% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 12.2% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 14.0% | +15.0% |
| 2014 | 13.8% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 13.7% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 13.5% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 13.5% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 13.4% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 13.2% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 13.0% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 12.8% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 12.9% | +0.4% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 12.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.9%, 72% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.1% | 9.7% | 10.4% | 6 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.1% | 11.9% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 12.7% | 13.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 72 Bangladesh 13.2% compare
- 73 Austria 13.0% compare
- 74 Czechia 12.9% compare
- 76 North Macedonia 12.7% compare
- 77 Brunei Darussalam 12.5% compare
- 78 Georgia 12.3% compare
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America was 12.9% 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2013.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7% in 1995.
- How does United States of America rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- United States of America ranks 75th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release