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 56.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
56.6%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
60th
of 110 countries
All-time high
57.5%
in 2021
All-time low
42.4%
in 1990
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
Canada recorded 56.6% for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Canada peaked at 57.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 42.4%, in 1990.
Canada ranks 60th of 110 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 42.4% | — |
| 1991 | 44.5% | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 46.0% | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 47.6% | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 48.3% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 48.4% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 49.3% | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 50.9% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 50.9% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 51.2% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 50.8% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 51.7% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 51.6% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 51.7% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 51.5% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 52.1% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 51.9% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 51.8% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 51.4% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 52.4% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 53.2% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 52.7% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 53.1% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 53.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 52.8% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 53.2% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 53.8% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 54.4% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 54.4% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 54.5% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 54.9% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 57.5% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 56.7% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 56.2% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 56.6% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.9% | 42.4% | 51.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.7% | 50.8% | 52.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.5% | 52.7% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.4% | 54.9% | 57.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 57 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 57.3% compare
- 58 United States of America 57.0% compare
- 59 Albania 57.0% compare
- 61 South Africa 56.3% compare
- 62 Togo 56.1% compare
- 63 Bhutan 54.5% 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 56.6% 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 57.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.4% in 1990.
- How does Canada rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Canada ranks 60th 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 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, 15-24 years old, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release