GeraLearn / EU Tertiary Education / Germany
Tertiary Education in Germany
40.9% of 25–34 year-olds in Germany had completed tertiary education (ISCED 2011 levels 5–8) in 2025 — ranked #21 of 27 EU member states, below the 44.8% EU-27 average. Official Eurostat data (CC-BY 4.0).
What share of young adults in Germany have a tertiary education?
In Germany, 40.9% of 25–34 year-olds had completed tertiary education (ISCED 2011 levels 5–8) in 2025 — ranking #21 of 27 EU member states and below the 44.8% EU-27 average. This is the official Eurostat figure for both sexes; it counts people with a higher-education qualification. Source: Eurostat (CC-BY 4.0).
This page shows the tertiary education attainment rate of young adults in Germany — the share of 25–34 year-olds (both sexes) who hold a higher-education qualification (ISCED 2011 levels 5–8: short-cycle tertiary, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral), as published by Eurostat. It measures attainment of the population, not current enrolment, and the 25–34 age band captures recent attainment because most people in it have finished their education.
Tertiary attainment in Germany — the numbers
| Measure | Germany | EU-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Tertiary attainment, 25–34 (2025) | 40.9% | 44.8% |
| EU rank by attainment | #21 of 27 | — |
| Difference from EU-27 average | −3.9 percentage points | — |
Official Eurostat figure for 2025 (dataset edat_lfse_03, both sexes, age 25–34). Attainment measures the share of the population holding a higher-education qualification, not current enrolment.
What this means
A rate of 40.9% places Germany at #21 of 27 EU member states, 3.9 percentage points below the 44.8% EU-27 average. Attainment rates reflect a country’s education system, the mix of vocational and academic routes, and how recently higher education expanded — so they vary widely across the Union.
EU tertiary education comparator
Pick an EU member state to compare its tertiary education attainment rate (share of 25–34 year-olds with a higher-education qualification) against the EU-27 average. Every figure is a real published Eurostat percentage.
Tertiary attainment (25–34)
40.9%
Rank (of 27)
#21
vs EU-27 average
−3.9 pts
The 40.9% rate for Germany is 3.9 points below the 44.8% EU-27 average.
Figures are official Eurostat attainment rates (dataset edat_lfse_03, ISCED 2011 levels 5–8, age 25–34, both sexes, % of population), CC-BY 4.0. Attainment measures the share of the population holding a higher-education qualification, not current enrolment. Nothing here is modelled or interpolated.
Tertiary education in Germany — FAQ
- What percentage of young people in Germany have a university or college degree?
- In Germany, 40.9% of 25–34 year-olds had completed tertiary education (ISCED 2011 levels 5–8, i.e. a short-cycle, Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral qualification) in 2025, both sexes combined. That is the official Eurostat attainment rate for this age group. Source: Eurostat, edat_lfse_03 (CC-BY 4.0).
- Where does Germany rank in the EU for tertiary education?
- By tertiary attainment among 25–34 year-olds, Germany ranks #21 of 27 EU member states. Its 40.9% rate is below the 44.8% EU-27 average for the same year and age group. Rankings reflect official Eurostat figures, not estimates. Source: Eurostat (CC-BY 4.0).
- What does "tertiary education" mean in this figure?
- Tertiary education here means ISCED 2011 levels 5–8 — short-cycle tertiary, Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral or equivalent qualifications. The figure is the share of 25–34 year-olds (both sexes) in Germany who hold such a qualification, as published by Eurostat. It measures attainment of the population, not current enrolment. Source: Eurostat, edat_lfse_03 (CC-BY 4.0).
- Is this real, official data?
- Yes. Every value is a published Eurostat figure from dataset edat_lfse_03 ("Population by educational attainment level, sex and age"), licensed CC-BY 4.0 (European Commission, Eurostat). The 40.9% rate for Germany is the official 2025 value for 25–34 year-olds, both sexes — not modelled, estimated, or interpolated.
Compare with similar-attainment countries
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Source: Eurostat — Population by educational attainment level (edat_lfse_03). The 40.9% figure is the official Eurostat tertiary attainment rate for 25–34 year-olds (both sexes) in Germany, 2025 (dataset edat_lfse_03, ISCED 2011 levels 5–8), as of the 2025 reference year. Licensed CC-BY 4.0 (European Commission, Eurostat). Attainment measures the population holding a higher-education qualification, not current enrolment. Last refreshed 2026-06-11T23:00:00+0200. No figure is modelled or interpolated.