Share of the population with lower secondary education in Germany
Germany: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 94.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Germany, 2004–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of the population with lower secondary education in Germany stood at 94.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in Germany peaked at 97.8% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 94.8%, in 2022.
That places Germany 26th out of 135 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 97.8% | — |
| 2005 | 96.9% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 96.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 97.1% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 96.7% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 96.7% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 96.5% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 96.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 96.7% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 96.7% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 96.8% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 96.7% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 96.5% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 96.4% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 96.3% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 96.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 95.7% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 94.8% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 94.8% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 97.0% | 96.7% | 97.8% | 6 |
| 2010s | 96.6% | 96.3% | 96.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 95.1% | 94.8% | 95.7% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More education data for Germany
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -1.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 247,884 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 35,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -1.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.62 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -2.38 % change on previous year (2024)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in Germany?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in Germany was 94.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 97.8% in 2004.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 94.8% in 2022.
- How does Germany rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- Germany ranks 26th out of 135 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.