Protestant and Catholic theology students decline by around a third in Germany

Over the past five years, the number of Protestant and Roman Catholic students choosing to study theology in Germany has fallen by around a third.

Data from the Federal Statistical Office show that, in the winter semester of 2023/24, a total of 7,900 students were enrolled in Protestant theology and around 5,400 in Roman Catholic theology.

This represents a decline of around 35% in Protestant students, while those studying Catholic theology fell by 30%. In the years prior to 2018, student numbers had actually risen slightly.

Furthermore, the study reveals a significant decline in the number of graduates. Among Roman Catholics, it fell from 271 in 2018 to 171 in 2023. Over the same period, graduates in Protestant religious studies fell from 400 to 262.

The authors of the study point out that this crisis in theological education “is causing problems both in terms of replacing retired pastors and establishing new churches”.

The figures also highlight a growing proportion of women studying theology. Among Protestants, they account for over 50% of students.