Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both was 18.0% in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
18.0%
Change on year
down 6.6%
World rank
24th
of 163 countries
All-time high
19.3%
in 2017
All-time low
1.8%
in 1971
Years of data
43
1971–2018

Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2018

051015201971199420181971: 1.8 %1972: 1.8 %1973: 2 %1974: 2 %1975: 2.2 %1976: 2.6 %1977: 2.9 %1978: 2.9 %1979: 2.9 %1981: 2.9 %1982: 3.2 %1983: 3.5 %1984: 3.3 %1986: 4.3 %1987: 4.5 %1990: 5.2 %1991: 5.7 %1992: 6.7 %1993: 10.7 %1994: 12.2 %1995: 12.4 %1996: 12.6 %1997: 12 %1998: 9.4 %1999: 14.2 %2000: 14.9 %2001: 14.8 %2002: 15.8 %2003: 14.4 %2004: 17.1 %2005: 17.3 %2006: 12.2 %2007: 12.3 %2008: 8.8 %2009: 8.2 %2010: 8.8 %2011: 5.4 %2012: 5.7 %2013: 18.1 %2014: 19.3 %2015: 17.9 %2017: 19.3 %2018: 18 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 18.0% for proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in 2018.

That represents a change of down 6.6% on the previous year and up 105.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 19.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1971.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 24th of 163 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both sexes (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971 to 2018.
Year % Change
1971 1.8%
1972 1.8% +3.3%
1973 2.0% +7.4%
1974 2.0% -0.7%
1975 2.2% +14.2%
1976 2.6% +18.5%
1977 2.9% +8.5%
1978 2.9% -0.0%
1979 2.9% +2.1%
1981 2.9% -1.6%
1982 3.2% +11.3%
1983 3.5% +8.6%
1984 3.3% -4.3%
1986 4.3% +29.5%
1987 4.5% +4.8%
1990 5.2% +15.0%
1991 5.7% +9.5%
1992 6.7% +17.2%
1993 10.7% +60.4%
1994 12.2% +14.2%
1995 12.4% +1.1%
1996 12.6% +2.2%
1997 12.0% -5.3%
1998 9.4% -21.6%
1999 14.2% +51.2%
2000 14.9% +5.1%
2001 14.8% -0.7%
2002 15.8% +6.6%
2003 14.4% -8.8%
2004 17.1% +18.9%
2005 17.3% +1.1%
2006 12.2% -29.6%
2007 12.3% +1.1%
2008 8.8% -28.6%
2009 8.2% -6.2%
2010 8.8% +7.1%
2011 5.4% -38.6%
2012 5.7% +4.4%
2013 18.1% +219.9%
2014 19.3% +6.4%
2015 17.9% -7.3%
2017 19.3% +8.2%
2018 18.0% -6.6%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 18.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.7%, 1.7× the median. (67 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 18.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 17.2%, 1.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2013 +219.9% 5.7% 18.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.3% 1.8% 2.9% 9
1980s 3.6% 2.9% 4.5% 6
1990s 10.1% 5.2% 14.2% 10
2000s 13.6% 8.2% 17.3% 10
2010s 14.1% 5.4% 19.3% 8

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 21 France 19.3% compare
  2. 22 Suriname 18.5% compare
  3. 23 Hungary 18.2% compare
  4. 25 Norway 17.4% compare
  5. 26 Latvia 17.0% compare
  6. 27 Bulgaria 16.6% compare

See the full ranking of 206 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 18.0% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 2017.
What is the lowest proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1971.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 24th out of 163 countries with data for 2018.
Is proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 105.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-15-24-year-olds-enrolled-in-vocational-education-both-sexes-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of 15-24 year-olds enrolled in vocational education, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
206 places, 4,463 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of young people aged 15-24 years participating in technical or vocational education either in formal or non-formal (e.g. work-based or other settings) education, on a given date or during a specified period. The figure is calculated as the number of young people aged 15-24 years participating in technical and vocational education at secondary, post-secondary non-tertiary or tertiary levels of education is expressed as a percentage of the population of the same age group. The data source is administrative data from schools and other places of education and training or household survey data on enrolment in technical and vocational programmes by single year of age; population censuses and surveys for population estimates for the age group 15-24 years (if using administrative data on enrolment). Technical and vocational education and training can be offered in a variety of settings including schools and universities, workplace environments and others. Administrative data often capture only provision in formal settings such as schools and universities. Participation rates do not capture the intensity or quality of the provision nor the outcomes of the education and training on offer. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute for Statistics: http://uis.unesco.org/