Share of students from abroad in China
China: Share of students from abroad was 0.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of students from abroad in China, 2006–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of students from abroad in China stood at 0.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.3% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students from abroad in China peaked at 0.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2006.
China ranks 123rd of 134 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Share of students from abroad in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0.2% | — |
| 2007 | 0.2% | +6.7% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | +15.0% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | +10.2% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | +10.4% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | +11.4% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | -8.1% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -10.4% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -8.4% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | -5.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 11% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- China's 0.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.7%, 7% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students from abroad in China?
- Share of students from abroad in China was 0.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students from abroad recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of students from abroad recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2006.
- How does China rank for share of students from abroad?
- China ranks 123rd out of 134 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of students from abroad rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of students from abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International students as a share of the country's overall tertiary enrollment. International students are those who move from their home countries for education, identified based on their past education, residence, or distinct immigration regulations.