Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal
Portugal: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 26.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 26.4%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.0% on the previous year and up 36.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal peaked at 26.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 1990.
Portugal ranks 12th of 110 countries on this measure, 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.3% | — |
| 1991 | 12.0% | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 15.1% | +25.9% |
| 1993 | 15.4% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 16.3% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 16.4% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 16.6% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 15.9% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 14.7% | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 14.8% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 15.1% | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 14.8% | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 13.7% | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 14.5% | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 14.4% | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 14.2% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 13.9% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 15.0% | +7.5% |
| 2009 | 16.0% | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 15.2% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 21.0% | +38.9% |
| 2012 | 20.3% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 19.6% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 19.5% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 19.7% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 19.9% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 20.6% | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 20.5% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 20.5% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 23.6% | +15.3% |
| 2022 | 25.0% | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 24.0% | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 26.4% | +10.0% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 26.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.3%, 1.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 26.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 17.2%, 1.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.9% | 11.3% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.7% | 13.7% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.6% | 15.2% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.9% | 20.5% | 26.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Portugal was 26.4% 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 26.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 1990.
- How does Portugal rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Portugal ranks 12th out of 110 countries with data for 2024.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal 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