Foreign students enrolled in postsecondary institutions in the United States, by continent, region, and selected countries of origin: Selected academic years, 1980-81 through 2022-23

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Table 310.20.Foreign students enrolled in postsecondary institutions in the United States, by continent, region, and selected countries of origin: Selected academic years, 1980-81 through 2022-23
Continent, region, and selected countries of origin	1980-81			1985-86			1990-91			1995-96		2000-01		2005-06		2010-11		2012-13		2015-16		2020-21		2021-22		2022-23
Continent, region, and selected countries of origin	Number		Percent	Number		Percent	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	22	23	24	25
Total	311,880		100.0	343,780		100.0	407,272		100.0	453,787	100.0	547,873	100.0	564,766	100.0	723,249	100.0	819,644	100.0	1,043,839	100.0	914,095	100.0	948,519	100.0	1,057,188	100.0
Sub-Saharan Africa¹	30,870		9.9	28,210		8.2	19,262		4.7	17,422	3.8	29,033	5.3	32,538	5.8	31,470	4.4	30,585	3.7	35,364	3.4	39,061	4.3	42,518	4.5	50,199	4.7
East Africa	6,260		2.0	6,730		2.0	7,592		1.9	7,596	1.7	13,516	2.5	13,635	2.4	8,863	1.2	7,761	0.9	7,690	0.7	9,319	1.0	10,157	1.1	11,312	1.1
Central Africa	1,130		0.4	1,540		0.4	1,647		0.4	1,346	0.3	1,859	0.3	2,825	0.5	2,831	0.4	2,861	0.3	3,311	0.3	2,899	0.3	2,871	0.3	3,494	0.3
Southern Africa	1,480		0.5	2,360		0.7	2,835		0.7	2,657	0.6	3,304	0.6	2,232	0.4	5,330	0.7	5,511	0.7	6,263	0.6	6,035	0.7	6,516	0.7	7,282	0.7
West Africa	22,000		7.1	17,580		5.1	7,178		1.8	5,818	1.3	10,346	1.9	13,846	2.5	14,446	2.0	14,452	1.8	18,100	1.7	20,808	2.3	22,974	2.4	28,111	2.7
Nigeria	17,350		5.6	13,710		4.0	3,714		0.9	2,093	0.5	3,820	0.7	6,192	1.1	7,148	1.0	7,316	0.9	10,674	1.0	12,860	1.4	14,438	1.5	17,640	1.7
Asia	94,640		30.3	156,830		45.6	229,825		56.4	259,893	57.3	302,058	55.1	327,785	58.0	461,790	63.8	525,849	64.2	689,525	66.1	645,622	70.6	658,669	69.4	748,165	70.8
East Asia	51,650		16.6	80,720		23.5	146,017		35.9	166,717	36.7	189,371	34.6	197,576	35.0	286,925	39.7	357,596	43.6	439,702	42.1	395,808	43.3	372,378	39.3	378,979	35.8
China	2,770		0.9	13,980		4.1	39,597		9.7	39,613	8.7	59,939	10.9	62,582	11.1	157,558	21.8	235,597	28.7	328,547	31.5	317,299	34.7	290,086	30.6	289,526	27.4
Hong Kong	9,660		3.1	10,710		3.1	12,625		3.1	12,018	2.6	7,627	1.4	7,849	1.4	8,136	1.1	8,026	1.0	7,923	0.8	5,878	0.6	5,848	0.6	5,867	0.6
Japan	13,500		4.3	13,360		3.9	36,611		9.0	45,531	10.0	46,497	8.5	38,712	6.9	21,290	2.9	19,568	2.4	19,060	1.8	11,785	1.3	13,449	1.4	16,054	1.5
South Korea	6,150		2.0	18,660		5.4	23,362		5.7	36,231	8.0	45,685	8.3	59,022	10.5	73,351	10.1	70,627	8.6	61,007	5.8	39,491	4.3	40,755	4.3	43,847	4.1
Taiwan	19,460		6.2	23,770		6.9	33,531		8.2	32,702	7.2	28,566	5.2	27,876	4.9	24,818	3.4	21,867	2.7	21,127	2.0	19,673	2.2	20,487	2.2	21,834	2.1
South and Central Asia	14,540		4.7	25,800		7.5	42,366		10.4	45,401	10.0	71,765	13.1	94,965	16.8	128,845	17.8	121,100	14.8	195,135	18.7	201,260	22.0	237,500	25.0	316,446	29.9
Bangladesh	1,180		0.4	1,930		0.6	2,533		0.6	3,360	0.7	4,114	0.8	2,581	0.5	2,873	0.4	3,828	0.5	6,513	0.6	8,598	0.9	10,597	1.1	13,563	1.3
India	9,250		3.0	16,070		4.7	28,857		7.1	31,743	7.0	54,664	10.0	76,503	13.5	103,895	14.4	96,754	11.8	165,918	15.9	167,582	18.3	199,182	21.0	268,923	25.4
Nepal	250		0.1	390		0.1	670		0.2	1,219	0.3	2,618	0.5	6,061	1.1	10,301	1.4	8,920	1.1	9,662	0.9	11,172	1.2	11,799	1.2	15,090	1.4
Pakistan	2,990		1.0	5,440		1.6	7,725		1.9	6,427	1.4	6,948	1.3	5,759	1.0	5,045	0.7	4,772	0.6	6,141	0.6	7,475	0.8	8,772	0.9	10,164	1.0
Southeast Asia	28,450		9.1	50,310		14.6	41,441		10.2	47,774	10.5	40,916	7.5	35,244	6.2	46,020	6.4	47,152	5.8	54,688	5.2	48,554	5.3	48,791	5.1	52,740	5.0
Indonesia	3,250		1.0	8,210		2.4	9,524		2.3	12,820	2.8	11,625	2.1	7,575	1.3	6,942	1.0	7,670	0.9	8,727	0.8	7,489	0.8	8,003	0.8	8,467	0.8
Malaysia	6,010		1.9	23,020		6.7	13,606		3.3	14,015	3.1	7,795	1.4	5,515	1.0	6,735	0.9	6,791	0.8	7,834	0.8	5,280	0.6	4,933	0.5	4,973	0.5
Philippines	---		†	---		†	---		†	---	†	3,139	0.6	3,758	0.7	3,604	0.5	3,215	0.4	2,886	0.3	2,907	0.3	3,278	0.3	3,818	0.4
Singapore	1,320		0.4	3,930		1.1	4,495		1.1	4,098	0.9	4,166	0.8	3,909	0.7	4,316	0.6	4,558	0.6	4,865	0.5	3,558	0.4	3,901	0.4	4,484	0.4
Thailand	6,550		2.1	6,940		2.0	7,092		1.7	12,165	2.7	11,187	2.0	8,765	1.6	8,236	1.1	7,314	0.9	7,113	0.7	4,960	0.5	5,007	0.5	5,376	0.5
Vietnam	6,490		2.1	3,270		1.0	1,396		0.3	922	0.2	2,022	0.4	4,597	0.8	14,888	2.1	16,098	2.0	21,403	2.1	21,631	2.4	20,713	2.2	21,900	2.1
Europe²	28,650		9.2	38,910		11.3	55,422		13.6	76,855	16.9	93,784	17.1	84,697	15.0	84,296	11.7	85,823	10.5	91,915	8.8	67,979	7.4	83,240	8.8	89,906	8.5
France	2,570		0.8	3,680		1.1	5,633		1.4	5,710	1.3	7,273	1.3	6,640	1.2	8,098	1.1	8,297	1.0	8,764	0.8	5,643	0.6	7,751	0.8	8,552	0.8
Germany	3,310	³	1.1	4,730	³	1.4	7,003		1.7	9,017	2.0	10,128	1.8	8,829	1.6	9,458	1.3	9,819	1.2	10,145	1.0	5,364	0.6	8,550	0.9	9,751	0.9
Italy	1,250		0.4	1,890		0.5	2,393		0.6	2,780	0.6	3,490	0.6	3,224	0.6	4,308	0.6	4,276	0.5	5,155	0.5	4,894	0.5	5,695	0.6	6,274	0.6
Russia	630	⁴	0.2	83	⁴	#	1,206	⁴	0.3	5,589	1.2	6,858	1.3	4,801	0.9	4,692	0.6	4,898	0.6	5,444	0.5	4,805	0.5	4,802	0.5	4,913	0.5
Spain	950		0.3	1,740		0.5	4,304		1.1	4,809	1.1	4,156	0.8	3,455	0.6	4,330	0.6	5,033	0.6	6,640	0.6	5,781	0.6	8,165	0.9	8,548	0.8
Sweden	1,020		0.3	1,400		0.4	2,029		0.5	3,889	0.9	4,598	0.8	3,212	0.6	3,236	0.4	4,283.0	0.5	4,297	0.4	2,045	0.2	2,352	0.2	2,732	0.3
Türkiye²	2,600		0.8	2,460		0.7	4,078		1.0	7,678	1.7	10,983	2.0	11,622	2.1	12,184	1.7	11,278	1.4	10,691	1.0	8,109	0.9	8,467	0.9	8,657	0.8
United Kingdom	4,440		1.4	5,940		1.7	7,298		1.8	7,799	1.7	8,139	1.5	8,274	1.5	8,947	1.2	9,467	1.2	11,599	1.1	8,028	0.9	10,292	1.1	10,659	1.0
Latin America	49,810		16.0	45,480		13.2	47,318		11.6	47,253	10.4	63,634	11.6	64,769	11.5	64,169	8.9	66,864	8.2	84,908	8.1	72,850	8.0	77,969	8.2	81,945	7.8
Caribbean	10,650		3.4	11,100		3.2	12,349		3.0	10,737	2.4	14,423	2.6	13,855	2.5	11,644	1.6	11,100	1.4	11,042	1.1	11,175	1.2	10,789	1.1	11,692	1.1
Central America	12,970		4.2	12,740		3.7	15,949		3.9	14,220	3.1	16,764	3.1	19,709	3.5	20,361	2.8	21,072	2.6	24,983	2.4	21,224	2.3	23,525	2.5	23,778	2.2
Mexico	6,730		2.2	5,460		1.6	6,739		1.7	8,687	1.9	10,670	1.9	13,931	2.5	13,713	1.9	14,199	1.7	16,733	1.6	12,986	1.4	14,500	1.5	14,541	1.4
South America	26,190		8.4	21,640		6.3	19,019		4.7	22,296	4.9	32,447	5.9	31,205	5.5	32,164	4.4	34,692	4.2	48,883	4.7	40,451	4.4	43,655	4.6	46,475	4.4
Brazil	2,870		0.9	2,840		0.8	3,898		1.0	5,497	1.2	8,846	1.6	7,009	1.2	8,777	1.2	10,868	1.3	19,370	1.9	14,000	1.5	14,897	1.6	16,025	1.5
Colombia	3,930		1.3	4,010		1.2	3,183		0.8	3,462	0.8	6,765	1.2	6,835	1.2	6,456	0.9	6,543	0.8	7,815	0.7	7,107	0.8	8,077	0.9	9,096	0.9
Venezuela	11,750		3.8	7,040		2.0	2,894		0.7	4,456	1.0	5,217	1.0	4,792	0.8	5,491	0.8	6,158	0.8	8,267	0.8	6,122	0.7	5,317	0.6	4,210	0.4
Middle East and North Africa¹	88,700		28.4	54,100		15.7	32,177		7.9	24,488	5.4	28,842	5.3	21,576	3.8	47,963	6.6	77,049	9.4	108,227	10.4	57,564	6.3	53,104	5.6	52,295	4.9
Middle East²	81,390		26.1	48,120		14.0	27,636		6.8	21,066	4.6	23,658	4.3	17,806	3.2	42,543	5.9	71,170	8.7	100,926	9.7	51,282	5.6	46,314	4.9	45,014	4.3
Iran	47,550		15.2	14,210		4.1	6,262		1.5	2,628	0.6	1,844	0.3	2,420	0.4	5,626	0.8	8,744	1.1	12,269	1.2	9,614	1.1	9,295	1.0	10,812	1.0
Kuwait	2,990		1.0	3,810		1.1	1,624		0.4	3,035	0.7	3,045	0.6	1,703	0.3	2,998	0.4	5,115	0.6	9,772	0.9	6,846	0.7	5,923	0.6	5,427	0.5
Saudi Arabia	10,440		3.3	6,900		2.0	3,584		0.9	4,191	0.9	5,273	1.0	3,448	0.6	22,704	3.1	44,566	5.4	61,287	5.9	21,933	2.4	18,206	1.9	15,989	1.5
North Africa¹	7,310		2.3	5,980		1.7	4,541		1.1	3,422	0.8	5,184	0.9	3,770	0.7	5,420	0.7	5,879	0.7	7,301	0.7	6,282	0.7	6,790	0.7	7,281	0.7
Egypt	1,860		0.6	2,270		0.7	1,777		0.4	1,490	0.3	2,255	0.4	1,509	0.3	2,181	0.3	2,608	0.3	3,442	0.3	3,672	0.4	3,967	0.4	4,247	0.4
North America⁵	14,790		4.7	16,030		4.7	18,949		4.7	23,644	5.2	25,888	4.7	28,699	5.1	27,941	3.9	27,357	3.3	26,973	2.6	25,143	2.8	27,013	2.8	27,876	2.6
Canada	14,320		4.6	15,410		4.5	18,350		4.5	23,005	5.1	25,279	4.6	28,202	5.0	27,546	3.8	27,357	3.3	26,973	2.6	25,143	2.8	27,013	2.8	27,876	2.6
Oceania	4,180		1.3	4,030		1.2	4,230		1.0	4,202	0.9	4,624	0.8	4,702	0.8	5,610	0.8	6,104	0.7	6,917	0.7	5,864	0.6	5,994	0.6	6,782	0.6
Australia	1,530		0.5	1,530		0.4	1,906		0.5	2,244	0.5	2,645	0.5	2,806	0.5	3,777	0.5	4,121	0.5	4,752	0.5	3,623	0.4	3,892	0.4	4,504	0.4
Unidentified⁶	240		0.1	190		0.1	89		#	30	#	10	#	0	#	10	#	13	#	10	#	12	#	12	#	20	#
---Not available.
†Not applicable.
#Rounds to zero.
¹North Africa was combined with the Middle East to create the "Middle East and North Africa" category as of 2011-12, and the former "Africa" category was replaced by "Sub-Saharan Africa" (which excludes North Africa). Data for years prior to 2011-12 have been revised for comparability.
²Cyprus 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.
³Data for 1980-81 and 1985-86 are for West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany before unification).
⁴Data for 1980-81, 1985-86, and 1990-91 are for the former U.S.S.R.
⁵Excludes Mexico and Central America, which are included in Latin America.
⁶Place of origin 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. Region totals may not sum to continent totals because some continent totals include students who are not classified by country or region. Data are for "nonimmigrants" (i.e., students who have not migrated to the United States). Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: Institute of International Education, Open Doors: Report on International Educational Exchange, selected years, 1981 through 2023. (This table was prepared January 2024.)

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