Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in Germany

Germany: Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes was 28.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
28.7%
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
38th
of 42 countries
All-time high
29.8%
in 2020
All-time low
16.7%
in 2006
Years of data
16
2006–2021

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

01020302006201320212006: 16.7 %2007: 17 %2008: 19.3 %2009: 18 %2010: 20 %2011: 20.5 %2012: 23.2 %2013: 26.7 %2014: 25.9 %2015: 27.4 %2016: 27.5 %2017: 28.2 %2018: 28.6 %2019: 29.6 %2020: 29.8 %2021: 28.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2021, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in Germany stood at 28.7%.

The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and up 39.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in Germany peaked at 29.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.7%, in 2006.

Germany ranks 38th of 42 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, urban, both sexes in Germany, year by year

Annual values for Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes (%) in Germany, 2006 to 2021.
Year % Change
2006 16.7%
2007 17.0% +1.7%
2008 19.3% +13.7%
2009 18.0% -6.6%
2010 20.0% +11.0%
2011 20.5% +2.7%
2012 23.2% +13.0%
2013 26.7% +15.1%
2014 25.9% -2.8%
2015 27.4% +5.4%
2016 27.5% +0.6%
2017 28.2% +2.4%
2018 28.6% +1.5%
2019 29.6% +3.3%
2020 29.8% +0.8%
2021 28.7% -3.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 17.7% 16.7% 19.3% 4
2010s 25.8% 20.0% 29.6% 10
2020s 29.2% 28.7% 29.8% 2

Countries ranked near Germany

  1. 35 Estonia 34.4% compare
  2. 36 Hungary 30.6% compare
  3. 37 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 29.8% compare
  4. 39 Austria 28.3% compare
  5. 40 Sweden 27.2% compare
  6. 41 Denmark 23.9% compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More education data for Germany

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in Germany?
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in Germany was 28.7% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes recorded in Germany?
The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 2020.
What is the lowest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes recorded in Germany?
The lowest recorded value was 16.7% in 2006.
How does Germany rank for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes?
Germany ranks 38th out of 42 countries with data for 2021.
Is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Germany?
Over the last ten years it is up 39.6%. 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, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-attendance-ratio-for-tertiary-education-urban-both-sexes-percent-2/germany/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
42 places, 699 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release