Which has higher average years of schooling, Germany or OECD (AHDI)?

Germany, at 14.09 years against 12.99 years in OECD (AHDI) as of 2020.

How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and OECD (AHDI)?

24 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.

Where does this data come from?

Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Average years of schooling. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Germany vs OECD (AHDI): Average years of schooling

Germany

14.09 years

in 2020

OECD (AHDI)

12.99 years

in 2020

Germany rank

1st

OECD (AHDI) rank

1st

Average years of schooling over time

Germany
OECD (AHDI)

How they compare

Germany currently reports 14.09 years against 12.99 years in OECD (AHDI), a difference of 1.1 years.

That makes Germany's figure about 1.1 times OECD (AHDI)'s.

Across all 24 years both countries report, Germany has been ahead every year.

Germany ranks 1st and OECD (AHDI) ranks 1st of 162 countries.

Germany has averaged higher in every one of the 15 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Germany	OECD (AHDI)	Difference	Ahead
1870s	5.44 years	3.48 years	1.96 years	Germany
1880s	5.7 years	4.02 years	1.68 years	Germany
1890s	6.1 years	4.6 years	1.5 years	Germany
1900s	6.47 years	5.13 years	1.34 years	Germany
1910s	6.99 years	5.68 years	1.31 years	Germany
1920s	7.55 years	6.55 years	0.9999 years	Germany
1930s	8.12 years	7.05 years	1.07 years	Germany
1950s	8.79 years	7.97 years	0.822 years	Germany
1960s	10.05 years	8.99 years	1.06 years	Germany
1970s	11.41 years	10.11 years	1.3 years	Germany
1980s	12.52 years	11.1 years	1.43 years	Germany
1990s	13.06 years	11.91 years	1.16 years	Germany
2000s	12.91 years	12.39 years	0.5219 years	Germany
2010s	13.08 years	12.62 years	0.4651 years	Germany
2020s	14.09 years	12.99 years	1.1 years	Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher average years of schooling, Germany or OECD (AHDI)?: Germany, at 14.09 years against 12.99 years in OECD (AHDI) as of 2020.
What is the difference in average years of schooling between Germany and OECD (AHDI)?: 1.1 years, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and OECD (AHDI)?: 24 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
How do Germany and OECD (AHDI) rank globally for average years of schooling?: Germany ranks 1st and OECD (AHDI) ranks 1st of 162 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Average years of schooling. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Germany vs OECD (AHDI): Average years of schooling. Statizoid, drawing on Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/years-of-schooling-prados-de-la-escosura/germany/oecd-ahdi/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/years-of-schooling-prados-de-la-escosura/germany/oecd-ahdi/">Germany vs OECD (AHDI): Average years of schooling</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Average years of schooling
Unit: years
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 163 places, 3,421 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.