How does Germany rank for theoretical duration of lower secondary education?

Germany ranks 1st out of 209 countries with data for 2020.

Is theoretical duration of lower secondary education rising or falling in Germany?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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, published as part of Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany

Name: Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany
Creator: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

Germany: Theoretical duration of lower secondary education was 6 years in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)

6 years

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 209 countries

All-time high

6 years

in 1970

All-time low

6 years

in 1970

Years of data

1970–2020

Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany, 1970–2020

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.

Analysis

In 2020, theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany stood at 6 years. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany peaked at 6 years in 1970 and was at its lowest, 6 years, in 1970.

That places Germany 1st out of 209 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany, year by year

Annual values for Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) in Germany, 1970 to 2020.
Year	years	Change
1970	6 years	—
1971	6 years	+0.0%
1972	6 years	+0.0%
1973	6 years	+0.0%
1974	6 years	+0.0%
1975	6 years	+0.0%
1976	6 years	+0.0%
1977	6 years	+0.0%
1978	6 years	+0.0%
1979	6 years	+0.0%
1980	6 years	+0.0%
1981	6 years	+0.0%
1982	6 years	+0.0%
1983	6 years	+0.0%
1984	6 years	+0.0%
1985	6 years	+0.0%
1986	6 years	+0.0%
1987	6 years	+0.0%
1988	6 years	+0.0%
1989	6 years	+0.0%
1990	6 years	+0.0%
1991	6 years	+0.0%
1992	6 years	+0.0%
1993	6 years	+0.0%
1994	6 years	+0.0%
1995	6 years	+0.0%
1996	6 years	+0.0%
1997	6 years	+0.0%
1998	6 years	+0.0%
1999	6 years	+0.0%
2000	6 years	+0.0%
2001	6 years	+0.0%
2002	6 years	+0.0%
2003	6 years	+0.0%
2004	6 years	+0.0%
2005	6 years	+0.0%
2006	6 years	+0.0%
2007	6 years	+0.0%
2008	6 years	+0.0%
2009	6 years	+0.0%
2010	6 years	+0.0%
2011	6 years	+0.0%
2012	6 years	+0.0%
2013	6 years	+0.0%
2014	6 years	+0.0%
2015	6 years	+0.0%
2016	6 years	+0.0%
2017	6 years	+0.0%
2018	6 years	+0.0%
2019	6 years	+0.0%
2020	6 years	+0.0%

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1970s	6 years	6 years	6 years	10
1980s	6 years	6 years	6 years	10
1990s	6 years	6 years	6 years	10
2000s	6 years	6 years	6 years	10
2010s	6 years	6 years	6 years	10
2020s	6 years	6 years	6 years	1

Countries ranked near Germany

1 Lithuania 6 years compare
1 Oman 6 years compare
1 Turkmenistan 6 years compare

See the full ranking of 209 places →

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)

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany?: Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany was 6 years in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest theoretical duration of lower secondary education recorded in Germany?: The highest recorded value was 6 years in 1970.
What is the lowest theoretical duration of lower secondary education recorded in Germany?: The lowest recorded value was 6 years in 1970.
How does Germany rank for theoretical duration of lower secondary education?: Germany ranks 1st out of 209 countries with data for 2020.
Is theoretical duration of lower secondary education rising or falling in Germany?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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, published as part of Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Germany. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/theoretical-duration-of-lower-secondary-education-years/germany/

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About this data

Indicator: Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years)
Unit: years
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 209 places, 10,366 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed: 21 August 2026

Number of grades (years) in lower secondary education.