German Education Hits Records: 11.5 Million Pupils and Rising Student Living Costs

The number of pupils in German general education, vocational, and medical schools increased in the 2025/2026 school year to around 11.5 million people. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this is already the fourth consecutive annual increase in the school-age population in the country. Compared to the previous year, a growth of 0.7% was recorded, reflecting a continuing demographic trend driven, among other things, by migration. Particularly significant is the fact that 830,600 children started school this year, the highest figure in two decades. Statistics also indicate growing diversity in educational institutions, as 1.9 million pupils hold exclusively foreign citizenship. 11,5 (mln) — total number of pupils in German schools

Positive demographic trends are also visible in higher education, particularly in Thuringia, where the winter semester of 2025/2026 saw a renewed increase in the number of students. Most people studying in this region choose universities, which remain the main pillar of the local higher education system. Although precise aggregate data for the entire state is still being compiled, local reports confirm a reversal of previous declining trends in university enrollments. The German education system has been grappling with demographic challenges for years, which in previous decades led to the closure of institutions in some regions. The increase in the number of pupils and students over the last four years is linked both to higher birth rates in some cohorts and to the influx of migrants. Thuringia, as one of the states in eastern Germany, particularly felt the effects of depopulation and economic emigration after the country's reunification in 1990.

Despite the growing number of learners, the higher education sector faces mounting economic problems that directly affect students across Germany. In September 2025, average accommodation costs for students exceeded the 500 euro per month barrier for the first time in history. Rising rents and a general shortage of student housing are becoming a barrier that could negatively influence future decisions to study in large academic centers. This situation is being monitored by student organizations, which warn of a deepening housing crisis and the need to increase funding for social infrastructure. Changes in German Education 2025/2026: Total number of pupils: 11.42 million → 11.5 million; Number of first-graders: below 800,000 → 830,600; Average room costs: below 500 euros → above 500 euros