Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China

China: Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying was 993,367 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
993,367 number
Change on year
up 7.0%
World rank
1st
of 205 countries
All-time high
993,367 number
in 2018
All-time low
134,409 number
in 1998
Years of data
21
1998–2018

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China, 1998–2018

200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1.0M1998200820181998: 134.4k number1999: 137.6k number2000: 154.6k number2001: 176.5k number2002: 230.4k number2003: 312.6k number2004: 360.7k number2005: 396.5k number2006: 403.2k number2007: 426.7k number2008: 458.1k number2009: 516.4k number2010: 568.0k number2011: 653.2k number2012: 698.5k number2013: 719.4k number2014: 770.8k number2015: 819.9k number2016: 868.3k number2017: 928.4k number2018: 993.4k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China is 993,367 number, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is up 7.0% on the previous year and up 116.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China peaked at 993,367 number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 134,409 number, in 1998.

That places China 1st out of 205 countries with data for 2018, 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 studying in China, year by year

Annual values for Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (number) in China, 1998 to 2018.
Year number Change
1998 134,409 number —
1999 137,622 number +2.4%
2000 154,602 number +12.3%
2001 176,475 number +14.1%
2002 230,401 number +30.6%
2003 312,647 number +35.7%
2004 360,676 number +15.4%
2005 396,477 number +9.9%
2006 403,174 number +1.7%
2007 426,716 number +5.8%
2008 458,102 number +7.4%
2009 516,357 number +12.7%
2010 567,984 number +10.0%
2011 653,174 number +15.0%
2012 698,522 number +6.9%
2013 719,436 number +3.0%
2014 770,784 number +7.1%
2015 819,855 number +6.4%
2016 868,319 number +5.9%
2017 928,365 number +6.9%
2018 993,367 number +7.0%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 993,367 number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10,800 number, 92.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • China's 993,367 number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,149 number, 239.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 136,016 number 134,409 number 137,622 number 2
2000s 343,563 number 154,602 number 516,357 number 10
2010s 779,978 number 567,984 number 993,367 number 9

Countries ranked near China

  1. 2 India 375,055 number compare
  2. 3 Germany 122,538 number compare
  3. 4 Vietnam 108,527 number compare

See the full ranking of 250 places →

More education data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China?
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China was 993,367 number in 2018, 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 993,367 number in 2018.
What is the lowest total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 134,409 number in 1998.
How does China rank for total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying?
China ranks 1st out of 205 countries with data for 2018.
Is total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 116.8%. 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, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying in China. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-outbound-internationally-mobile-tertiary-students-studying-abroad-all-countries/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
250 places, 5,215 data points, 1997–2018
Last refreshed

Students who have crossed a national or territorial border for the purpose of education and are now enrolled outside their country of origin.