Education in States and Nations: 1991

(ESN) Indicator 8: Participation in formal education

Participation in formal education is measured by the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) students enrolled in school per 100 persons aged 5 to 29 in the population. Participation is influenced not only by "demand" - the number of persons who can and wish to attend school - but also by "supply" - the number of places available. In terms of the latter, preprimary or post- compulsory education are more available in some states and countries than in others. A high participation ratio may reflect a corresponding high value placed on education by a society, or it may reflect an economy dependent on a highly trained workforce. In any event, national or state education strategies can produce a greater availability of educational opportunities.

• The participation ratio for 5- to 29-year-olds in the United States in 1991 was 57.7, even with France's ratio, and just above Japan's (57.1). Among the G-7 countries, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom had lower ratios, whereas Canada had a participation ratio higher than that of the United States.

• The United States and Canada had the highest ratios of persons participating in formal education at the higher education level, with ratios close to 13. Among the states, the ratio of 5- to 29-year-olds enrolled in higher education ranged from 7 in Alaska to 17 in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

• The state with the smallest ratio of persons enrolled in formal education, Nevada (52) had a higher ratio than 9 of the 22 other countries for which data are available.

Note on interpretation:

This enrollment ratio should not be interpreted as an enrollment rate. Enrollment ratios allow comparisons across states and nations by standardizing enrollment in a particular education level or, as with this indicator, across all education levels, to the size of the population of the age groups typical for enrollment at those levels. It is not, however, an estimate of the percentage of persons in those age groups who are enrolled in education. See supplemental note to Indicator 8 for a discussion of the calculation of this indicator.

Table 7b

Figure 8