Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium
Belgium: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 80.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
80.7%
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
2nd
of 110 countries
All-time high
80.8%
in 2021
All-time low
60.9%
in 1992
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium, 1990–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 80.7% for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium peaked at 80.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 60.9%, in 1992.
Belgium ranks 2nd of 110 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 61.8% | — |
| 1991 | 61.2% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 60.9% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 63.5% | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 63.6% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 65.1% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 67.9% | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 67.9% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 64.1% | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 70.3% | +9.7% |
| 2000 | 67.1% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 68.9% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 68.4% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 69.4% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 71.5% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 66.1% | -7.5% |
| 2006 | 67.6% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 68.1% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 68.7% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 70.0% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 70.3% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 69.4% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 70.0% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 70.3% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 71.0% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 70.6% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 73.8% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 74.8% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 72.3% | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 72.2% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 75.7% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 80.8% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 78.5% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 80.7% | +2.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 80.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 72.6%, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 80.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 73.4%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.6% | 60.9% | 70.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.6% | 66.1% | 71.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.5% | 69.4% | 74.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.9% | 75.7% | 80.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium was 80.7% 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 80.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.9% in 1992.
- How does Belgium rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Belgium ranks 2nd out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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, 15-24 years old, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release