Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) was 128,907 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in Malaysia, 1998–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in Malaysia stood at 128,907. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 18.2% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 128,907 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3,128, in 1998.
That places Malaysia 15th out of 135 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3,128 | — |
| 1999 | 3,508 | +12.1% |
| 2000 | 18,892 | +438.5% |
| 2001 | 16,480 | -12.8% |
| 2002 | 27,731 | +68.3% |
| 2003 | 30,407 | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 23,441 | -22.9% |
| 2006 | 24,404 | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 30,581 | +25.3% |
| 2008 | 41,310 | +35.1% |
| 2009 | 57,824 | +40.0% |
| 2010 | 64,749 | +12.0% |
| 2011 | 63,625 | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 56,203 | -11.7% |
| 2014 | 99,648 | +77.3% |
| 2015 | 111,443 | +11.8% |
| 2016 | 124,133 | +11.4% |
| 2017 | 100,765 | -18.8% |
| 2019 | 81,953 | -18.7% |
| 2020 | 89,193 | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 92,519 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 100,437 | +8.6% |
| 2023 | 109,036 | +8.6% |
| 2024 | 128,907 | +18.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 128,907 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7,760, 16.6× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 128,907 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 40,611, 3.2× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +438.5% | 3,508 | 18,892 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,318 | 3,128 | 3,508 | 2 |
| 2000s | 30,119 | 16,480 | 57,824 | 9 |
| 2010s | 87,815 | 56,203 | 124,133 | 8 |
| 2020s | 104,018 | 89,193 | 128,907 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 12 South Korea 143,939 compare
- 13 Netherlands 135,535 compare
- 14 Iran 130,591 compare
- 16 Argentina 126,566 compare
- 17 Egypt 125,128 compare
- 18 Saudi Arabia 114,886 compare
More education data for Malaysia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0859 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in Malaysia?
- Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in Malaysia was 128,907 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 128,907 in 2024.
- What is the lowest total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,128 in 1998.
- How does Malaysia rank for total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes?
- Malaysia ranks 15th out of 135 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release