Germany vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

Germany
3.27 million
in 2024
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
3.20 million
in 2023
Germany rank
15th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
16th

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time

  • Germany
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1.0M2.0M3.0M197119972024

How they compare

Germany currently reports 3.27 million against 3.20 million in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 74,480.

Across all 18 years both countries report, Germany has been ahead every year.

Germany ranks 15th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 16th of 200 countries.

Germany has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1990s 2.11 million 1.62 million 485,384 Germany
2010s 3.03 million 2.42 million 607,847 Germany
2020s 3.33 million 3.01 million 319,022 Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, Germany or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Germany, at 3.27 million against 3.20 million in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2024.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
74,480, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
18 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2023.
How do Germany and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Germany ranks 15th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 16th of 200 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Germany vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/germany/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
421 places, 18,321 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release