100 Study Abroad Statistics: Facts and Figures for 2023-24

Without further ado, here are the top 100 study-abroad statistics of 2023-2024:

Survey by IES

These are the findings of a survey conducted by the Institute for International Education of Students (IES):

1. 96% of students claimed they felt more confident after studying abroad, 95% said it had a long-lasting effect on their worldview, and 95% acknowledged that it had acted as a catalyst for their increasing maturity.
2. Over 50% of students maintain contact with friends they made in the United States while studying overseas, and they frequently get to see them when on summer vacations.
3. Studying abroad has improved students' understanding of their own cultural values and prejudices, according to 98% of them, and has advanced their worldview, according to 82% of them.
4. 94% of respondents said their study abroad experience still has an impact on how they interact with individuals from other cultures.
5. According to 87% of the students, their experiences studying abroad had an impact on their further academic endeavours. Since studying abroad, about half of all respondents have engaged in volunteer work, foreign employment, or internships (often in an office).
6. Of those surveyed, 75% claimed to have gained skill sets that affected their future employment choices. Students with recommendation letters from international universities are more likely to get hired by businesses.

These are the results of the 2013 Erasmus Impact Study on the effects of mobility on students' employability and skill levels, as well as the internationalisation of higher education:

1. Over 85% of Erasmus students study overseas in order to improve their employability overseas.
2. Over 90% of students who were enrolled in remote learning programs stated that they had made progress in soft skills such as communication, foreign language fluency, adaptability, and understanding of various nations.
3. Research indicates that pursuing an education overseas improves one's chances of landing a good job. 74% of college graduates said they began working in a professional capacity after graduation.
4. After they become experts in their field, 80% of Chinese students go back home to launch their careers in their home nations.
5. According to 64% of companies, having foreign experience is crucial for hiring.
6. Compared to individuals who do not study abroad, young people who study abroad have a 50% lower chance of experiencing long-term unemployment. 
7. Five years after graduation, the unemployment rate for Erasmus students is 23% lower.
8. After completing a work placement overseas, over one-third of Erasmus students received a job offer or were hired by their host firm.
9. Approximately 10% of former mobile students who underwent an overseas work experience have founded their own business.
10. Employers that participated in the poll reported that 64% of graduates with an international background are frequently given extra responsibility in their line of work.

These results were shared by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2015:

1. With an annual growth rate of 10%, the number of students studying abroad continues to rise globally. In 2014, there were about 5 million foreign students enrolled. By 2025, there will probably be 8 million overseas students due to demographic shifts.
2. The most popular host nations for overseas students are the US, the UK, Germany, France, and Australia. These five nations host half of all overseas students studying there.
3. East Asia and the Pacific (19%), Eastern Europe (10%), North America, and Western Europe (57% of all mobile students) were the regions that hosted the most in 2013.
4. China and India are the two nations with the highest numbers of students studying overseas. 
5. There are more students studying abroad than at home in a number of small nations, including Andorra, Anguilla, Bermuda, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Montserrat, the Seychelles, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
6. Over thirty percent of international students studying law, business, and social sciences attend universities in English-speaking nations. 36% of all international students are hosted by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia combined.
7. In recent years, new countries have entered the international education scene, including Canada (which enrols 5% of international students), Japan (4%), Russia (4%), and Spain (2%). In parallel, the most popular nations' market shares are shrinking. For example, between 2000 and 2011, the proportion of foreign students studying in the US dropped from 23% to 17%.
8. Many traditional source nations are making great efforts to become more alluring to foreign students. While China welcomed over 380,000 international students in 2014, its goal is to draw 500,000 by 2020; Japan hopes to draw 300,000 international students by 2020; and Malaysia hopes to draw 250,000 by 2025.

A study published by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2016 found the following:

1. The most recent quarterly report on international student statistics from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) indicated that there were approximately 1.2 million foreign students in the US with F (academic) or M (vocational) status. International enrollment at American universities rose 6.2% from March 2015 to that same month last year.
2. In the United States, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are studied by 40% of overseas students.
3. The universities with the largest numbers of international students are New York University (13,851), University of Southern California (13,080), Northeastern University (11,381), Columbia University (10,810), and University of Illinois (10,690). In March 2016, there were over 10,000 international students registered in each school.
4. Asia makes up 77% of the global student population in the United States.
5. The top ten nations from which overseas students come to study in the United States are Japan, Taiwan, China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Vietnam, Japan, and Mexico.
6. The concept of studying overseas is supported by several nations. For instance, Sojo University in Japan wants half of its students to take part in study abroad initiatives.
7. According to the most recent NAFSA report, during the academic year 2014–2015, the 974,926 foreign students enrolled in American colleges and universities supported almost 373,000 jobs and made contributions totaling $30 billion to the country's economy.
8. Gordon and colleagues identified six main obstacles to foreign study abroad for business students: financial resources, friendships and family, career relevance, information availability, and university involvement.
9. Many foreign students are unaware of the availability of health insurance in the nation they are visiting. Merely 14% of students verified that their college or university and health groups collaborate.
10. Ninety percent of the 155 international students enrolled in study abroad programs were single and without kids.
11. During the academic year 2013–2014, there were 304,467 U.S. students studying abroad for credit, an increase of 5.2% from 289,408 students.
12. The United Kingdom (38,250 U.S. students), Italy (31,166), Spain (26,949), France (17,597), China (13,763), Germany (10,377), Ireland (8,823), Australia (8,369), Japan (5,978), and South Africa (4,968) were the most popular study abroad destinations for American students in the 2014–2015 academic year.
13. Among US college freshmen, 63% want to study overseas. However, just 14.3% of students who attend overseas colleges graduate.
14. Just five European countries—the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France—are home to 40% of American students pursuing courses to become qualified specialists, whether they choose to remain in Europe or return home.
15. The most popular region for American students studying abroad is Europe. In the academic year 2014–2015, there were 162,282 American students studying in Europe. 36,290 American students were hosted in Asia, while 49,312 were in Latin America and the Caribbean.
16. The following developing nations are mentioned on the study abroad ranking website Abroad101: Ghana, Cuba, Tanzania, Turkey, Morocco, Switzerland, Russia, Romania, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.
17. In the academic year 2013–2014, 68,798 American students were studying STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) abroad. A further 59,687 American students were majoring in business, and 57,067 were studying international studies and foreign languages.
18. Sixty-two percent of American students only spent eight weeks or fewer studying overseas. Just 3% of American students stayed for a full year, while 35% of students only attended for a semester.
19. The Open Door Report on International Educational Exchange, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, states that 3,638 disabled students studied abroad during the 2013–2014 school year.
20. Every first-year student at Harvard Business School is obliged to finish an overseas field project in an emerging market country with a partner company.
21. Of the 8,000 American parents surveyed in 2017, 43% stated they would consider sending their kids to college abroad. That is a 15% increase over the prior year.
22. Women make up 65% of American college students who study overseas. Black Americans who study overseas make up only 5% of the student body, according to the Institute of International Education.
23. "Generation Study Abroad," a new five-year program from the Institute of International Education, aims to double the number of American students studying abroad by 2019 from 295,000, or 10% of all students in the country, to 600,000.
24. Contrary to widespread assumptions, students' enthusiasm to travel abroad did not significantly increase when cultural videos were shown in the classroom. According to the survey, just 31% of students were inspired to study overseas when taking Indian film lessons.
25. Ninety percent of American college students never go abroad to study.
26. The 2016 Fortune Global 500 list features over 100 Chinese enterprises, including the top companies globally by revenue. In actuality, three of the top five spots on the list are occupied by China.
27. According to McKinsey Global Institute research, emerging markets will likely host 45% of the world's largest corporations by 2025.
28. According to a recent poll, a shortage of internationally qualified staff caused over 40% of U.S. corporations to pass up worldwide commercial possibilities.
29. 95 percent of customers are not Americans.
30. Jobs in the US are supported and created by international trade. 38 million jobs in 2013 indicated that almost one in five American jobs are related to foreign trade.
31. Prof. James Foreman-Peck's research for the Department of Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS) indicates that the UK economy is losing roughly 3.5% of its GDP due to poor language proficiency and the misconception that “everyone speaks English.”
32. According to a 2013 British Chamber of Commerce poll, 70% of exporters lacked proficiency in the foreign language of the nations in which they conduct business, while 62% of British enterprises that do not export saw language as a barrier to exploring overseas opportunities.
33. Foreign language proficiency is valued by 70% of UK firms in their workforce, and 38% of enterprises think that language proficiency is especially important for fostering ties with suppliers, customers, and clients.
34. Doing business internationally is more difficult and expensive when there are language barriers. Language and cultural barriers cost 25% of export businesses in Wales and England their business, according to a survey by the University of Wales.

Now some statistics specifically about Indian students studying abroad:

1. Approximately 750,000 Indian students left the country in 2022 to pursue studies overseas. That year saw the largest-ever emigration of Indian students. During the period under study, the nations with the largest proportion of Indian students were Australia, Canada, and the United States of America.
2. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there are approximately 1.3 million Indian students studying abroad in various courses for the year 2022, with the U.S. being the most preferred destination.
3. In March 2023, Canada decided to let international students stay longer after they finish their studies. They could now work in Canada for up to 18 months with a special permit.
4. In October 2023, the UK government said international students could work in the UK with a special visa even before they finish their studies. This means they can start working there earlier and get important work experience.
5. A report by the World Economic Forum says that by 2025, there could be about 97 million new jobs for graduates who study STEM and technology. These jobs could pop up in big industries and economies around the world.
6. The total value of education loans disbursed for overseas education in India  increased by over 50% from ₹15,445 crore in 2021-22 to ₹23,576 crore in 2022-23, reflecting a growing trend of students financing their studies abroad. 
7. The increasing demand for overseas education, coupled with a rise in scholarship programs, is a key factor behind the surge in education loan applications. This suggests scholarships are becoming more available, but may not fully meet the funding needs of all students.
8. According to the Reserve Bank of India, the outstanding education loan portfolio in India grew 17% to ₹96,847 crore in 2022-23, compared to the previous year. This indicates a significant rise in overall student borrowing for education, both domestic and international.
9. State Bank of India (SBI) disbursed nearly 47% of the total education loans for overseas studies in 2021-22, highlighting its dominant role in financing students' international education aspirations.

Here are some results from the Indian Student Mobility Report 2023:

1. The Indian Student Mobility Report 2023 by Global Education Conclave estimates that the direct expenditure (tuition fees, accommodation, and other living costs) by Indian students studying overseas will reach USD 70 billion by 2025.
2. The number of Indian students studying abroad was over 1 million in 2019. It will likely reach between 1.5 and 2 million by 2025.
3. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia are the most popular destinations for Indian students lately. As of 2023, there were approximately 850,000 Indian students enrolled across these four countries.
4. Combined student spending is projected to be under $34 billion this year. Half of the money spent goes towards tuition fees and the other half towards housing and living expenses.
5. Indian students spent an estimated $5.9 billion in the UK, with approximately 1.32 lakh students studying there. The expenditure can be categorised into three main areas: $3.4 billion for tuition and fees, $1.3 billion for housing expenses, and $1.2 billion for other living expenditures.
6. The top countries for Indian international students are Australia, UK, USA, Germany, France, China, Spain, and Russia.
7. When it comes to affordability, Indian students opt for countries like Germany (54%), Russia (21%), the Philippines (8%), Singapore (8%), France (9%) and many more.
8. Many Indian students prefer studying in English-speaking countries, specifically the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland.
9. In 2022, the US and UK reported an all-time high number of visas issued to Indian students. These countries are preferred due to the presence of top-tier universities, specialised courses, and better post-study work opportunities.
10. Indian students (around 2,40,000) contribute significantly to the US economy, with a total expenditure of US $12.48 billion; this includes US $7.2 billion towards academic fees, US $2.9 billion for accommodation, and US $2.4 billion on other living expenses.
11. In Canada, Indian students (around 300,000) have an estimated total expenditure of US $11.7 billion, encompassing US $6 billion on academic fees, US $3 billion for accommodation, and US $2.7 billion on other living necessities.
12. The economic contribution of Indian students (around 76,500) in Australia stands at an estimated total of US $3.9 billion, with US $1.68 billion allocated for academic fees, US $0.99 billion for accommodation, and US $1.22 billion for other living expenses.
13. Indian students (around 132,000) in the UK have an estimated total expenditure of US $5.9 billion, which is broken down into US $3.4 billion on academic fees, US $1.3 billion on accommodation, and US $1.2 billion on other living expenses.
14. There are close to 1,200 universities, 49,400 colleges, and 12,600 standalone institutions in India, making it the largest higher education ecosystem in the world by number of institutions.
15. Indian Higher Education System consists of 41 million students and 1.55 million faculty members across various higher education institutions. Still, the gross enrollment ratio (GER) of around 27% is much lower than most developed countries in the world.
16. The market size of the Indian Higher Education system is estimated at around $40 billion in 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 15%.
17. While the private sector accounts for 59% of enrolment in higher education, the regulatory environment is not conducive for high-quality private institutions
18. Around 1.2 million Indian students were pursuing their studies abroad in 2022, out of which around 0.75 million students had gone abroad in that year itself.
19. The top states in India in terms of students going abroad include - Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra,Delhi/NCR and Tamil Nadu.
20. In 2023, the US was estimated to have 20 million Indian students enrolled in the higher education ecosystem, with 80% enrolled in undergraduate courses and the balance 20% in postgraduate courses.
21. The total number of international students studying in the US in 2023, was estimated to be around 1 million. Out of these, 2,50,000 were expected to be Indian students, of which 2,40,000 are expected to be enrolled in higher education.
22. 1 in 4 Indian students studying in the US were estimated to be studying in either California or New York.
23. In 2023, Canada was expected to host 9,00,000 International Students. Out of these, 3,20,000 are expected to be Indian students. Of these, 3,00,000 Indian students are expected to be enrolled in higher education.
24. Indian students are Canada's largest international student group, comprising around 35% of all international students.
25. As of 2023, Australia was expected to host about 750,000 international students, and out of these, Indian students were expected to be around 1,27,500.
26. Out of 76,500 Indian students studying across 8 states & UTs across Australia, around 51,000 students are enrolled across the top 8 cities in Australia.
27. The number of international students expected to be enrolled in the UK by the end of 2023 was 7,50,000. Out of these Indian students, there were expected to be around 1,50,000, of which 1,32,000 were expected to be in HE
28.  India was the second largest source of international students in the UK, after China.
29. The current student accommodation booking process is extremely inefficient and fraught with high dropout rates of transactions (around 50%), primarily on account of lack of availability of real time data on the supply side. On top of this, there are significant dropout rates from the demand side as well (about 25%), which makes almost 75% of the transactions susceptible to failure.

These are the important points from the Open Doors Report 2023:

1. During the 2021/2022 academic year, study abroad rebounded to more than half of pre-pandemic levels.
2. With 188,753 students pursuing academic records, the US study abroad total reflects 2021/22 when travel and study abroad programming was still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
3. The United States hosted 1 million (1,057,188) international students during the 2023-2024 academic year, a 12 percent increase from the previous academic year.
4. India reached an all-time high in enrolment. It is the second-largest sending country after China, reaching an all-time high of 2,68,923 international students in 2023-2024. It is calculated that there is a 35 percent increase year-over-year.

We hope these facts and figures will convince you to start your study-abroad journey. If you aspire to pursue your higher education abroad, you may want the best consultants to help you with your visa and admission processes. Don’t worry, Yocket experts can help you with end-to-end, tech-enabled services. Book a free consultation call with a Yocket expert today!