Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in North America

North America: Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes was 1.21 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
1.21 million number
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
9th
of 42 groups
All-time high
1.21 million number
in 2018
All-time low
458,972 number
in 1997
Years of data
22
1997–2018

Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in North America, 1997–2018

0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M1997200720181997: 459.0k number1998: 459.0k number1999: 484.5k number2000: 511.7k number2001: 517.9k number2002: 632.6k number2003: 645.5k number2004: 637.6k number2005: 659.4k number2006: 653.3k number2007: 688.8k number2008: 718.0k number2009: 756.2k number2010: 791.2k number2011: 830.6k number2012: 875.8k number2013: 935.8k number2014: 1.0M number2015: 1.1M number2016: 1.2M number2017: 1.2M number2018: 1.2M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in North America is 1.21 million number, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 68.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in North America peaked at 1.21 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 458,972 number, in 1997.

North America ranks 9th of 42 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in North America, year by year

Annual values for Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) in North America, 1997 to 2018.
Year number Change
1997 458,972 number
1998 458,972 number +0.0%
1999 484,471 number +5.6%
2000 511,689 number +5.6%
2001 517,949 number +1.2%
2002 632,638 number +22.1%
2003 645,453 number +2.0%
2004 637,580 number -1.2%
2005 659,354 number +3.4%
2006 653,309 number -0.9%
2007 688,825 number +5.4%
2008 718,023 number +4.2%
2009 756,241 number +5.3%
2010 791,167 number +4.6%
2011 830,617 number +5.0%
2012 875,755 number +5.4%
2013 935,829 number +6.9%
2014 1.01 million number +7.6%
2015 1.08 million number +7.2%
2016 1.16 million number +7.6%
2017 1.20 million number +2.9%
2018 1.21 million number +1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 467,472 number 458,972 number 484,471 number 3
2000s 642,106 number 511,689 number 756,241 number 10
2010s 1.01 million number 791,167 number 1.21 million number 9

Countries ranked near North America

  1. 6 France 229,623 number compare
  2. 7 Canada 224,548 number compare
  3. 8 China 201,177 number compare
  4. 9 Japan 182,748 number compare
  5. 10 Türkiye 125,138 number compare
  6. 11 Italy 106,611 number compare
  7. 12 Netherlands 104,015 number compare

See the full ranking of 171 places →

More education data for North America

All data for North America →

Frequently asked questions

What is total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in North America?
Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in North America was 1.21 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes recorded in North America?
The highest recorded value was 1.21 million number in 2018.
What is the lowest total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes recorded in North America?
The lowest recorded value was 458,972 number in 1997.
How does North America rank for total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes?
North America ranks 9th out of 42 groups with data for 2018.
Is total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes rising or falling in North America?
Over the last ten years it is up 68.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this North America 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.

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Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes in North America. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-inbound-internationally-mobile-students-both-sexes-number/north-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
171 places, 2,593 data points, 1997–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of students who have crossed a national or territorial border for the purpose of education and are now enrolled in tertiary institutions outside their country of origin.