Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South and West Asia, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number) by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
202
Highest
16,398
Afghanistan
Lowest
0
Tokelau
Median
14.5
Years covered
27
1997–2023
Data points
10,910
What the numbers show
Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in South and West Asia, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number) is currently reported for 202 countries. The highest value is 16,398 in Afghanistan; the lowest is 0 in Tokelau.
The median across all reporting countries is 14.5, and the mean is 373.39.
Over the past decade 92 countries rose and 59 fell. The largest increase was in Liberia (up 7,075.0%), and the largest decrease in Aruba (down 100.0%).
Outbound internationally mobile tertiary students … South West both: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan | 16,398 | 2023 | up 114.5% | volatile |
| 2 | Nepal | 13,135 | 2023 | up 87.6% | volatile |
| 3 | Iraq | 6,713 | 2023 | up 166.7% | volatile |
| 4 | United States | 2,995 | 2023 | up 232.8% | volatile |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 2,921 | 2023 | up 210.1% | volatile |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates | 2,355 | 2023 | up 187.9% | volatile |
| 7 | India | 2,312 | 2023 | up 146.0% | volatile |
| 8 | Bhutan | 1,751 | 2023 | down 30.8% | volatile |
| 9 | Nigeria | 1,505 | 2023 | up 122.6% | volatile |
| 10 | Syria | 1,391 | 2023 | up 292.9% | volatile |
| 11 | Tanzania | 1,274 | 2023 | up 67.6% | volatile |
| 12 | Australia | 1,120 | 2023 | up 294.4% | volatile |
| 13 | Sri Lanka | 1,088 | 2023 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 14 | Zimbabwe | 1,067 | 2023 | up 1,250.6% | volatile |
| 15 | Yemen | 1,017 | 2023 | up 75.6% | volatile |
| 16 | Sudan | 997 | 2023 | down 39.9% | flat |
| 17 | Ethiopia | 920 | 2023 | up 227.4% | rising |
| 18 | Lebanon | 806 | 2023 | up 416.7% | volatile |
| 19 | China | 791 | 2023 | down 2.0% | volatile |
| 20 | Qatar | 781 | 2023 | up 356.7% | volatile |
| 21 | Saudi Arabia | 734 | 2023 | up 117.8% | volatile |
| 22 | Myanmar | 693 | 2023 | up 54.0% | rising |
| 23 | Oman | 610 | 2023 | up 166.4% | rising |
| 24 | Thailand | 597 | 2023 | up 33.0% | rising |
| 25 | Zambia | 472 | 2023 | up 234.8% | volatile |
| 26 | Kuwait | 467 | 2023 | up 238.4% | volatile |
| 27 | Pakistan | 445 | 2023 | up 183.4% | volatile |
| 28 | Malawi | 428 | 2023 | up 2,753.3% | volatile |
| 29 | Iran | 413 | 2023 | down 80.6% | volatile |
| 30 | South Sudan | 403 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 31 | Maldives | 399 | 2023 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 32 | Somalia | 381 | 2023 | up 112.8% | volatile |
| 33 | Kenya | 380 | 2023 | down 14.4% | falling |
| 34 | Bahrain | 354 | 2023 | up 77.9% | rising |
| 35 | Canada | 341 | 2023 | down 7.1% | volatile |
| 36 | Ghana | 312 | 2023 | up 642.9% | volatile |
| 37 | Indonesia | 295 | 2023 | up 186.4% | rising |
| 38 | Albania | 293 | 2023 | up 5,760.0% | volatile |
| 38 | Uganda | 293 | 2023 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 40 | Liberia | 287 | 2023 | up 7,075.0% | volatile |
| 41 | Singapore | 273 | 2023 | up 120.2% | volatile |
| 42 | Lesotho | 247 | 2023 | up 1,546.7% | volatile |
| 43 | Tajikistan | 240 | 2023 | up 313.8% | volatile |
| 44 | Turkmenistan | 228 | 2023 | up 250.8% | volatile |
| 45 | Mozambique | 219 | 2023 | up 253.2% | volatile |
| 46 | Vietnam | 203 | 2023 | up 82.9% | rising |
| 47 | Rwanda | 195 | 2023 | down 81.0% | volatile |
| 48 | Gambia | 192 | 2023 | up 4,700.0% | volatile |
| 49 | South Korea | 179 | 2023 | down 33.5% | rising |
| 50 | Malaysia | 171 | 2023 | down 90.9% | volatile |
| 51 | Azerbaijan | 162 | 2023 | up 305.0% | volatile |
| 52 | Angola | 149 | 2023 | up 263.4% | volatile |
| 53 | Mauritius | 148 | 2023 | down 65.0% | falling |
| 54 | Cameroon | 146 | 2023 | up 128.1% | volatile |
| 55 | Congo | 144 | 2023 | down 75.5% | volatile |
| 56 | South Africa | 125 | 2023 | down 40.5% | volatile |
| 57 | Palestine | 114 | 2023 | up 48.1% | rising |
| 58 | Japan | 111 | 2023 | up 44.2% | rising |
| 59 | Turkey | 101 | 2023 | up 53.0% | rising |
| 60 | Namibia | 90 | 2023 | down 1.1% | volatile |
| 61 | Mali | 89 | 2023 | up 287.0% | volatile |
| 62 | Botswana | 88 | 2023 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 63 | Switzerland | 80 | 2023 | up 627.3% | volatile |
| 64 | Egypt | 72 | 2023 | up 56.5% | volatile |
| 64 | Togo | 72 | 2023 | up 3,500.0% | volatile |
| 66 | Chad | 67 | 2023 | up 272.2% | volatile |
| 67 | Djibouti | 66 | 2023 | up 3.1% | volatile |
| 68 | Russia | 65 | 2023 | up 47.7% | volatile |
| 69 | Libya | 59 | 2023 | up 78.8% | volatile |
| 69 | Madagascar | 59 | 2023 | up 883.3% | volatile |
| 71 | France | 58 | 2023 | down 43.1% | volatile |
| 72 | Jordan | 56 | 2023 | up 33.3% | falling |
| 72 | Sierra Leone | 56 | 2023 | up 1,766.7% | volatile |
| 74 | Guinea | 52 | 2023 | up 766.7% | volatile |
| 75 | Burkina Faso | 51 | 2023 | up 2,450.0% | volatile |
| 75 | Comoros | 51 | 2023 | up 218.8% | volatile |
| 75 | Germany | 51 | 2023 | down 34.6% | rising |
| 78 | United Kingdom | 48 | 2023 | down 68.4% | volatile |
| 79 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 46 | 2023 | down 54.5% | volatile |
| 80 | Philippines | 45 | 2023 | up 87.5% | volatile |
| 81 | Cambodia | 40 | 2023 | down 51.8% | rising |
| 82 | Mexico | 39 | 2023 | up 550.0% | volatile |
| 83 | Burundi | 37 | 2023 | down 72.0% | volatile |
| 84 | Mongolia | 36 | 2023 | down 66.0% | volatile |
| 85 | Central African Republic | 30 | 2023 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 85 | Netherlands | 30 | 2023 | up 150.0% | volatile |
| 87 | Norway | 28 | 2023 | up 833.3% | volatile |
| 87 | Uzbekistan | 28 | 2023 | down 9.7% | volatile |
| 89 | Kazakhstan | 27 | 2023 | down 3.6% | falling |
| 90 | North Korea | 26 | 2023 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 90 | Senegal | 26 | 2023 | up 550.0% | volatile |
| 92 | Ireland | 22 | 2023 | up 450.0% | volatile |
| 92 | Laos | 22 | 2023 | up 57.1% | volatile |
| 94 | Hong Kong | 20 | 2023 | up 233.3% | volatile |
| 94 | Eswatini | 20 | 2023 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 96 | Niger | 18 | 2023 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 97 | Eritrea | 16 | 2023 | down 97.1% | volatile |
| 97 | New Zealand | 16 | 2023 | down 38.5% | volatile |
| 97 | Seychelles | 16 | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 100 | Brazil | 15 | 2023 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 100 | Italy | 15 | 2023 | down 61.5% | volatile |
| 102 | Portugal | 14 | 2023 | up 180.0% | volatile |
| 103 | Belgium | 13 | 2023 | up 18.2% | volatile |
| 104 | Austria | 12 | 2023 | up 50.0% | volatile |
| 104 | Algeria | 12 | 2023 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 104 | Sweden | 12 | 2023 | up 9.1% | volatile |
| 107 | Ukraine | 11 | 2023 | up 120.0% | volatile |
| 108 | Morocco | 10 | 2023 | up 150.0% | volatile |
| 108 | Tunisia | 10 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 110 | Spain | 9 | 2023 | down 65.4% | volatile |
| 110 | Georgia | 9 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 110 | Paraguay | 9 | 2023 | up 800.0% | volatile |
| 113 | Fiji | 8 | 2023 | down 78.9% | volatile |
| 113 | Guyana | 8 | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 113 | East Timor | 8 | 2023 | up 166.7% | volatile |
| 116 | Guinea-Bissau | 7 | 2023 | up 133.3% | volatile |
| 116 | Papua New Guinea | 7 | 2023 | up 600.0% | volatile |
| 118 | Gabon | 6 | 2023 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 118 | Peru | 6 | 2023 | up 500.0% | volatile |
| 120 | Armenia | 5 | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 120 | Benin | 5 | 2023 | down 28.6% | volatile |
| 120 | Colombia | 5 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 120 | Cuba | 5 | 2023 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 120 | Finland | 5 | 2023 | up 25.0% | volatile |
| 120 | Jamaica | 5 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 120 | Romania | 5 | 2023 | down 16.7% | volatile |
| 120 | British Virgin Islands | 5 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 128 | Argentina | 4 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 128 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4 | 2023 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 128 | Costa Rica | 4 | 2023 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 128 | Denmark | 4 | 2023 | down 20.0% | volatile |
| 128 | Greece | 4 | 2023 | up 33.3% | volatile |
| 128 | Israel | 4 | 2023 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 128 | Poland | 4 | 2023 | down 63.6% | falling |
| 128 | Samoa | 4 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 136 | Brunei | 3 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 136 | Cape Verde | 3 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 136 | Czechia | 3 | 2023 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 136 | Croatia | 3 | 2023 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 136 | Kyrgyzstan | 3 | 2023 | down 70.0% | falling |
| 136 | Malta | 3 | 2023 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 136 | Mauritania | 3 | 2023 | down 40.0% | volatile |
| 136 | Slovenia | 3 | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 144 | Belarus | 2 | 2023 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 144 | Equatorial Guinea | 2 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 144 | Hungary | 2 | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 144 | Slovakia | 2 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 144 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 2 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 149 | Bahamas | 1 | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 149 | Barbados | 1 | 2023 | unchanged | falling |
| 149 | Chile | 1 | 2023 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 149 | Cyprus | 1 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 149 | Ecuador | 1 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 149 | Estonia | 1 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 149 | Grenada | 1 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 149 | Iceland | 1 | 2023 | down 80.0% | volatile |
| 149 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1 | 2023 | down 50.0% | volatile |
| 149 | Saint Lucia | 1 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 149 | Lithuania | 1 | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 149 | Latvia | 1 | 2023 | down 83.3% | volatile |
| 149 | Panama | 1 | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 149 | El Salvador | 1 | 2023 | down 50.0% | volatile |
| 149 | Suriname | 1 | 2023 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 149 | Tonga | 1 | 2023 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 149 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 2023 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 149 | Montserrat | 1 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Aruba | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Andorra | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Bulgaria | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Belize | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Bermuda | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Bolivia | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Cote d'Ivoire | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Cayman Islands | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Dominica | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Dominican Republic | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Micronesia (country) | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Guatemala | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Honduras | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Haiti | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Kiribati | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Macao | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Monaco | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Moldova | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Marshall Islands | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | North Macedonia | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Montenegro | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Nicaragua | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Nauru | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Solomon Islands | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Serbia | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Tuvalu | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Venezuela | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Vanuatu | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Anguilla | 0 | 2023 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 167 | Cook Islands | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Niue | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 167 | Tokelau | 0 | 2023 | — | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- MDG: World 75,424
- SDG: World 75,424
- UIS: World 75,424
- WB: World 75,423
- UNICEF: World 75,396
- UNICEF: All Unicef Countries 70,382
- MDG: Developing Regions 70,027
- WB: Low & Middle Income (july 2025) 64,588
- WB: Ida & Ibrd Total 64,484
- GPE: Overall Fy24, All 90 Countries, December 2024 50,840
- WB: Ida Total 50,246
- WB: Global Partnership for Education (july 2019) 48,274
- WB: Ida Only 46,482
- ESCAP: All Countries (unsdcode:98400) 44,399
- AIMS: Asia and the Pacific 44,057
- SDG: Least Developed Countries 41,442
- WB: Least Developed Countries: Un Classification 41,442
- WB: Middle Income (july 2025) 40,893
- GPE: Region 3 39,973
- SDG: Central and Southern Asia 39,388
- ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) 38,963
- AIMS: South and West Asia 38,862
- MDG: Southern Asia 38,862
- SDG: Southern Asia 38,862
- UIS: South and West Asia 38,862
- ESCAP: Saarc (saarc) (unsdcode:98428) 38,449
- UNICEF: South Asia 38,449
- MDG: Southern Asia (excluding India) 36,550
- SDG: Landlocked Developing Countries 36,469
- GPE: South Asia Wb Fy24, December 2024 36,137
- ESCAP: Countries With Special Needs (csn) (unsdcode:98434) 36,116
- WB: Fragile and Conflict Affected Situations 33,411
- WB: Fy23 Ida & Ibrd Countries Classified As Fragile Situations 33,297
- ESCAP: Ldc (ldc_e) (unsdcode:98411) 33,217
- WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan 32,890
- ESCAP: Lldc (lldc_e) (unsdcode:98412) 32,035
- WB: Pre-demographic Dividend 31,076
- WB: Early-demographic Dividend 30,095
- WB: Lower Middle Income (july 2025) 30,018
- ESCAP: Wb Lower Middle Income Economies (wb_lower_mid) (unsdcode:98438) 29,828
About this data
February 2026 Data Release