Overview

• The INSM/IW Bildungsmonitor 2025 ranks states on 98 indicators from an economic perspective, placing Saxony first, Bavaria second and Hamburg third, with Bremen last; most data stem from 2023–2024.
• Authors say student performance, dropout rates and fairness have deteriorated despite rising budgets and better care ratios, arguing resources are not being used efficiently.
• Saxony is credited with strong early support, extensive all‑day provision and high school quality, while Hamburg leads on teacher‑pupil ratios and foreign‑language instruction; Baden‑Württemberg stands out for digitalization and vocational success.
• North Rhine‑Westphalia remains drittletzter with relatively low per‑pupil spending, larger classes and weak vocational completion, and Bremen again ranks last with high basic‑skills risk groups and above‑average dropout rates.
• OECD’s Education at a Glance 2025 reports foreign students made up 12.7% of enrollments in 2023 (about 17% in the latest semester) and 35% of graduates are in MINT fields, while the share of 25‑ to 34‑year‑olds without upper‑secondary or vocational qualifications rose to 15%.