Nigeria is now the world’s third-largest source of students studying overseas, according to UNESCO’s first Higher Education Global Trends Report.
The UN agency said Nigerians made up 5% of all internationally mobile students in 2023, putting Nigeria on par with Germany in third place.
China led with 37%, followed by India at 29%. Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the US, France, Pakistan and Nepal each had 4%.
The report defines “out-bound student mobility” as students leaving home for higher education abroad. It found that just 10 countries account for 45% of all international students worldwide.
Global student mobility has jumped sharply over 20 years, from 2.5 million in 2002 to 7.3 million in 2023. UNESCO projects that number could hit 9 million by 2030.
But access remains limited. Less than 3% of higher education students globally study abroad, which UNESCO calls evidence that mobility is still “elitist.”
Key drivers include economic conditions, quality of local universities, scholarships, visa rules, and post-study work options. The report also notes that 35% of countries now have formal policies to encourage students to study overseas.
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