Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Germany
Germany: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 14.3 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Germany, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Germany recorded 14.3 years for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Germany peaked at 14.3 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 10.36 years, in 1990.
Germany ranks 1st of 192 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Germany, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.36 years | — |
| 1991 | 10.57 years | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 10.78 years | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 10.99 years | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 11.21 years | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 11.42 years | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 11.62 years | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 11.82 years | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 12.02 years | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 12.22 years | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 12.42 years | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 12.76 years | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 13.11 years | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 13.45 years | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 13.8 years | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 13.7 years | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 13.6 years | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 13.68 years | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 13.76 years | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 13.83 years | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 13.85 years | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 13.93 years | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 13.98 years | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 14.01 years | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 14.04 years | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 14.08 years | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 14.13 years | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 14.11 years | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 14.08 years | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 14.17 years | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 14.26 years | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 14.3 years | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 14.3 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 14.3 years | +0.0% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 14.3 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 1.2× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Germany's 14.3 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.3 years | 10.36 years | 12.22 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.41 years | 12.42 years | 13.83 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.04 years | 13.85 years | 14.17 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.29 years | 14.26 years | 14.3 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 2 Switzerland 13.95 years compare
- 3 United States 13.91 years compare
- 4 Iceland 13.91 years compare
More education data for Germany
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 618,670 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,242 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.35 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.27 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.97 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.31 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0396 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Germany?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Germany was 14.3 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 14.3 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.36 years in 1990.
- How does Germany rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Germany ranks 1st out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.