At the beginning of 2023, 865.1 thousand persons aged 0–29 lived in Lithuania (30.2 per cent of the total population). Compared to the respective period of 2022, the number of persons aged 0–29 increased by 16.7 thousand, or 1.9 per cent. 

Lithuanians are among the most educated people in Europe

In 2022, the number of persons aged 25–64 having the high education level, totalled 728.8 thousand, which is by 34.3 thousand more than in 2021, and accounted for 46.5 per cent of the total population aged 25–64. This proportion is steadily increasing and, among the EU member states, Lithuania is one of the leading countries (EU 27 – 34.3 per cent).

Potential of the society development is best reflected by the share of young educated people. In 2022, persons of the said age accounted for 61 per cent (EU 27 – 42.8 per cent). This indicator has maintained a steady upward trend over the last decade.

According to the Labour Force Survey data, in 2022, in the four weeks preceding the survey, the share of population aged 25–64 who pursued either formal or non-formal education accounted for 8.5 per cent (ES 27 – 11.9 per cent).

As is the case for other education indicators, the difference between women and men, as well as urban and rural population is obvious.

At the beginning of the 2022–2023 academic year, the number of pupils and students per 1,000 population totalled 165.6 (in 2021–2023, 164.7). In the 2022–2023 academic year, the number of students totalled 473.7 thousand, or almost each sixth resident of Lithuania. Compared to the 2021–2022 academic year, the number of students increased by 13.3 thousand, or 2.9 per cent.

Over a year, the number of general schools decreased from 957 to 910. In 2022, the number of first graders in general lower secondary schools amounted to 31 thousand, or by 2.1 thousand (7 per cent) less than in 2021. At the beginning of the 2022–2023 academic year, the number of pupils educated according to lower secondary education programmes totalled  344.6thousand.

In the 2022–2023 academic year, there were 53 vocational education institutions having almost 26.8 thousand students. 13.5 thousand (50.5 per cent) students, alongside acquiring a profession, pursued upper secondary education. In 2022, in vocational schools, a vocational qualification was obtained by 8.5 thousand graduates.

At the beginning of the 2022–2023 academic year, there were 102.4 thousand students in schools of higher education, of whom 71.5 thousand – at universities, 30.9 thousand – in colleges. In 2022, against 2021, the number of students in schools of higher education decreased by 1 per cent. 39.2 per cent of the youth aged 20–24 were pursuing higher education (in 2021, 39.7 per cent).

Total (level 0–8)

299,858

299,564

295,420

295,932

294,727

297,165

295,657

298,574

303,894

306,312

Early childhood education (level 0)

67,374

63,784

67,756

63,641

68,448

64,055

69,604

64,876

70,307

65,665

Primary education (level 1)

60,539

57,137

60,851

57,765

59,780

56,902

59,590

56,655

62,109

59,424

Lower secondary education (level 2)

84,262

78,506

84,920

79,659

85,753

81,267

87,559

82,930

91,955

87,080

Upper secondary education (level 3)

33,389

30,069

31,211

28,470

32,043

28,654

31,674

28,437

32,390

29,507

Post-secondary non-tertiary education (level 4)

5,968

6,626

5,193

5,432

4,673

5,418

3,999

4,990

4,104

4,762

Bachelor’s or equivalent level (level 6)

37,502

44,676

34,834

42,296

33,342

41,829

32,531

41,507

32,271

40,900

Master’s or equivalent level (level 7)

9,648

17,222

9,446

17,145

9,510

17,494

9,552

17,670

9,599

17,468

Doctoral studies (level 8)

1,176

1,544

1,209

1,524

1,178

1,546

1,148

1,509

1,159

1,506

Currently, the share of young people in Lithuania who are neither working nor studying, compared to other EU member states, does not seem to be alarming. In the past 5 years, the percentage of young persons aged 15–24 who are not in employment, education or training has decreased: in 2022, they accounted for 9.7 per cent of the total population of the said age (in 2021, 10.9 per cent). 

The share of young people aged 18–24 who did not attain medium level of education and did not continue education in the past decade decreased from 6.5 per cent in 2012 to 4.8 per cent in 2022. Among early leavers from education, the number of men exceeds that of women.

Non-formal education of older people – third-age universities

In the context of the ageing population, more emphasis is placed on the creation of conditions facilitating older people to remain active, full and integrated members of our society. One of the means to ensure such conditions is the establishment of special educational institutions for older people.

The Law on Non-formal Adult Education of the Republic of Lithuania¹ sets out that a provider of non-formal adult education and continuing learning – a school, a freelance teacher or another provider of education (a library, a museum, a University of the Third Age or another institution, company, organisation, as well as a legal entity or another organisation of the Member State or their departments established in the Republic of Lithuania, for which education is not the main activity) has the right to carry out non-formal adult education and continuing learning in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts.

A university of the third age is a non-formal adult education and continuing learning provider, its unit or a non-formal adult education and continuing learning programme providing non-formal education and continuing learning for older people and satisfying their knowledge, competence development and cultural needs¹.

Problem of providers of non-formal adult education services

The Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre, after the analysis and researches² of the situation of non-formal adult education, states that there are 66 independently acting third-age universities (TAU) (the 2018 data). 23 non-formal educational institutions, containing the words “third-age university” in its title, were registered in the Register of Educational and Scientific Establishments (RESE).

There is a problem caused by the absence of a single system of non-formal adult education or learning services providing institutions, and therefore the number of the aforementioned institutions given in different sources may vary.

Medardas Čobotas Third Age University in Vilnius, founded in 1995, is a pioneer of third-age universities

Medardas Čobotas Third Age University (MČTAU) is a public non-formal educational institution for older people, non-profit legal entity. Legal form – association. It belongs to the National Association of Third Age Universities and the National Network of Education NGOs. The University fully supports the better social inclusion and empowerment of older people and their active participation in public opinion and decision-making processes. It promotes intergenerational communication based on the principles of solidarity and cooperation.

The activities of the University are very diverse: lectures, conferences, forums, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, concerts, festivals, various physical activity exercises, volunteer activities, etc. In 2022, over 1,000 various events were organized at MČTAU. Local and international projects are carried out. Currently, the University has 12 faculties, 3 art collectives, the Experience Lab and various clubs.

In 2022, 392 new students registered at the University, of whom 52 men and 14 families. In the academic year 2022–2023, the number of students totalled almost 2,000. The Faculties of Tourism, Culture, Foreign Languages and Healthy Lifestyle were the most popular among the students.

The University’s objectives:

- To promote the involvement of older people in non-formal adult education, emphasising the importance of lifelong learning for a full and harmonious life;

- To improve communication and cooperation with other institutions to form and promote a positive image of the elderly;

- To promote volunteering and create a culture of partnership and social dialogue;

- To ensure the targeted development and continuity of the activities of the University.

The University’s tasks:

- To improve the relevance and quality of MČTAU training based on the needs of the students;

- To organise activities to support the effective and enriching life of the participants by increasing the attractiveness of the University;

- To improve the internal and external communication of the University;

- To promote closer cooperation with the social partners and other third-age universities (TAUs);

- To create a culture of MČTAU open organisation;

- To strengthen the volunteering and involvement of MČTAU students in the management and activities of the University;

- To participate in various voluntary activities (long- and short-term) outside MČTAU;

- To promote social dialogue;

- To strive for transparent regulation of the University’s activities.

The European Parliament welcomed positive contribution of the University and awarded the honorary Citizen of Europe Name in 2016.

Third-age universities (TAUs), operating in 51 cities/towns and regions of Lithuania, have founded the Association of Third Age Universities, uniting over 12 thousand older age people.

MČTAU cooperates with partners: other TAUs, Botanical Garden of Vilnius University, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius University of Applied Sciences, Vilnius City Municipality, Municipality of Karoliniškės, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society, and other.

MČTAU participates in the activities of the projects carried out not only in Lithuania but also abroad. In 2022, the University participated in 9 projects:

Information about the activities of MČTAU and the National Association of Third Age Universities is available at http://www.mctau.lt/ and http://www.tauasociacija.lt/.

This information has is prepared based on the data of Medardas Čobotas Third Age University, the Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre (KPMPC), and this is not official statistics.

We are grateful to Medardas Čobotas Third Age University for cooperation.