Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Southern Asia

MDG: Southern Asia: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying was 1.32 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1.32 million
Change on year
up 27.2%
Rank
39th
of 221 groups
All-time high
1.32 million
in 2023
All-time low
114,715
in 1997
Years of data
27
1997–2023

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Southern Asia, 1997–2023

0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1.2M1997201020231997: 114.7k1998: 114.7k1999: 116.6k2000: 125.9k2001: 148.2k2002: 176.5k2003: 200.3k2004: 217.8k2005: 235.7k2006: 243.1k2007: 274.8k2008: 310.7k2009: 351.9k2010: 369.4k2011: 378.8k2012: 370.0k2013: 390.4k2014: 447.5k2015: 504.0k2016: 579.5k2017: 632.2k2018: 691.7k2019: 792.0k2020: 881.5k2021: 881.2k2022: 1.0M2023: 1.3M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Southern Asia stood at 1.32 million. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

That represents a change of up 27.2% on the previous year and up 238.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Southern Asia peaked at 1.32 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 114,715, in 1997.

That places MDG: Southern Asia 39th out of 221 groups with data for 2023, putting it 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 MDG: Southern Asia, year by year

Annual values for Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number) in MDG: Southern Asia, 1997 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1997 114,715
1998 114,715 +0.0%
1999 116,625 +1.7%
2000 125,911 +8.0%
2001 148,238 +17.7%
2002 176,495 +19.1%
2003 200,257 +13.5%
2004 217,818 +8.8%
2005 235,732 +8.2%
2006 243,063 +3.1%
2007 274,829 +13.1%
2008 310,677 +13.0%
2009 351,852 +13.3%
2010 369,354 +5.0%
2011 378,822 +2.6%
2012 369,989 -2.3%
2013 390,360 +5.5%
2014 447,488 +14.6%
2015 504,046 +12.6%
2016 579,495 +15.0%
2017 632,171 +9.1%
2018 691,732 +9.4%
2019 791,953 +14.5%
2020 881,520 +11.3%
2021 881,219 -0.0%
2022 1.04 million +17.9%
2023 1.32 million +27.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 115,352 114,715 116,625 3
2000s 228,487 125,911 351,852 10
2010s 515,541 369,354 791,953 10
2020s 1.03 million 881,219 1.32 million 4

Countries ranked near MDG: Southern Asia

  1. 36 Hong Kong, China 40,904 compare
  2. 37 Mexico 38,560 compare
  3. 38 Algeria 38,304 compare
  4. 39 Greece 37,658 compare
  5. 40 Yemen 37,557 compare
  6. 41 Ecuador 36,571 compare
  7. 42 Afghanistan 34,833 compare

See the full ranking of 431 places →

More education data for MDG: Southern Asia

All data for MDG: Southern Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Southern Asia?
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Southern Asia was 1.32 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in MDG: Southern Asia?
The highest recorded value was 1.32 million in 2023.
What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in MDG: Southern Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 114,715 in 1997.
How does MDG: Southern Asia rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
MDG: Southern Asia ranks 39th out of 221 groups with data for 2023.
Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in MDG: Southern Asia?
Over the last ten years it is up 238.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this MDG: Southern Asia 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 MDG: Southern Asia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-outbound-internationally-mobile-tertiary-students-studying-abroad-all-countries-3/mdg-southern-asia/

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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