Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Germany

Germany: Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 26.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
26.5%
Change on year
down 4.7%
World rank
37th
of 44 countries
All-time high
27.8%
in 2020
All-time low
15.4%
in 2006
Years of data
16
2006–2021

Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Germany, 2006–2021

01020302006201320212006: 15.4 %2007: 15.8 %2008: 18.2 %2009: 17.1 %2010: 18.8 %2011: 19.8 %2012: 21.4 %2013: 24.5 %2014: 23.6 %2015: 25.1 %2016: 25 %2017: 25.7 %2018: 26.2 %2019: 27.1 %2020: 27.8 %2021: 26.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Germany recorded 26.5% for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.7% on the previous year and up 33.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Germany peaked at 27.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.4%, in 2006.

Germany ranks 37th of 44 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Germany, year by year

Annual values for Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%) in Germany, 2006 to 2021.
Year % Change
2006 15.4%
2007 15.8% +2.6%
2008 18.2% +15.4%
2009 17.1% -6.0%
2010 18.8% +9.8%
2011 19.8% +5.4%
2012 21.4% +8.1%
2013 24.5% +14.3%
2014 23.6% -3.4%
2015 25.1% +6.4%
2016 25.0% -0.5%
2017 25.7% +2.6%
2018 26.2% +2.0%
2019 27.1% +3.4%
2020 27.8% +2.7%
2021 26.5% -4.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 16.6% 15.4% 18.2% 4
2010s 23.7% 18.8% 27.1% 10
2020s 27.2% 26.5% 27.8% 2

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 34 Finland 31.3% compare
  2. 35 Poland 31.2% compare
  3. 36 United Kingdom 28.6% compare
  4. 38 Guatemala 26.1% compare
  5. 39 Hungary 25.7% compare
  6. 40 Sweden 23.1% compare

See the full ranking of 44 places →

More education data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Germany?
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Germany was 26.5% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 27.8% in 2020.
What is the lowest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 15.4% in 2006.
How does Germany rank for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
Germany ranks 37th out of 44 countries with data for 2021.
Is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is up 33.9%. 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 Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-attendance-ratio-for-tertiary-education-both-sexes-percent-2/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
44 places, 712 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release