Share of students studying abroad in China
China: Share of students studying abroad was 1.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Share of students studying abroad in China, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 1.8% for share of students studying abroad in 2023.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students studying abroad in China peaked at 2.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2006.
China ranks 148th of 175 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of students studying abroad in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.2% | — |
| 1999 | 2.2% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 1.8% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | -12.9% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | -12.5% |
| 2022 | 1.8% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 1.8% | -2.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 35% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- China's 1.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.1%, 44% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 4 |
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 studying abroad in China?
- Share of students studying abroad in China was 1.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students studying abroad recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of students studying abroad recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2006.
- How does China rank for share of students studying abroad?
- China ranks 148th out of 175 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of students studying abroad rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 studying abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of a country's tertiary level students studying abroad as international students. International students are those that move from their home countries for education, identified based on their past education, residence, or distinct immigration regulations.