Education in Bielefeld, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 9th highest share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in 2023, at 7.9% (median of all 400 districts: 7.0%). In 2019 it was 6.7%.
How many pupils get the Abitur in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 8th lowest share of school leavers with the Abitur or another university entrance qualification in 2023, at 36.0% (median of all 400 districts: 29.2%). In 2019 it was 39.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many children under three are in daycare in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 9th lowest share of children under three in day care (Kita) in 2023, at 33.2% (median of all 400 districts: 35.5%). In 2019 it was 29.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many apprenticeship places are there in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 9th lowest number of company apprenticeship places offered per 100 applicants in 2024, at 102.1 (median of all 400 districts: 109.1). In 2019 it was 98.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many students are there in Bielefeld?
Among 22 large German cities, Bielefeld had the 5th highest number of university and college students per 1,000 residents in 2023, at 113.6 (median of all 400 districts: 3.8). In 2019 it was 115.6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow far is the nearest primary school in Bielefeld?
Bielefeld's average distance from home to the nearest primary school was 671 metres in 2023, 2nd longest of 22 large German cities and 98th shortest of 400 districts nationwide.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Bielefeld?
55% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2025 (546 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Bielefeld?
37,356 students were enrolled in higher education in Bielefeld in 2024, 113 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Bielefeld have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Bielefeld in 2024, 37% had a degree-level education, 42% an upper secondary education and 20% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people leave school early in Bielefeld?
5.5% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early in 2019.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Bielefeld compares with other cities in Germany
School leavers without a qualification (%) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 9 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Schulabgänger ohne Hauptschulabschluss an den Schulabgängern in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | School leavers without a qualification (%) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Essen | 8.3% |
| 7 | Dresden | 8.1% |
| 8 | Berlin | 8.1% |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 7.9% |
| 10 | Wuppertal | 6.9% |
| 11 | Leipzig | 6.7% |
| 12 | Stuttgart | 6.5% |
School leavers with university entrance qualification (%) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 15 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Schulabgänger mit Hochschulreife an den Schulabgängern in %; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | School leavers with university entrance qualification (%) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Wuppertal | 36.8% |
| 13 | Duisburg | 36.2% |
| 14 | Frankfurt am Main | 36.1% |
| 15 | Bielefeld | 36.0% |
| 16 | München | 34.8% |
| 17 | Dortmund | 34.2% |
| 18 | Bremen | 33.8% |
Children under 3 in day care (%) – large cities (2023)
Bielefeld ranks 14 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Kinder unter 3 Jahren in Kindertageseinrichtungen an den Kinder der entsprechenden Altersgruppe; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Children under 3 in day care (%) – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Köln | 39.4% |
| 12 | Düsseldorf | 38.7% |
| 13 | Essen | 33.4% |
| 14 | Bielefeld | 33.2% |
| 15 | Bochum | 33.2% |
| 16 | Nürnberg | 33.0% |
| 17 | Bremen | 32.5% |
Apprenticeship places per 100 applicants – large cities (2024)
Bielefeld ranks 14 of 22, highest first. INKAR indicator: Gesamtangebot an betrieblichen Ausbildungsplätzen je 100 Nachfrager; kreisfreie Städte with city pages
| Rank | City | Apprenticeship places per 100 applicants – large cities |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | München | 104.0 |
| 12 | Münster | 103.7 |
| 13 | Dresden | 103.6 |
| 14 | Bielefeld | 102.1 |
| 15 | Hamburg | 101.7 |
| 16 | Wuppertal | 101.1 |
| 17 | Bremen | 99.4 |
Higher education students per 1,000 residents (2024)
Bielefeld ranks 27 of 71, highest first.
| Rank | City | Higher education students per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Paderborn | 120 |
| 25 | Bonn | 114 |
| 26 | Hildesheim | 113 |
| 27 | Bielefeld | 113 |
| 28 | Oldenburg | 96 |
| 29 | Köln | 93 |
| 30 | Frankfurt am Main | 93 |
Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 (2025)
Bielefeld ranks 38 of 66, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Wolfsburg | 559 |
| 36 | Essen | 550 |
| 37 | Dortmund | 546 |
| 38 | Bielefeld | 546 |
| 39 | Bochum | 543 |
| 40 | Kassel | 539 |
| 41 | Mainz | 537 |
More on Bielefeld: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Germany
Sources
- Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung: INKAR – Indikatoren und Karten zur Raum- und Stadtentwicklung: 43 district (Kreise) indicators, 2012-2024 (table service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c743f54caf6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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