Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada
Canada: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 14.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada, 1990–2024
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 Canada is 14.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada peaked at 14.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 1990.
Canada ranks 63rd of 110 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.3% | — |
| 1991 | 12.8% | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 13.3% | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 13.4% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 13.3% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 13.1% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 12.9% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 13.3% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 13.3% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 13.2% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 13.3% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 13.8% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 13.8% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 13.7% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 13.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 13.8% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 13.7% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 13.6% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 13.6% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 13.8% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 13.9% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 13.8% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 13.7% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 13.6% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 13.2% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 13.3% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 13.2% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 13.3% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 13.5% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 13.4% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 13.4% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 14.2% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 13.9% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 14.0% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 14.6% | +4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.1% | 12.3% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.7% | 13.3% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.5% | 13.2% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.0% | 13.4% | 14.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 60 Côte d'Ivoire 14.8% compare
- 61 Bhutan 14.7% compare
- 62 Ghana 14.7% compare
- 64 Mexico 14.5% compare
- 65 Burkina Faso 14.4% compare
- 66 Kyrgyzstan 14.3% compare
More education data for Canada
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133,275 (1996)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 291,075 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 273,465 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.70 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0607 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada was 14.6% 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 14.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 1990.
- How does Canada rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Canada ranks 63rd out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release