Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Germany
Germany: Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions was 50.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Germany, 2013–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Germany is 50.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Germany peaked at 53.5% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 50.1%, in 2024.
Germany ranks 39th of 149 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 53.5% | — |
| 2014 | 53.3% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 52.8% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 52.5% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 52.3% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 52.1% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 51.8% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 51.3% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 50.9% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 50.7% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 50.4% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 50.1% | -0.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 50.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 43.0%, 1.2× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Germany's 50.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 43.4%, 1.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 52.6% | 51.8% | 53.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 50.7% | 50.1% | 51.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 36 China 50.4% compare
- 37 Greece 50.3% compare
- 38 Oman 50.1% compare
- 40 Russian Federation 50.0% compare
- 41 Iran, Islamic Republic of 49.9% compare
- 42 Turkmenistan 49.7% compare
More education data for Germany
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0396 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Germany?
- Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Germany was 50.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 53.5% in 2013.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.1% in 2024.
- How does Germany rank for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions?
- Germany ranks 39th out of 149 countries with data for 2024.
- Is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release