Migration Flows of International Students

Migratory patterns of international students tell multiple stories. At a global level, the overall increase in mobile student numbers over past decades highlights a continued trend of globalization and cross-border collaboration. Meanwhile, regional or national patterns can highlight the shifting geopolitical developments of today, whether that’s through student numbers falling in the wake of conflicts or increasing because of improvements in visa access policies and strengthening bilateral agreements. In this way, student mobility can be considered political, as it has long been used as a tool of “soft power”, promoting cultural exchange and boosting national reputations.

A snapshot of student flows in 2023 shows that the largest regional group of internationally mobile students enrolled in tertiary education were from Asia, making up 58 percent of the global total. This is due to multiple factors, including the large populations of countries such as China and India, the growing middle class in both nations and an intense competition for places in local universities. In the United States and the United Kingdom, 75 percent and 68 percent of the international student bodies were from Asia that year, respectively. However, more recent data shows that numbers of U.S. student visas issued to India and China fell, albeit likely temporarily, in the first half of 2025 amid changing policies.

Student mobility flows also reflect historical power dynamics, with clear links stemming from colonial legacies. OECD data shows that 47 percent of international students in Spain were from Latin American countries in 2023 while students from African countries accounted for 52 percent of mobile students in France. Language plays an important role here.

Europe was the second largest region of origin of international students after Asia, accounting for 19 percent of the global total. Data shows that many European students stay within the region.

In India, 67 percent of the international student body were from Asia in 2023, while 24 percent were from African countries and seven percent from North America. Tuition fees and living costs in India are much lower than European or North American universities, while classes are also taught in English. India also promotes student mobility through programs such as the India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme.

According to the latest report by All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), in 2020-2021 the top ten countries by highest share of international students were Nepal (28.3 percent), Afghanistan (8.5 percent), Bangladesh (5.7 percent), the United States (5.12 percent), United Arab Emirates (4.8 percent), Bhutan (3.8 percent), Sudan (3.3 percent), Nigeria (2.9 percent), Tanzania (2.7 percent) and Yemen (2.3 percent).