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 12.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
12.1%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
78th
of 110 countries
All-time high
13.4%
in 2013
All-time low
9.6%
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
In 2024, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in United States of America stood at 12.1%.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 8.6% 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 13.4% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 9.6%, in 1995.
United States of America ranks 78th 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 | 9.7% | — |
| 1995 | 9.6% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 9.9% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 10.1% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 10.2% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 10.4% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 10.0% | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 10.3% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 10.5% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 10.7% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 10.8% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 10.8% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 10.8% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 11.0% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 11.2% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 11.6% | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 11.9% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 12.0% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | +11.8% |
| 2014 | 13.2% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 13.1% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 13.1% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 13.0% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 12.9% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 12.7% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 12.4% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 12.0% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 11.9% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | +0.5% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 12.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.5%, 69% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.0% | 9.6% | 10.4% | 6 |
| 2000s | 10.7% | 10.0% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 11.6% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.1% | 11.9% | 12.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
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 12.1% 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 13.4% 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 9.6% 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 78th 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 8.6%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release