Most people in Germany choose a partner with the same educational background as themselves. According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Tuesday, based on the microcensus, 63 percent of mixed-sex couples in 2025 had both partners achieving the same or a similar educational qualification.
When educational levels differ, the man is usually the one with the higher qualification. Just last year, this was true for a quarter (25 percent) of couples. The reverse situation-where the woman is formally more educated than her partner-is less common, occurring in 13 percent of couples. Similarly, 63 percent of same-sex couples also have the same or a similar educational background. Among female couples, this proportion was slightly higher at 65 percent compared to male couples at 61 percent.
Educational disparities between men and women are smaller among younger couples than they are among older ones. For mixed-sex couples aged 18 to 44, 65 percent shared the same educational level, while this figure dropped to 62 percent for couples aged 45 and older. Looking at those with unequal educational qualifications, the gender distribution among those with the higher education is also more balanced among younger couples. For 18 percent of them, the man was more educated, while for 17 percent, it was the woman. However, among couples aged 45 and older with unequal education, the man (28 percent) was significantly more likely to have the formally higher education than the woman (11 percent).
