Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in China
China: Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) was -402,734 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in China, 2006–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in China is -402,734, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 34.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in China peaked at -286,845 in 2012 and was at its lowest, -592,658, in 2011.
That places China 125th out of 126 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | -354,607 | — |
| 2007 | -388,715 | +9.6% |
| 2008 | -419,112 | +7.8% |
| 2009 | -475,187 | +13.4% |
| 2010 | -541,846 | +14.0% |
| 2011 | -592,658 | +9.4% |
| 2012 | -286,845 | -51.6% |
| 2013 | -299,706 | +4.5% |
| 2014 | -316,312 | +5.5% |
| 2015 | -318,878 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | -330,889 | +3.8% |
| 2017 | -340,609 | +2.9% |
| 2018 | -361,805 | +6.2% |
| 2019 | -385,223 | +6.5% |
| 2020 | -389,596 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | -368,526 | -5.4% |
| 2022 | -392,095 | +6.4% |
| 2023 | -402,734 | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -409,405 | -475,187 | -354,607 | 4 |
| 2010s | -377,477 | -592,658 | -286,845 | 10 |
| 2020s | -388,238 | -402,734 | -368,526 | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.74 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.2971 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 45.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 52.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 40.93 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -11.55 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in China?
- Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) in China was -402,734 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was -286,845 in 2012.
- What is the lowest net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -592,658 in 2011.
- How does China rank for net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound)?
- China ranks 125th out of 126 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Net flow of internationally mobile students (inbound - outbound), male (UIS estimate) (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release