Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Germany
Germany: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 14.55 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Germany, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Germany stood at 14.55 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Germany peaked at 14.55 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.14 years, in 1990.
Germany ranks 1st of 191 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, males vs. females in Germany, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.14 years | — |
| 1991 | 11.38 years | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 11.61 years | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 11.85 years | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 12.08 years | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 12.32 years | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 12.57 years | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 12.83 years | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 13.08 years | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 13.33 years | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 13.59 years | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 13.77 years | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 13.95 years | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 14.14 years | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 14.32 years | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 14.24 years | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 14.15 years | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 14.21 years | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 14.29 years | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 14.34 years | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 14.35 years | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 14.39 years | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 14.42 years | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 14.42 years | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 14.47 years | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 14.49 years | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 14.52 years | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 14.44 years | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 14.36 years | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 14.45 years | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 14.54 years | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 14.55 years | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 14.55 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 14.55 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.22 years | 11.14 years | 13.33 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.1 years | 13.59 years | 14.34 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.43 years | 14.35 years | 14.52 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.55 years | 14.54 years | 14.55 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 2 Switzerland 14.29 years compare
- 3 Iceland 13.83 years compare
- 4 United States 13.82 years compare
More education data for Germany
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 3.68 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5802 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.61 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.123 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.27 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -1.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 247,884 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 35,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -1.47 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in Germany?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Germany was 14.55 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, males vs. females recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 14.55 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.14 years in 1990.
- How does Germany rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Germany ranks 1st out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. 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, males vs. females. 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) men over 25 years participated in formal education.