In 2016, among the Member States of the European Union, Denmark recorded by far the highest share of people who had participated in training courses related to their hobbies (41%), according to Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU.
Denmark was well ahead of Finland (20%), Germany and the Netherlands (both 18%) as well as Sweden (17%). At the opposite end of the scale, the lowest rates of hobby-related training were registered in Hungary and Romania (both 2%), followed by Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Portugal (all 5%).
Training related to hobbies includes non-formal learning activities, which improve knowledge, skills, competences and qualifications for personal or social reasons. At EU level, 11% of people participated in training courses related to their hobbies.
Overall in the EU, women participated in hobby-related training more than men (12% women compared with 10% men). The largest differences between the sexes were seen in Finland (25% women compared with 15% men) and Germany (22% women compared with 15% men).
At EU level, participation rates in training related to hobbies tended to increase along with the educational attainment level of the participants. The share was higher for people with a tertiary education level (18%) than for those with upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education (11%). Six percent of those with an education level of lower secondary, primary or less took hobby-related training courses.
From an age-group perspective, 22% of those aged 16-18 took hobby-related training. Interest declined incrementally with age, with 16% of those aged 19-24 following training courses, 14% of those aged 25-34 and 11% of those aged 35-64. Eight percent of people aged 65 years or over participated in this form of training.