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EU Comparison

EU Comparison

CSO statistical publication, , 11am

This chapter takes a comparative approach, looking at the key adult learning statistics across the European Union. It gives a benchmark, enabling us to assess Ireland's position relative to the EU-27 average and other member states.

Ireland is ranked 6th in the EU-27 for participation in lifelong learning

  • Participation in lifelong learning among adults aged 25-69 in Ireland in 2022 (52%) was higher the EU-27 average of 44% and Ireland ranked 6th among the 27 EU countries.
  • Sweden reported the highest participation rate in lifelong learning in 2022 (70%) while Greece reported the lowest (15%). See Figure 7.1 & Table 7.1.
Persons aged 25-69 who participated in lifelong learning in education and training in EU member states, 2022EU-27
Sweden7044
Netherlands6244
Germany5744
Hungary5744
Austria5544
Ireland5244
Denmark5044
Slovakia5044
Finland4944
Latvia4944
France4844
Luxembourg4744
Spain4644
Estonia4544
Malta4344
Cyprus4244
Czechia4144
Portugal4144
Slovenia4044
Belgium3844
Italy3344
Lithuania2944
Croatia2444
Romania2344
Poland2244
Bulgaria1944
Greece1544

You can access this data on the Eurostat website

Table 7.1 Percentage of persons aged 25-69 by their participation rate in lifelong learning in education and training in EU member states, 2022

Sweden reported the highest participation rate in non-formal education

  • Participation in non-formal education for adults aged 25-69 in Ireland (48%) was higher the EU-27 average of 41% and Ireland ranked 7th among the 27 countries.
  • Sweden reported the highest participation rate in non-formal education in 2022 (62%) while Greece reported the lowest (13%). See Figure 7.2 & Table 7.2.
Persons aged 25-69 by their participation rate in non-formal education and training in EU member states, 2022EU-27
Sweden6241
Netherlands5941
Germany5441
Hungary5441
Austria5341
Ireland4841
Slovakia4841
France4741
Latvia4741
Denmark4541
Finland4441
Luxembourg4341
Spain4341
Estonia4241
Czechia4141
Cyprus4041
Malta4041
Slovenia3941
Portugal3841
Belgium3541
Italy3241
Lithuania2841
Romania2341
Croatia2241
Poland2041
Bulgaria1741
Greece1341

You can access this data on the Eurostat website

Table 7.2 Percentage of persons aged 25-69 by their participation rate in non-formal education and training in EU member states, 2022

Ireland is ranked 6th in the EU-27 for participation in formal education

  • Participation in formal education for adults aged 25-69 in Ireland (10%) was higher than the EU-27 average of 6% and Ireland ranked 6th among the 27 countries.
  • Sweden reported the highest participation rate in formal education in 2022 (19%) while Romania reported the lowest (1%). See Figure 7.3 & Table 7.3.
Persons aged 25-69 by their participation rate in formal education and training in EU member states, 2022EU-27
Sweden196
Finland136
Denmark116
Luxembourg116
Netherlands116
Ireland106
Hungary96
Spain96
Belgium76
Germany76
Malta76
Austria66
Estonia66
Portugal56
Cyprus46
Italy46
Latvia46
Poland46
Croatia36
France36
Greece36
Lithuania36
Slovakia36
Bulgaria26
Czechia26
Slovenia26
Romania16

You can access this data on the Eurostat website

Table 7.3 Percentage of persons aged 25-69 by their participation rate in formal education and training in EU member states, 2022