Lifelong learning participation in EU and Cyprus rises in 2025

Data published by Eurostat on September 14, 2026, reveals a decade-long increase in adult participation in formal and non-formal education across the European Union. In 2025, 13.7% of adults aged 25 to 64 participated in such programs, up from 10.1% in 2015. On the national level, Cyprus mirrored this upward trend, with participation rates climbing from 7.5% in 2015 to 12% in 2025.

While growth remained steady throughout the decade, Eurostat noted a temporary dip in 2020 attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency containment measures. Sweden led the EU with a 38.2% participation rate in 2025, followed by Denmark at 31% and Finland at 28.1%. Conversely, the lowest rates were observed in Greece (5.2%), Bulgaria (6.1%), and Croatia (6.5%).

Participation improved in almost all member states, with significant increases recorded in Malta, Estonia, and Belgium. Only France, Luxembourg, and Denmark reported minor declines. These figures are analyzed as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, which monitors quality education and the necessity for the workforce to adapt to evolving economic conditions.