Hamburg’s Student Population Reaches New High, Growth Decelerates
Hamburg, February 11 – The number of students in Hamburg has surpassed 220,000, marking the highest figure since 1980. This was announced by the Hamburg School Authority on Tuesday in its report for the current school year. Despite this record, the annual growth rate has slowed to less than one percent, the lowest in a decade.
Challenges Remain Despite New School Foundations
School Senator Ksenija Bekeris (SPD) presented the 2025/2026 school year statistics at the City Hall, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by high student numbers. “Even though Hamburg has established 21 new schools and expanded many existing ones,” Bekeris stated, the demand for school places remains significant. While first-grade enrollments have slightly decreased, 120 more entry-level classes are still needed compared to ten years ago. “The cohorts we enroll are still larger than those we release,” Bekeris explained.
Projections Indicate Future Decline from 2029
The annual increase in student numbers has decelerated, with the current growth rate below one percent, the lowest in a decade. The latest forecast from the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) predicts a slight decrease in Hamburg’s student numbers starting from 2029. Primary school figures are already showing a slight decline. The peak was in 2023, with 19,521 girls and boys enrolled. Last year, this number dropped to 18,739. Approximately 17,000 children have been registered for Hamburg’s state primary schools for the upcoming year.
Seven More Schools in Planning Stages
Hamburg’s school system currently comprises 385 state schools, with three new establishments in the current school year. “Seven more schools are specifically planned for the coming years,” Bekeris confirmed. Additionally, 83 Hamburg schools are under private ownership in the current school year. The proportion of students attending private schools has decreased by more than a fifth in recent years, now standing at 8.2 percent.
High Demand for All-Day Care in Primary Schools
A new record has also been set in all-day care offerings. In the current school year, 91 percent of primary school children participated in these programs. Bekeris described this as a significant vote of confidence from parents in the schools. All-day care provides children with a wide range of afternoon activities, including sports and language support, while enabling parents to balance work and family life. This also fosters social participation, the Senator added.
Hamburg Ranks Third in National Education Study
In a nationwide education study for 2025, Hamburg has narrowed the gap to Bavaria in second place and Saxony in first place, securing the third position.
Veddel School Renovated for 32 Million Euros
The only school on Hamburg’s Veddel has reopened following an extensive renovation costing 32 million euros.
Increased Spending on Youth and Families
Hamburg has allocated 2.3 billion euros for youth and family expenditures in 2026, as announced by Family Senator Ksenija Bekeris (SPD) on Friday.
Source: Hamburg School Authority, Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), NDR
