Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Italy
Italy: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 21.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
21.5%
Change on year
up 11.8%
World rank
19th
of 110 countries
All-time high
21.5%
in 2023
All-time low
11.7%
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Italy, 1990–2023
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 Italy is 21.5%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 11.8% on the previous year and up 39.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Italy peaked at 21.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 1990.
That places Italy 19th out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.7% | — |
| 1991 | 13.1% | +12.2% |
| 1992 | 12.5% | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 13.3% | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 13.4% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 14.0% | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 13.9% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 14.2% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 14.2% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 14.4% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 14.6% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 14.3% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 14.4% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 15.7% | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 15.0% | -4.6% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 15.7% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 15.6% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 15.6% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 15.6% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 15.1% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 15.9% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 15.5% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 17.1% | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 16.7% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 17.5% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 17.3% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 17.6% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 16.6% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 18.9% | +13.5% |
| 2022 | 19.3% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 21.5% | +11.8% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 21.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.3%, 1.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Italy's 21.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 17.2%, 1.3× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.5% | 11.7% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 14.2% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.6% | 15.1% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 16.6% | 21.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 16 Timor-Leste 24.9% compare
- 17 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 22.2% compare
- 18 Uruguay 21.7% compare
- 20 Namibia 21.4% compare
- 21 Palestine, State of 21.3% compare
- 22 Argentina 21.0% compare
More education data for Italy
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Italy?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Italy was 21.5% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 21.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 1990.
- How does Italy rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Italy ranks 19th out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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