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 12.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
12.4%
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
75th
of 110 countries
All-time high
12.8%
in 1993
All-time low
11.3%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024
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 12.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada peaked at 12.8% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 2020.
Canada ranks 75th of 110 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling 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 | 11.5% | — |
| 1991 | 12.1% | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 12.5% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 12.8% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 12.6% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 12.6% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 12.4% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 12.5% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 12.5% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 12.4% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 12.2% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 12.7% | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 12.5% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 12.2% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 12.6% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 12.1% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 12.0% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 11.8% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 12.3% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 12.2% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 11.9% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 11.7% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 11.7% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 11.8% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 11.7% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 11.3% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 11.8% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 11.6% | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 12.4% | +3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.4% | 11.5% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.2% | 11.8% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 11.3% | 12.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 72 Tunisia 12.9% compare
- 73 Austria 12.7% compare
- 74 Iran, Islamic Republic of 12.6% compare
- 76 Georgia 12.2% compare
- 77 Tanzania, United Republic of 12.2% compare
- 78 United States of America 12.1% 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 12.4% 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 12.8% in 1993.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Canada 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 Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release