Germany: School enrollment, primary (% gross)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Germany's school enrollment, primary (% gross) rose 0.45 percentage points on 2023 (from 102.19% to 102.64%).

Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2023), the average change was −0.2 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.84 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 1.97 percentage points in 2023 and the biggest yearly fall was 1.73 percentage points in 2002. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 3% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Germany had the 42nd highest value of the 119 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Germany in the 2024 ranking

• Spain — 39th of 119: 102.94%
• Hungary — 40th of 119: 102.89%
• Slovak Republic — 41st of 119: 102.75%
• Mexico — 43rd of 119: 102.28%
• Armenia — 44th of 119: 101.99%
• Dominican Republic — 45th of 119: 101.94%

What this measures

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.

Limitations: Enrollment indicators are based on annual school surveys, but do not necessarily reflect actual attendance or dropout rates during the year. Also, the length of education differs across countries and can influence enrollment rates, although the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) tries to minimize the difference. For example, a shorter duration for primary education tends to increase the rate; a longer one to decrease it (in part because older children are more at risk of dropping out). Moreover, age at enrollment may be inaccurately estimated or misstated, especially in communities where registration of births is not strictly enforced.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 24 values

School enrollment, primary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Albania — 111.51% (2024)
• Andorra — 99.86% (2024)
• Armenia — 101.99% (2024)
• Austria — 101.31% (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 105.63% (2024)
• Belarus — 96.82% (2024)
• Belgium — 102.11% (2023)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 101.2% (2023)
• Bulgaria — 95.28% (2024)
• Croatia — 101.16% (2023)
• Cyprus

More education data for Germany

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 4 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 10 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 9 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 3.31 million (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 6.97 million (2024)
• Primary education, teachers — 283,851 (2024)
• Secondary education, teachers — 618,670 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, private (% of total primary) — 5.13% (2024)
• Primary education, teachers (% female) — 87.33% (2024)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Germany's school enrollment, primary (% gross)?

102.64% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2001?

It is down 4.01 percentage points from 106.65% in 2001. The highest value was 106.65% in 2001 and the lowest 100.22% in 2022.

How does Germany rank?

42nd highest of 119 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in school enrollment, primary (% gross) unusual for Germany?

In 2024, Germany's school enrollment, primary (% gross) rose 0.45 percentage points on 2023 (from 102.19% to 102.64%). Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2023), the average change was −0.2 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.84 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.ENRR, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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