Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students … male in China
China: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students … male was 513,974 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China stood at 513,974.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 45.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China peaked at 636,262 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1970.
That places China 1st out of 235 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students … male in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 134,461 | — |
| 1999 | 137,674 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 156,814 | +13.9% |
| 2001 | 184,149 | +17.4% |
| 2002 | 228,671 | +24.2% |
| 2003 | 287,825 | +25.9% |
| 2004 | 333,158 | +15.8% |
| 2005 | 366,401 | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 374,560 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 411,827 | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 447,105 | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 508,745 | +13.8% |
| 2010 | 581,116 | +14.2% |
| 2011 | 636,262 | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 335,542 | -47.3% |
| 2013 | 352,731 | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 375,518 | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 386,236 | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 406,117 | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 426,522 | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 459,277 | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 495,218 | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 512,673 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 489,720 | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 509,036 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 513,974 | +1.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 513,974 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5,878, 87.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 513,974 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,289, 398.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students … male in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | -47.3% | 636,262 | 335,542 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 27,214 | 0 | 137,674 | 10 |
| 2000s | 329,926 | 156,814 | 508,745 | 10 |
| 2010s | 445,454 | 335,542 | 636,262 | 10 |
| 2020s | 506,351 | 489,720 | 513,974 | 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 total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China?
- Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China was 513,974 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 636,262 in 2011.
- What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1970.
- How does China rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
- China ranks 1st out of 235 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, male (UIS estimate) (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release