Number of the month for October – 4.5

Number of the month 4,5

Hardly any other issue is as crucial for the future as education. However, the figures for Germany remain sobering.

Germany currently invests 4.5 per cent of its gross domestic product in education, which is just below the EU average of 4.7 per cent.

A look at the EU

In 2023, EU countries spent a total of €806 billion on education. While many countries increased their budgets, Germany remained cautious. Education is no longer seen as a ‘cost factor’ but as an investment in the future. The European Commission is calling on member states to make education a national priority. After all, a higher level of education strengthens competitiveness and resilience to crises – and has a direct impact on income.

Investing in skills pays off

Many countries are still spending less than they did before the pandemic. But now is precisely the time to have the courage to invest: according to forecasts, a solid level of basic skills could increase EU-wide GDP by up to 10 per cent by 2030. Education also pays off for individuals: an additional year of schooling increases income by an average of 7 per cent.

More courage for education

Germany therefore has some catching up to do when it comes to investment in education. After all, investing in knowledge strengthens society and ensures economic stability.

Source:

Report ‘Investing in Education 2025’, European Commission – www.praeventionstag.de/news/details/10215 (accessed: 30 October 2025)

Curiosity aroused? Here you can find more from the Thinking ahead section:

Bird's eye view of two women walking on a pavement

One-to-one with ...

How do designers find the right inspiration? What makes good design? These are all questions that interest us. We want to find answers to all of these questions. But we also go beyond the design process and ask even more questions. That’s why we meet with experts from a wide range of industries for discussions.