Australia vs Germany: Share of the population with completed tertiary education

Australia
30.2
in 2020
Germany
30.4
in 2020
Australia rank
25th
Germany rank
24th

Share of the population with completed tertiary education over time

  • Australia
  • Germany
010203040187019452020

How they compare

Germany currently reports 30.4 against 30.2 in Australia, a difference of 0.2.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 31 shared years of data; in 1870 it was Germany ahead.

Australia ranks 25th and Germany ranks 24th of 111 countries.

Across the 16 decades both report, Australia averaged higher in 11 and Germany in 5.

Head to head by decade

Decade Australia Germany Difference Ahead
1870s 0 0.3 0.3 Germany
1880s 0.05 0.45 0.4 Germany
1890s 0.1 0.65 0.55 Germany
1900s 0.25 0.85 0.6 Germany
1910s 1.2 1.05 0.15 Australia
1920s 3.75 1.65 2.1 Australia
1930s 6.4 2.3 4.1 Australia
1940s 9 2.8 6.2 Australia
1950s 11.45 3.2 8.25 Australia
1960s 13.35 3.45 9.9 Australia
1970s 21.9 5.25 16.65 Australia
1980s 24.1 10.25 13.85 Australia
1990s 28.45 16.1 12.35 Australia
2000s 29.75 22.75 7 Australia
2010s 35.8 25.55 10.25 Australia
2020s 30.2 30.4 0.2 Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher share of the population with completed tertiary education, Australia or Germany?
Germany, at 30.4 against 30.2 in Australia as of 2020.
What is the difference in share of the population with completed tertiary education between Australia and Germany?
0.2, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Germany?
31 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
How do Australia and Germany rank globally for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
Australia ranks 25th and Germany ranks 24th of 111 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Our World in Data, published as Share of the population with completed tertiary education. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs Germany: Share of the population with completed tertiary education. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/share-of-the-population-with-completed-tertiary-education/australia/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population with completed tertiary education
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed