Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in Canada
Canada: Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) was 337,060 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
337,060
Change on year
up 18.2%
World rank
4th
of 143 countries
All-time high
337,060
in 2023
All-time low
-1,810
in 1998
Years of data
26
1998–2023
Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in Canada, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Canada recorded 337,060 for net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.2% on the previous year and up 222.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in Canada peaked at 337,060 in 2023 and was at its lowest, -1,810, in 1998.
Canada ranks 4th of 143 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -1,810 | — |
| 1999 | 1,885 | -204.1% |
| 2000 | 5,338 | +183.2% |
| 2001 | 8,408 | +57.5% |
| 2002 | 11,768 | +40.0% |
| 2003 | 19,358 | +64.5% |
| 2004 | 24,828 | +28.3% |
| 2005 | 25,637 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 23,918 | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 47,428 | +98.3% |
| 2008 | 47,718 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 48,568 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 59,394 | +22.3% |
| 2011 | 74,014 | +24.6% |
| 2012 | 88,219 | +19.2% |
| 2013 | 104,594 | +18.6% |
| 2014 | 116,812 | +11.7% |
| 2015 | 121,829 | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 139,070 | +14.2% |
| 2017 | 160,570 | +15.5% |
| 2018 | 176,334 | +9.8% |
| 2019 | 230,296 | +30.6% |
| 2020 | 272,169 | +18.2% |
| 2021 | 264,373 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 285,210 | +7.9% |
| 2023 | 337,060 | +18.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.5 | -1,810 | 1,885 | 2 |
| 2000s | 26,297 | 5,338 | 48,568 | 10 |
| 2010s | 127,113 | 59,394 | 230,296 | 10 |
| 2020s | 289,703 | 264,373 | 337,060 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 1 Montserrat -37 compare
- 1 United States 838,773 compare
- 2 United Kingdom 707,555 compare
- 2 Niue -39 compare
- 3 Australia 453,691 compare
- 3 Tokelau -75 compare
- 4 Anguilla -151 compare
- 5 Cook Islands -241 compare
- 5 Germany 294,910 compare
- 6 Russia 271,064 compare
- 7 United Arab Emirates 217,718 compare
More education data for Canada
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,022 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 141,045 (2000)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 3 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in Canada?
- Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in Canada was 337,060 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 337,060 in 2023.
- What is the lowest net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was -1,810 in 1998.
- How does Canada rank for net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound)?
- Canada ranks 4th out of 143 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 222.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound), both sexes (UIS estimate) (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release