Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)

ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420): Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying was 1.39 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1.39 million
Change on year
up 26.4%
Rank
36th
of 221 groups
All-time high
1.39 million
in 2023
All-time low
144,632
in 1997
Years of data
27
1997–2023

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), 1997–2023

250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M1.5M1997201020231997: 144.6k1998: 144.6k1999: 146.8k2000: 156.4k2001: 180.3k2002: 210.2k2003: 233.9k2004: 251.1k2005: 271.1k2006: 278.7k2007: 312.6k2008: 351.1k2009: 395.8k2010: 414.9k2011: 425.3k2012: 416.3k2013: 435.7k2014: 492.7k2015: 549.7k2016: 625.0k2017: 677.8k2018: 739.1k2019: 839.1k2020: 932.8k2021: 933.7k2022: 1.1M2023: 1.4M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) recorded 1.39 million for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in 2023. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.4% on the previous year and up 218.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) peaked at 1.39 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 144,632, in 1997.

ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) ranks 36th of 221 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), year by year

Annual values for Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number) in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), 1997 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1997 144,632
1998 144,632 +0.0%
1999 146,770 +1.5%
2000 156,387 +6.6%
2001 180,342 +15.3%
2002 210,240 +16.6%
2003 233,872 +11.2%
2004 251,130 +7.4%
2005 271,086 +7.9%
2006 278,746 +2.8%
2007 312,557 +12.1%
2008 351,098 +12.3%
2009 395,773 +12.7%
2010 414,877 +4.8%
2011 425,279 +2.5%
2012 416,347 -2.1%
2013 435,673 +4.6%
2014 492,662 +13.1%
2015 549,683 +11.6%
2016 625,022 +13.7%
2017 677,841 +8.5%
2018 739,093 +9.0%
2019 839,123 +13.5%
2020 932,793 +11.2%
2021 933,665 +0.1%
2022 1.10 million +17.7%
2023 1.39 million +26.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 145,345 144,632 146,770 3
2000s 264,123 156,387 395,773 10
2010s 561,560 414,877 839,123 10
2020s 1.09 million 932,793 1.39 million 4

Countries ranked near ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)

  1. 33 Sri Lanka 41,661 compare
  2. 34 Philippines 41,440 compare
  3. 35 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 40,906 compare
  4. 36 Hong Kong, China 40,904 compare
  5. 37 Mexico 38,560 compare
  6. 38 Algeria 38,304 compare
  7. 39 Greece 37,658 compare

See the full ranking of 431 places →

More education data for ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)

All data for ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) →

Frequently asked questions

What is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) was 1.39 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
The highest recorded value was 1.39 million in 2023.
What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
The lowest recorded value was 144,632 in 1997.
How does ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) ranks 36th out of 221 groups with data for 2023.
Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
Over the last ten years it is up 218.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) 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, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-outbound-internationally-mobile-tertiary-students-studying-abroad-all-countries-3/escap-south-and-south-west-asia-sswa-unsdcode-98420/

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About this data

Indicator
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
431 places, 11,332 data points, 1997–2023
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release