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 77.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium, 1990–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium stood at 77.9%. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Belgium peaked at 77.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 61.8%, in 1991.
That places Belgium 1st out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 | 62.5% | — |
| 1991 | 61.8% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 62.2% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 63.8% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 63.4% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 65.1% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 66.9% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 67.3% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 62.8% | -6.7% |
| 1999 | 68.2% | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 65.7% | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 67.0% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 66.7% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 67.6% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 68.9% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 64.6% | -6.3% |
| 2006 | 65.8% | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 66.4% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 67.3% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 68.4% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 68.5% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 67.4% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 66.8% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 67.7% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 68.8% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 68.5% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 71.7% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 72.3% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 70.4% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 70.7% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 72.5% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 77.4% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 75.9% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 77.9% | +2.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 77.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.2%, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 77.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69.2%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.4% | 61.8% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.8% | 64.6% | 68.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.3% | 66.8% | 72.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 75.9% | 72.5% | 77.9% | 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 77.9% 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 77.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.8% in 1991.
- How does Belgium rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Belgium ranks 1st 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 15.1%. 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, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release