Eurostat data shows rise in EU adult education participation

Participation in formal or non-formal education and training among adults aged 25 to 64 increased across the European Union, rising from 10.1% in 2015 to 13.7% in 2025. According to Eurostat data released on Monday, this growth was observed in nearly all member states, with only France, Luxembourg, and Denmark reporting slight declines. In Cyprus, the participation rate grew from 7.5% in 2015 to 12% in 2025.

Sweden led the bloc in 2025 with a 38.2% participation rate, followed by Denmark (31%) and Finland (28.1%). Conversely, the lowest engagement levels were recorded in Greece (5.2%), Bulgaria (6.1%), and Croatia (6.5%). Significant gains were noted in Malta (+12.3 percentage points) and Estonia (+11.9 points).

Eurostat noted that the decade-long upward trend remained largely steady, interrupted only by a temporary decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures. The data reflects a widespread shift toward lifelong learning across the EU, although substantial disparities remain between northern and southern member states.