Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying was 607,937 in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
607,937
Change on year
up 12.0%
Rank
91st
of 221 groups
All-time high
607,937
in 2023
All-time low
185,043
in 1997
Years of data
27
1997–2023

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997–2023

200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k600.0k1997201020231997: 185.0k1998: 185.0k1999: 191.9k2000: 207.4k2001: 222.5k2002: 242.3k2003: 261.9k2004: 265.1k2005: 274.1k2006: 283.9k2007: 296.8k2008: 307.3k2009: 321.0k2010: 333.7k2011: 355.0k2012: 329.3k2013: 337.9k2014: 373.9k2015: 398.8k2016: 419.2k2017: 421.8k2018: 422.5k2019: 437.8k2020: 468.1k2021: 496.1k2022: 542.8k2023: 607.9k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 607,937. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

That represents a change of up 12.0% on the previous year and up 79.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 607,937 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 185,043, in 1997.

That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 91st out of 221 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (UIS estimate) (number) in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1997 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1997 185,043
1998 185,043 +0.0%
1999 191,893 +3.7%
2000 207,400 +8.1%
2001 222,541 +7.3%
2002 242,310 +8.9%
2003 261,873 +8.1%
2004 265,102 +1.2%
2005 274,109 +3.4%
2006 283,892 +3.6%
2007 296,782 +4.5%
2008 307,283 +3.5%
2009 321,032 +4.5%
2010 333,709 +3.9%
2011 355,044 +6.4%
2012 329,305 -7.2%
2013 337,893 +2.6%
2014 373,885 +10.7%
2015 398,759 +6.7%
2016 419,249 +5.1%
2017 421,779 +0.6%
2018 422,451 +0.2%
2019 437,800 +3.6%
2020 468,071 +6.9%
2021 496,134 +6.0%
2022 542,785 +9.4%
2023 607,937 +12.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 187,326 185,043 191,893 3
2000s 268,232 207,400 321,032 10
2010s 382,987 329,305 437,800 10
2020s 528,732 468,071 607,937 4

Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 88 Norway 14,425 compare
  2. 89 Serbia 14,371 compare
  3. 90 Sweden 14,094 compare
  4. 91 Congo 14,055 compare
  5. 92 Hungary 13,529 compare
  6. 93 Australia 13,383 compare
  7. 94 Luxembourg 13,332 compare

See the full ranking of 431 places →

More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 607,937 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 607,937 in 2023.
What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 185,043 in 1997.
How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 91st out of 221 groups with data for 2023.
Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 79.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 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: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-outbound-internationally-mobile-tertiary-students-studying-abroad-all-countries-3/mdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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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