Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary … both sexes UIS in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary … both sexes UIS was 41,661 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
41,661
Change on year
up 33.4%
World rank
33rd
of 210 countries
All-time high
41,661
in 2023
All-time low
5,997
in 1998
Years of data
26
1998–2023
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Sri Lanka, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 41,661 for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 33.4% on the previous year and up 158.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Sri Lanka peaked at 41,661 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5,997, in 1998.
Sri Lanka ranks 33rd of 210 countries 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 … both sexes UIS in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 5,997 | — |
| 1999 | 6,233 | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 6,712 | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 7,501 | +11.8% |
| 2002 | 8,919 | +18.9% |
| 2003 | 9,708 | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 9,258 | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 9,740 | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 10,756 | +10.4% |
| 2007 | 12,514 | +16.3% |
| 2008 | 14,885 | +18.9% |
| 2009 | 16,007 | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 16,563 | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 16,413 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 16,474 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 16,124 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 16,334 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 17,389 | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 18,804 | +8.1% |
| 2017 | 20,970 | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 24,413 | +16.4% |
| 2019 | 28,674 | +17.5% |
| 2020 | 30,747 | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 28,862 | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 31,219 | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 41,661 | +33.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 41,661 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13,820, 3.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 41,661 is below the median for South Asia, which is 58,994, 71% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6,115 | 5,997 | 6,233 | 2 |
| 2000s | 10,600 | 6,712 | 16,007 | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,216 | 16,124 | 28,674 | 10 |
| 2020s | 33,122 | 28,862 | 41,661 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 30 Iraq 44,061 compare
- 31 Saudi Arabia 42,366 compare
- 32 Peru 42,068 compare
- 34 Philippines 41,440 compare
- 35 United Kingdom 40,906 compare
- 36 Hong Kong 40,904 compare
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Sri Lanka?
- Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in Sri Lanka was 41,661 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 41,661 in 2023.
- What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,997 in 1998.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
- Sri Lanka ranks 33rd out of 210 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 158.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release