Countries with the most international students
The 15 countries that hosted the most international students at college and university level in 2023, the latest year with figures for every one of the biggest host countries.
By Academic Writing Club Newsroom · Updated
International students hosted in 2023, the 15 biggest host countries
International students
| Rank | Country | International students in 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 956,923 |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 748,461 |
| 3 | Australia | 467,074 |
| 4 | Germany | 423,197 |
| 5 | Canada | 389,181 |
| 6 | Russia | 336,453 |
| 7 | Türkiye | 301,634 |
| 8 | France | 276,217 |
| 9 | United Arab Emirates | 237,034 |
| 10 | China | 200,892 |
| 11 | Japan | 181,821 |
| 12 | South Korea | 127,624 |
| 13 | Argentina | 126,566 |
| 14 | Malaysia | 109,036 |
| 15 | Italy | 106,450 |
An international student here is someone who crossed a border to study at college or university level in a country other than the one where they finished secondary school. Counted that way, the United States hosted 956,923 international students in 2023, the most of any country, and the United Kingdom hosted 748,461.
Australia, Germany and Canada came next, each with between about 389,000 and 467,000. Across the world, about 7.3 million students were studying outside their home country in 2023.
What the figures include
The ranking counts heads, not shares. A country with a large university system can host many international students who are still a small part of its enrollment, while a smaller country can host fewer students who make up a bigger part.
Students who take an overseas university's courses online from home, or at a foreign university's campus in their own country, are not counted. Some countries have reported 2024 figures, but the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Russia had not, so 2023 is the latest year in which all of the biggest host countries can be compared.
