Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Germany
Germany: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 30.4 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Germany, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Germany recorded 30.4 for share of the population with completed tertiary education in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Germany peaked at 30.4 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.3, in 1870.
That places Germany 24th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.3 | — |
| 1875 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1885 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1890 | 0.6 | +20.0% |
| 1895 | 0.7 | +16.7% |
| 1900 | 0.8 | +14.3% |
| 1905 | 0.9 | +12.5% |
| 1910 | 1 | +11.1% |
| 1915 | 1.1 | +10.0% |
| 1920 | 1.5 | +36.4% |
| 1925 | 1.8 | +20.0% |
| 1930 | 2.1 | +16.7% |
| 1935 | 2.5 | +19.0% |
| 1940 | 2.7 | +8.0% |
| 1945 | 2.9 | +7.4% |
| 1950 | 3.1 | +6.9% |
| 1955 | 3.3 | +6.5% |
| 1960 | 3.4 | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 3.5 | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 3.6 | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 6.9 | +91.7% |
| 1980 | 9.3 | +34.8% |
| 1985 | 11.2 | +20.4% |
| 1990 | 13.9 | +24.1% |
| 1995 | 18.3 | +31.7% |
| 2000 | 22.3 | +21.9% |
| 2005 | 23.2 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 26.6 | +14.7% |
| 2015 | 24.5 | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 30.4 | +24.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.45 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.65 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.85 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 1910s | 1.05 | 1 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 1920s | 1.65 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2 |
| 1930s | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2 |
| 1950s | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.45 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.25 | 3.6 | 6.9 | 2 |
| 1980s | 10.25 | 9.3 | 11.2 | 2 |
| 1990s | 16.1 | 13.9 | 18.3 | 2 |
| 2000s | 22.75 | 22.3 | 23.2 | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.55 | 24.5 | 26.6 | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.4 | 30.4 | 30.4 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More education data for Germany
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 283,851 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 62.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 13.9% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 10 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 102.64 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 102.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Germany?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Germany was 30.4 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 30.4 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3 in 1870.
- How does Germany rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Germany ranks 24th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with completed tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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