Education in Dortmund, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Dortmund had the highest share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in 2023, at 9.6% (median of all 400 districts: 7.0%). In 2019 it was 8.2%.
How many pupils get the Abitur in Dortmund?
Dortmund's share of school leavers with the Abitur or another university entrance qualification was 34.2% in 2023, 6th lowest of 22 large German cities and 134th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 37.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many children under three are in daycare in Dortmund?
Among 22 large German cities, Dortmund had the 5th lowest share of children under three in day care (Kita) in 2023, at 32.4% (median of all 400 districts: 35.5%). In 2019 it was 29.0%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many apprenticeship places are there in Dortmund?
Dortmund's number of company apprenticeship places offered per 100 applicants was 112.0 in 2024, 4th highest of 22 large German cities and 151st highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 99.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many students are there in Dortmund?
Dortmund's number of university and college students per 1,000 residents was 82.7 in 2023, 11th lowest of 22 large German cities and 49th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 90.6.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow far is the nearest primary school in Dortmund?
Among 22 large German cities, Dortmund had the 5th longest average distance from home to the nearest primary school in 2023, at 564 metres (median of all 400 districts: 1,121 metres).
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Dortmund?
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 Dortmund?
48,501 students were enrolled in higher education in Dortmund in 2024, 81 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Dortmund have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Dortmund in 2024, 32% had a degree-level education, 45% an upper secondary education and 24% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people leave school early in Dortmund?
9.0% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early in 2019.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 70% of residents of Dortmund were satisfied with schools and other educational facilities. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Dortmund compares with other cities in Germany
School leavers without a qualification (%) – large cities (2023)
Dortmund ranks 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dortmund | 9.6% |
| 2 | Bremen | 9.4% |
| 3 | Mannheim | 8.7% |
| 4 | Nürnberg | 8.6% |
| 5 | Duisburg | 8.6% |
| 6 | Essen | 8.3% |
| 7 | Dresden | 8.1% |
School leavers with university entrance qualification (%) – large cities (2023)
Dortmund ranks 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Frankfurt am Main | 36.1% |
| 15 | Bielefeld | 36.0% |
| 16 | München | 34.8% |
| 17 | Dortmund | 34.2% |
| 18 | Bremen | 33.8% |
| 19 | Mannheim | 33.0% |
| 20 | Leipzig | 30.6% |
Children under 3 in day care (%) – large cities (2023)
Dortmund ranks 18 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Bochum | 33.2% |
| 16 | Nürnberg | 33.0% |
| 17 | Bremen | 32.5% |
| 18 | Dortmund | 32.4% |
| 19 | Mannheim | 30.9% |
| 20 | Augsburg | 27.5% |
| 21 | Wuppertal | 24.3% |
Apprenticeship places per 100 applicants – large cities (2024)
Dortmund ranks 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bochum | 114.8 |
| 2 | Stuttgart | 113.2 |
| 3 | Karlsruhe | 113.0 |
| 4 | Dortmund | 112.0 |
| 5 | Augsburg | 110.5 |
| 6 | Leipzig | 108.1 |
| 7 | Duisburg | 108.0 |
Higher education students per 1,000 residents (2024)
Dortmund ranks 37 of 71, highest first.
| Rank | City | Higher education students per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Mannheim | 90 |
| 35 | Magdeburg | 84 |
| 36 | Stuttgart | 83 |
| 37 | Dortmund | 81 |
| 38 | München | 76 |
| 39 | Rostock | 69 |
| 40 | Heilbronn | 69 |
Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 (2025)
Dortmund ranks 37 of 66, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Hamm | 561 |
| 35 | Wolfsburg | 559 |
| 36 | Essen | 550 |
| 37 | Dortmund | 546 |
| 38 | Bielefeld | 546 |
| 39 | Bochum | 543 |
| 40 | Kassel | 539 |
More on Dortmund: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · 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_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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