Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Germany
Germany: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 3.13 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Germany, 1991–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Germany stood at 3.13 million number. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Germany peaked at 3.13 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.03 million number, in 1992.
Germany ranks 14th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Germany, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.05 million number | — |
| 1992 | 2.03 million number | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 2.11 million number | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 2.13 million number | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 2.16 million number | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 2.14 million number | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 2.13 million number | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 2.78 million number | +30.4% |
| 2014 | 2.91 million number | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 2.98 million number | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 3.04 million number | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 3.09 million number | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 3.13 million number | +1.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3.13 million number is above the median for high income countries, which is 164,826 number, 19.0× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3.13 million number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 257,598 number, 12.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +30.4% | 2.13 million number | 2.78 million number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.11 million number | 2.03 million number | 2.16 million number | 7 |
| 2010s | 2.99 million number | 2.78 million number | 3.13 million number | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More education data for Germany
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.48 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.73 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Germany?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Germany was 3.13 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 3.13 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.03 million number in 1992.
- How does Germany rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Germany ranks 14th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.