Table 234.

Foreign students enrolled in institutions of higher education in the United States, by continent, region, and selected countries of origin: Selected years, 1980-81 through 2008-09

Continent, region, and country of origin	1980-81		1985-86		1990-91		1995-96		2000-01		2004-05		2005-06		2006-07		2007-08		2008-09
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
Total	311,880	100.0	343,780	100.0	407,272	100.0	453,787	100.00	547,873	100.0	563,308	100.0	564,766	100.0	582,984	100.0	623,805	100.0	671,616	100.0
Africa	38,180	12.2	34,190	9.9	23,803	5.8	20,844	4.6	34,217	6.2	36,100	6.4	36,308	6.4	35,802	6.1	35,654	5.7	36,937	5.5
East Africa	6,260	2.0	6,730	2.0	7,592	1.9	7,596	1.7	13,516	2.5	13,675	2.4	13,635	2.4	13,374	2.3	12,664	2.0	12,985	1.9
Kenya	1,930	0.6	1,720	0.5	2,357	0.6	2,934	0.6	6,229	1.1	6,728	1.2	6,559	1.2	6,349	1.1	5,838	0.9	5,877	0.9
Central Africa	1,130	0.4	1,540	0.4	1,647	0.4	1,346	0.3	1,859	0.3	2,505	0.4	2,825	0.5	3,257	0.6	3,405	0.5	3,363	0.5
North Africa	7,310	2.3	5,980	1.7	4,541	1.1	3,422	0.8	5,184	0.9	3,898	0.7	3,770	0.7	3,700	0.6	3,858	0.6	4,446	0.7
Southern Africa	1,480	0.5	2,360	0.7	2,835	0.7	2,657	0.6	3,304	0.6	2,240	0.4	2,232	0.4	2,124	0.4	2,095	0.3	2,278	0.3
West Africa	22,000	7.1	17,580	5.1	7,178	1.8	5,818	1.3	10,346	1.9	13,782	2.4	13,846	2.5	13,344	2.3	13,632	2.2	13,837	2.1
Nigeria	17,350	5.6	13,710	4.0	3,714	0.9	2,093	0.5	3,820	0.7	6,335	1.1	6,192	1.1	5,943	1.0	6,222	1.0	6,256	0.9
Asia	94,640	30.3	156,830	45.6	229,825	56.4	259,893	57.3	302,058	55.1	325,112	57.7	327,785	58.0	344,495	59.1	380,465	61.0	415,000	61.8
East Asia	51,650	16.6	80,720	23.5	146,017	35.9	166,717	36.7	189,371	34.6	192,561	34.2	197,576	35.0	204,023	35.0	223,306	35.8	240,952	35.9
China	2,770	0.9	13,980	4.1	39,597	9.7	39,613	8.7	59,939	10.9	62,523	11.1	62,582	11.1	67,723	11.6	81,127	13.0	98,235	14.6
Hong Kong	9,660	3.1	10,710	3.1	12,625	3.1	12,018	2.6	7,627	1.4	7,180	1.3	7,849	1.4	7,722	1.3	8,286	1.3	8,329	1.2
Japan	13,500	4.3	13,360	3.9	36,611	9.0	45,531	10.0	46,497	8.5	42,215	7.5	38,712	6.9	35,282	6.1	33,974	5.4	29,264	4.4
South Korea	6,150	2.0	18,660	5.4	23,362	5.7	36,231	8.0	45,685	8.3	53,358	9.5	59,022	10.5	62,392	10.7	69,124	11.1	75,065	11.2
Taiwan	19,460	6.2	23,770	6.9	33,531	8.2	32,702	7.2	28,566	5.2	25,914	4.6	27,876	4.9	29,094	5.0	29,001	4.6	28,065	4.2
South and Central Asia	14,540	4.7	25,800	7.5	42,366	10.4	45,401	10.0	71,765	13.1	97,961	17.4	94,965	16.8	104,457	17.9	117,001	18.8	129,572	19.3
India	9,250	3.0	16,070	4.7	28,857	7.1	31,743	7.0	54,664	10.0	80,466	14.3	76,503	13.5	83,833	14.4	94,563	15.2	103,260	15.4
Nepal	250	0.1	390	0.1	670	0.2	1,219	0.3	2,618	0.5	4,861	0.9	6,061	1.1	7,754	1.3	8,936	1.4	11,581	1.7
Pakistan	2,990	1.0	5,440	1.6	7,725	1.9	6,427	1.4	6,948	1.3	6,296	1.1	5,759	1.0	5,401	0.9	5,345	0.9	5,298	0.8
Southeast Asia	28,450	9.1	50,310	14.6	41,441	10.2	47,774	10.5	40,916	7.5	34,590	6.1	35,244	6.2	36,015	6.2	40,152	6.4	44,395	6.6
Indonesia	3,250	1.0	8,210	2.4	9,524	2.3	12,820	2.8	11,625	2.1	7,760	1.4	7,575	1.3	7,338	1.3	7,692	1.2	7,509	1.1
Malaysia	6,010	1.9	23,020	6.7	13,606	3.3	14,015	3.1	7,795	1.4	6,142	1.1	5,515	1.0	5,281	0.9	5,428	0.9	5,942	0.9
Philippines	3,390	1.1	3,920	1.1	4,273	1.0	3,127	0.7	3,139	0.6	3,531	0.6	3,758	0.7	3,730	0.6	4,170	0.7	4,226	0.6
Singapore	1,320	0.4	3,930	1.1	4,495	1.1	4,098	0.9	4,166	0.8	3,769	0.7	3,909	0.7	3,705	0.6	3,976	0.6	3,989	0.6
Thailand	6,550	2.1	6,940	2.0	7,092	1.7	12,165	2.7	11,187	2.0	8,637	1.5	8,765	1.6	8,886	1.5	9,004	1.4	8,736	1.3
Vietnam	6,490	2.1	3,270	1.0	1,396	0.3	922	0.2	2,022	0.4	3,670	0.7	4,597	0.8	6,036	1.0	8,769	1.4	12,823	1.9
Europe1	28,650	9.2	38,910	11.3	55,422	13.6	76,855	16.9	93,784	17.1	85,409	15.2	84,697	15.0	82,731	14.2	83,981	13.5	87,648	13.1
Cyprus1	720	0.2	2,140	0.6	1,710	0.4	1,819	0.4	2,217	0.4	1,326	0.2	1,111	0.2	877	0.2	782	0.1	696	0.1
France	2,570	0.8	3,680	1.1	5,633	1.4	5,710	1.3	7,273	1.3	6,555	1.2	6,640	1.2	6,704	1.1	7,050	1.1	7,421	1.1
Germany2	3,310	1.1	4,730	1.4	7,003	1.7	9,017	2.0	10,128	1.8	8,640	1.5	8,829	1.6	8,656	1.5	8,907	1.4	9,679	1.4
Greece	3,750	1.2	4,440	1.3	4,357	1.1	3,365	0.7	2,768	0.5	2,035	0.4	2,088	0.4	1,986	0.3	1,981	0.3	1,896	0.3
Spain	950	0.3	1,740	0.5	4,304	1.1	4,809	1.1	4,156	0.8	3,512	0.6	3,455	0.6	3,575	0.6	3,660	0.6	3,849	0.6
Turkey1	2,600	0.8	2,460	0.7	4,078	1.0	7,678	1.7	10,983	2.0	12,474	2.2	11,622	2.1	11,506	2.0	12,030	1.9	13,263	2.0
United Kingdom	4,440	1.4	5,940	1.7	7,298	1.8	7,799	1.7	8,139	1.5	8,236	1.5	8,274	1.5	8,438	1.4	8,367	1.3	8,701	1.3
Latin America	49,810	16.0	45,480	13.2	47,318	11.6	47,253	10.4	63,634	11.6	66,087	11.7	64,769	11.5	64,579	11.1	64,473	10.3	67,731	10.1
Caribbean	10,650	3.4	11,100	3.2	12,349	3.0	10,737	2.4	14,423	2.6	13,898	2.5	13,855	2.5	13,854	2.4	12,739	2.0	13,320	2.0
Central America	12,970	4.2	12,740	3.7	15,949	3.9	14,220	3.1	16,764	3.1	19,227	3.4	19,709	3.5	19,743	3.4	20,800	3.3	21,430	3.2
Mexico	6,730	2.2	5,460	1.6	6,739	1.7	8,687	1.9	10,670	1.9	13,063	2.3	13,931	2.5	13,826	2.4	14,837	2.4	14,850	2.2
South America	26,190	8.4	21,640	6.3	19,019	4.7	22,296	4.9	32,447	5.9	32,962	5.9	31,205	5.5	30,982	5.3	30,932	5.0	32,961	4.9
Brazil	2,870	0.9	2,840	0.8	3,898	1.0	5,497	1.2	8,846	1.6	7,244	1.3	7,009	1.2	7,126	1.2	7,578	1.2	8,767	1.3
Colombia	3,930	1.3	4,010	1.2	3,183	0.8	3,462	0.8	6,765	1.2	7,334	1.3	6,835	1.2	6,750	1.2	6,662	1.1	7,013	1.0
Venezuela	11,750	3.8	7,040	2.0	2,894	0.7	4,456	1.0	5,217	1.0	5,279	0.9	4,792	0.8	4,523	0.8	4,446	0.7	4,678	0.7
Middle East1	81,390	26.1	48,120	14.0	27,636	6.8	21,066	4.6	23,658	4.3	17,448	3.1	17,806	3.2	22,321	3.8	24,755	4.0	29,140	4.3
Iran	47,550	15.2	14,210	4.1	6,262	1.5	2,628	0.6	1,844	0.3	2,251	0.4	2,420	0.4	2,795	0.5	3,060	0.5	3,533	0.5
Israel	2,710	0.9	2,600	0.8	2,977	0.7	2,637	0.6	3,402	0.6	3,323	0.6	3,419	0.6	3,269	0.6	3,004	0.5	3,060	0.5
Jordan	6,140	2.0	6,590	1.9	4,321	1.1	2,222	0.5	2,187	0.4	1,754	0.3	1,733	0.3	1,726	0.3	1,799	0.3	2,225	0.3
Kuwait	2,990	1.0	3,810	1.1	1,624	0.4	3,035	0.7	3,045	0.6	1,720	0.3	1,703	0.3	1,633	0.3	1,823	0.3	2,031	0.3
Lebanon	6,770	2.2	7,090	2.1	3,899	1.0	1,554	0.3	2,005	0.4	2,040	0.4	1,950	0.3	1,852	0.3	1,807	0.3	1,823	0.3
Saudi Arabia	10,440	3.3	6,900	2.0	3,584	0.9	4,191	0.9	5,273	1.0	3,035	0.5	3,448	0.6	7,886	1.4	9,873	1.6	12,661	1.9
North America3	14,790	4.7	16,030	4.7	18,949	4.7	23,644	5.2	25,888	4.7	28,634	5.1	28,699	5.1	28,756	4.9	29,472	4.7	30,107	4.5
Canada	14,320	4.6	15,410	4.5	18,350	4.5	23,005	5.1	25,279	4.6	28,140	5.0	28,202	5.0	28,280	4.9	29,051	4.7	29,697	4.4
Oceania	4,180	1.3	4,030	1.2	4,230	1.0	4,202	0.9	4,624	0.8	4,481	0.8	4,702	0.8	4,300	0.7	5,005	0.8	5,053	0.8
Australia	1,530	0.5	1,530	0.4	1,906	0.5	2,244	0.5	2,645	0.5	2,659	0.5	2,806	0.5	2,797	0.5	3,088	0.5	3,203	0.5
Unidentified4	240	0.1	190	0.1	89	#	30	#	10	#	37	#	#	#	#	#	#	#	#	#

#Rounds to zero.

1 Cyprus and Turkey were classified as being in the Middle East prior to 2004-05, but in Europe for 2004-05 and later years. Data for years prior to 2004-05 have been revised for comparability.

2 Data for 1980-81 and 1985-86 are for West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany before unification).

3 Excludes Mexico and Central America, which are included in Latin America.

4 Home country unknown or undeclared.

NOTE: Includes foreign students enrolled in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Totals and subtotals include other countries not shown separately. Data are for "nonimmigrants" (i.e., students who have not migrated to this country). Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: Institute of International Education, Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange, 1981 through 2009 (selected years). (This table was prepared May 2010.)