The report, published on Tuesday, revealed that Nigerian students made up about five per cent of all international students worldwide in 2023, placing the country alongside Germany in third position.
According to the data, China and India continue to dominate global student mobility. China accounted for 37 per cent of all students studying abroad, while India followed with 29 per cent. Nigeria and Germany both recorded five per cent each.
Other countries featured in the top rankings include Viet Nam, Uzbekistan, the United States, France, Pakistan, and Nepal, each contributing around four per cent of the global total.
Global breakdown of student mobility
- China — 37%
- India — 29%
- Nigeria — 5%
- Germany — 5%
- Viet Nam — 4%
- Uzbekistan — 4%
- United States — 4%
- France — 4%
- Pakistan — 4%
- Nepal — 4%
UNESCO noted that these top 10 countries alone account for 45 per cent of all international students worldwide, underscoring how concentrated global student mobility remains among a handful of nations.
The organisation also highlighted the long-term growth trend in international education, despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It stated that the number of students studying outside their home countries has risen significantly—from 2.5 million in 2002 to 7.3 million in 2023—with projections suggesting it could reach nine million by 2030.
However, the report stressed that access to international education is still limited globally. It estimated that fewer than three per cent of higher education students worldwide are able to study abroad, pointing to economic barriers and unequal opportunities.
UNESCO further explained that decisions to study abroad are shaped by several factors, including financial conditions, the quality of domestic universities, visa regulations, government support systems, and post-graduation work opportunities.
It also observed a growing policy shift, with about 35 per cent of countries now setting targets to expand international student participation, reflecting increased global competition in higher education.