Education in Köln, Germany: official figures
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 5th lowest share of school leavers without even a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) in 2023, at 5.8% (median of all 400 districts: 7.0%). In 2019 it was 6.0%.
How many pupils get the Abitur in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 7th highest share of school leavers with the Abitur or another university entrance qualification in 2023, at 41.6% (median of all 400 districts: 29.2%). In 2019 it was 43.1%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many children under three are in daycare in Köln?
Köln's share of children under three in day care (Kita) was 39.4% in 2023, 11th highest of 22 large German cities and 140th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 32.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many apprenticeship places are there in Köln?
Among 22 large German cities, Köln had the 2nd lowest number of company apprenticeship places offered per 100 applicants in 2024, at 91.1 (median of all 400 districts: 109.1). In 2019 it was 102.9.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many students are there in Köln?
Köln's number of university and college students per 1,000 residents was 95.3 in 2023, 6th highest of 22 large German cities and 36th highest of 400 districts nationwide. In 2019 it was 96.7.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow far is the nearest primary school in Köln?
Köln's average distance from home to the nearest primary school was 465 metres in 2023, 5th shortest of 22 large German cities and 10th 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 Köln?
60% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2025 (605 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Köln?
95,627 students were enrolled in higher education in Köln in 2024, 93 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Köln have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Köln in 2024, 45% had a degree-level education, 37% an upper secondary education and 18% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people leave school early in Köln?
6.8% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early in 2019.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Köln compares with other cities in Germany
School leavers without a qualification (%) – large cities (2023)
Köln ranks 18 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Hamburg | 6.4% |
| 16 | Frankfurt am Main | 6.3% |
| 17 | Münster | 5.8% |
| 18 | Köln | 5.8% |
| 19 | München | 5.3% |
| 20 | Augsburg | 5.2% |
| 21 | Düsseldorf | 5.0% |
School leavers with university entrance qualification (%) – large cities (2023)
Köln ranks 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Berlin | 44.4% |
| 5 | Düsseldorf | 44.1% |
| 6 | Stuttgart | 41.7% |
| 7 | Köln | 41.6% |
| 8 | Dresden | 41.1% |
| 9 | Karlsruhe | 40.5% |
| 10 | Essen | 39.2% |
Children under 3 in day care (%) – large cities (2023)
Köln ranks 11 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Stuttgart | 42.0% |
| 9 | München | 41.3% |
| 10 | Bonn | 40.5% |
| 11 | Köln | 39.4% |
| 12 | Düsseldorf | 38.7% |
| 13 | Essen | 33.4% |
| 14 | Bielefeld | 33.2% |
Apprenticeship places per 100 applicants – large cities (2024)
Köln ranks 21 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)
Köln ranks 29 of 71, highest first.
| Rank | City | Higher education students per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Hildesheim | 113 |
| 27 | Bielefeld | 113 |
| 28 | Oldenburg | 96 |
| 29 | Köln | 93 |
| 30 | Frankfurt am Main | 93 |
| 31 | Hannover | 91 |
| 32 | Augsburg | 91 |
Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 (2025)
Köln ranks 17 of 66, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children 0-4 in day care per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Düsseldorf | 610 |
| 15 | Bonn | 608 |
| 16 | Frankfurt am Main | 608 |
| 17 | Köln | 605 |
| 18 | Lübeck | 602 |
| 19 | Würzburg | 594 |
| 20 | Karlsruhe | 593 |
More on Köln: 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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