Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Germany
Germany: Literacy rates vs average years of schooling was 98.5 in 1950. ◆ Volatile
Latest (1950)
98.5
World rank
18th
of 128 countries
All-time high
98.5
in 1950
All-time low
9
in 1475
Years of data
5
1475–1950
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Germany, 1475–1950
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Germany recorded 98.5 for literacy rates vs average years of schooling in 1950. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Over the whole period, literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Germany peaked at 98.5 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 9, in 1475.
That places Germany 18th out of 128 countries with data for 1950, putting it in the top quarter.
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1475 | 9 | — |
| 1550 | 16 | +77.8% |
| 1650 | 31 | +93.8% |
| 1750 | 38 | +22.6% |
| 1950 | 98.5 | +159.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 98.5 is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.65, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Germany's 98.5 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.5, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1470s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| 1550s | 16 | 16 | 16 | 1 |
| 1650s | 31 | 31 | 31 | 1 |
| 1750s | 38 | 38 | 38 | 1 |
| 1950s | 98.5 | 98.5 | 98.5 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 15 Poland 98.74 compare
- 16 Mongolia 98.64
- 17 Montenegro 98.53
- 18 Finland 98.5 compare
- 18 Ireland 98.5 compare
- 18 Netherlands 98.5 compare
- 18 Sweden 98.5 compare
- 18 United Kingdom 98.5 compare
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 literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Germany?
- Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Germany was 98.5 in 1950, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 98.5 in 1950.
- What is the lowest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 9 in 1475.
- How does Germany rank for literacy rates vs average years of schooling?
- Germany ranks 18th out of 128 countries with data for 1950.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates vs average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).