In the 2023/2024 academic year, the United States hosted a record 1,126,690 international students, marking a 7% increase from the previous year. This continued growth reaffirms the United States’ position as a leading global destination for higher education.
For the first time since 2009, India became the top country of origin for international students in the U.S., with 331,602 Indian students enrolled—a 23% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese students declined by 4%, totaling 277,398. In today’s article we are going to analyze how many international students are studying in the United States and how they have grown over time.
International Students in US by Country of Origin 2023/2024
What are the top countries sending international students to the United States?
In the 2023/2024 academic year, India became the top country of origin for international students in the United States, with 331,602 students enrolled. This marks a significant rise and confirms India’s growing role in global academic mobility.
China, long the leading sender of students to the U.S., is now in second place with 277,398 students. Despite the decline compared to previous years, Chinese students still make up a substantial share of the international student population.
Together, India and China account for over 54% of all international students in the U.S., showing the continued dominance of these two Asian countries in American higher education.
In third place is South Korea, with 41,149 students, maintaining its long-standing position among the top sending nations. Canada follows in fourth with 28,998 students, making it the top non-Asian country on the list.
Other countries in the top 10 include:
- Vietnam – 23,157
- Taiwan – 21,834
- Nigeria – 20,029
- Bangladesh – 17,099
- Brazil – 16,877
- Nepal – 16,742
Compared to 2021/2022, Bangladesh has climbed even higher, now ranking 8th overall, reflecting strong growth in student mobility from South Asia.
Rounding out the top 15 are Mexico (15,474), Saudi Arabia (14,828), Japan (13,959), Iran (12,430), and Pakistan (10,988).
The data confirms that Asia continues to dominate the international student landscape in the United States, but also highlights growing contributions from Latin America and the Middle East.
International Students in U.S. per years
After exploring which countries send the most students to the United States, it’s worth taking a step back to look at the bigger picture: how many international students are in the U.S. today, and how has this number changed over time?
In the academic year 2023/2024, a record-breaking 1,126,690 international students were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities. This figure marks a 7% increase from the previous year and surpasses the previous all-time high of 1,095,299 recorded in 2018/2019. The milestone of one million international students was first reached in 2015/2016, when the number rose to 1,043,839. Earlier still, the number of international students passed 500,000 in 1999/2000, with 514,723 enrollments. But the story goes back much further: as early as 1949/1950, shortly after World War II, over 26,000 international students were already studying in the U.S.
Looking at the composition of the international student population in 1949/1950, Canada led the way with 4,362 students, followed by Taiwan, India, and several major European countries. The United Kingdom was the fourth largest source, Germany ranked eighth, and France was twelfth. Countries such as Mexico, Cuba, the Philippines, and Iran were also among the top sources of students, showing how the United States has long attracted talent from around the world.
Today, India holds the top position with 331,602 students in 2023/2024, overtaking China, which ranks second with 277,398. These two countries alone account for over half of all international students in the U.S., reinforcing the strong academic ties between Asia and the United States. South Korea remains in third place with 41,149 students, followed by Canada with 28,998, and Vietnam with 23,157. Notably, Bangladesh has climbed significantly in the rankings, now in eighth place with 17,099 students, reflecting a growing demand for U.S. education in South Asia.
This upward trend not only highlights the global appeal of American universities but also signals a dynamic shift in international student mobility, with rising contributions from countries such as Nigeria, Nepal, and Brazil. From just a few thousand students in the mid-20th century to over a million today, the U.S. continues to be a key destination for students seeking high-quality education and global opportunities.
Video here: https://youtu.be/7ABzDru7KS8
Source: https://opendoorsdata.org/
Most Populated Cities in United States 1790/2025: https://statisticsanddata.org/data/most-populated-cities-in-united-states-1790-2025/
