Education in Essen, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 6th highest share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in 2023, at 8.3% (median of all 400 districts: 7.0%). In 2019 it was 7.9%.
How many pupils get the Abitur in Essen?
Essen's share of school leavers with the Abitur or another university entrance qualification was 39.2% in 2023, 10th highest of 22 large German cities and 67th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 42.8%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many children under three are in daycare in Essen?
Essen's share of children under three in day care (Kita) was 33.4% in 2023, 10th lowest of 22 large German cities and 160th lowest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 27.6%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many apprenticeship places are there in Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 4th lowest number of company apprenticeship places offered per 100 applicants in 2024, at 97.5 (median of all 400 districts: 109.1). In 2019 it was 102.1.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many students are there in Essen?
Among 22 large German cities, Essen had the 7th lowest number of university and college students per 1,000 residents in 2023, at 61.4 (median of all 400 districts: 3.8). In 2019 it was 57.3.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow far is the nearest primary school in Essen?
Essen's average distance from home to the nearest primary school was 499 metres in 2023, 10th shortest of 22 large German cities and 19th 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 Essen?
55% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2025 (550 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Essen?
38,308 students were enrolled in higher education in Essen in 2024, 67 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Essen have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Essen in 2024, 33% had a degree-level education, 46% an upper secondary education and 21% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people leave school early in Essen?
11.7% 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, 63% of residents of Essen were satisfied with schools and other educational facilities. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Essen compares with other cities in Germany
School leavers without a qualification (%) – large cities (2023)
Essen ranks 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Mannheim | 8.7% |
| 4 | Nürnberg | 8.6% |
| 5 | Duisburg | 8.6% |
| 6 | Essen | 8.3% |
| 7 | Dresden | 8.1% |
| 8 | Berlin | 8.1% |
| 9 | Bielefeld | 7.9% |
School leavers with university entrance qualification (%) – large cities (2023)
Essen ranks 10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Köln | 41.6% |
| 8 | Dresden | 41.1% |
| 9 | Karlsruhe | 40.5% |
| 10 | Essen | 39.2% |
| 11 | Bochum | 37.2% |
| 12 | Wuppertal | 36.8% |
| 13 | Duisburg | 36.2% |
Children under 3 in day care (%) – large cities (2023)
Essen ranks 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bonn | 40.5% |
| 11 | Köln | 39.4% |
| 12 | Düsseldorf | 38.7% |
| 13 | Essen | 33.4% |
| 14 | Bielefeld | 33.2% |
| 15 | Bochum | 33.2% |
| 16 | Nürnberg | 33.0% |
Apprenticeship places per 100 applicants – large cities (2024)
Essen ranks 19 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Wuppertal | 101.1 |
| 17 | Bremen | 99.4 |
| 18 | Düsseldorf | 98.3 |
| 19 | Essen | 97.5 |
| 20 | Mannheim | 97.4 |
| 21 | Köln | 91.1 |
| 22 | Berlin | 87.2 |
Higher education students per 1,000 residents (2024)
Essen ranks 42 of 71, highest first.
| Rank | City | Higher education students per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Rostock | 69 |
| 40 | Heilbronn | 69 |
| 41 | Leipzig | 67 |
| 42 | Essen | 67 |
| 43 | Ulm | 66 |
| 44 | Hamburg | 65 |
| 45 | Braunschweig | 65 |
Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 (2025)
Essen ranks 36 of 66, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Kiel | 568 |
| 34 | Hamm | 561 |
| 35 | Wolfsburg | 559 |
| 36 | Essen | 550 |
| 37 | Dortmund | 546 |
| 38 | Bielefeld | 546 |
| 39 | Bochum | 543 |
More on Essen: 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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