11 answers, 5 from Germany's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
2,864,160 students were enrolled at German higher education institutions in the 2025/26 winter semester, according to the Destatis table of students by state (as at 13 August 2026). That is almost unchanged from 2,864,122 a year earlier. 1,642,500 were at universities and 1,100,477 at universities of applied sciences. North Rhine-Westphalia had the most students (712,295).
The count is taken from enrolment records each winter semester and includes part-time students and doctoral candidates who are enrolled. 1,468,030 students were women. The median age of students was 23.5 years. Destatis publishes first-year student numbers separately.
516,820 foreign students were enrolled at German higher education institutions in the 2025/26 winter semester, up from 492,087 a year earlier, according to the Destatis table of students by state. Of these, 90,641 had gained their university entrance qualification in Germany, so about 426,000 came to Germany to study.
Foreign students are counted by citizenship. Destatis distinguishes those who went to school in Germany (Bildungsinländer) from those who qualified abroad (Bildungsausländer), the usual measure of international students. Foreign students made up about 18% of all students. Breakdowns by country of origin and subject are in the GENESIS-Online database.
Average Abitur grades in 2025 ranged from 2.13 in Thuringia to 2.46 in Schleswig-Holstein, according to the KMK quick report on Abitur grades 2025 (provisional, 24 February 2026). Other averages included 2.22 in Saxony, 2.30 in Baden-Württemberg, 2.38 in North Rhine-Westphalia and 2.44 in Bavaria. The share of candidates who failed ranged from 1.4% in Berlin to 8.3% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
German grades run from 1.0 (best) to 4.0 (lowest pass). Because each state sets its own exams and rules within a common framework, averages are not fully comparable. Bavaria's 2025 numbers were low because of its switch back to nine-year grammar schools. The KMK Abitur grades page has earlier years.
Germany's education budget was €304.8 billion in 2024, or 7.0% of GDP, according to the Destatis table of the budget for education, research and science (2024 figures provisional). That was up from €288.6 billion, or 6.8% of GDP, in 2023. Including research and development and other science infrastructure, the total budget for education, research and science was €426.1 billion, 9.8% of GDP.
The education budget counts spending by government at all levels, businesses (for example on apprenticeships), households and non-profit bodies. €275.2 billion of it meets the international definition used by the OECD; the rest is additional spending under the national definition, such as daycare for under-threes.
570,000 people received monthly payments under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) in 2025, 42,700 or 7% fewer than in 2024, according to Destatis education finance statistics (press release of 5 August 2026). The number has fallen since its peak of 979,300 in 2012 and was last lower in 2000.
BAföG supports students at universities and pupils at some schools, depending on their own and their parents' income. The count includes everyone who received at least one payment in the year, so the number receiving support in any single month is lower. Rates and income limits are set in the Act.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 90.1%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 87.0% (2005) to 90.4% (2016). It is 35th highest of 45 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 95.7%. Worldwide: 94th of 134.
100.2%: that is gross secondary school enrolment in Germany for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 20th highest of 34 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 101.1%. World rank, highest first: 34th of 100.
In 2024, gross tertiary enrolment in Germany was 76.7%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 78.6% in 2023 and the low 60.9% in 2013. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 71.1%, and Germany placed 13th highest of 34. Of 90 countries with 2024 data, 19th highest.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2022, is 5.2% of GDP. The peak was 5.5% of GDP in 2020 and the low 4.5% of GDP in 2008. Europe & Central Asia median: 4.5% of GDP; Germany is 13th highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 40th of 155.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of primary pupils per teacher in Germany was 12 in 2017. Since 2005 it has ranged from 12 (2013) to 14 (2005). It is 23rd highest of 39 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 13. Worldwide: 102nd of 130.
96.8%: that is the primary completion rate in Germany for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 21st highest of 30 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 98.2%. World rank, highest first: 48th of 104.
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