Statistische Auswertung: Junge Frauen liegen bei der Bildung häufig vorn

Wiesbaden - A recent statistical analysis reveals that young women frequently outperform young men in educational attainment. This gender education gap is evident in various aspects such as school diplomas and university enrollment rates, according to the Federal Statistical Office. In 2024, among the 258,300 graduates who obtained the Abitur (university entrance qualification) from general education schools, 55% were women and 45% were men.

The gender ratio becomes more pronounced with lower qualifications: 59% of men and 41% of women held the first school diploma, usually obtained at the end of the ninth grade. Among those who had to repeat a grade in the 2024/2025 academic year, 56% were male and 44% were female. Young men also tend to leave school earlier and do not enroll in further education or training as often, the Federal Office reports.

The differences between genders are also apparent in university studies: 34% of female first-year students successfully obtained their degree within eight semesters in 2020, compared to 25% of their male counterparts. At the master's level, the graduation rate for female first-year students was 53% after six semesters, which was also higher than the 48% for male students. The gap between women and men was smaller in this case compared to bachelor's studies.