UNESCO has ranked Nigeria as the world’s third-largest source of international students in 2023, accounting for five per cent of global outbound student mobility.
The finding was published in UNESCO’s first Higher Education Global Trends Report released on Tuesday, May 12, which analyzed countries with the highest numbers of students studying abroad.
The report shows that nearly half of all internationally mobile students come from just 10 countries. China and India remain the top contributors, accounting for 37 per cent and 29 per cent respectively, while Nigeria shares third place with Germany at five per cent each. Together, the top 10 countries make up 45 per cent of global outbound student mobility.
UNESCO noted that international student mobility has continued to rise despite disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of students studying abroad has nearly tripled over the past two decades, increasing from 2.5 million in 2002 to 7.3 million in 2023, with projections suggesting it could reach nine million by 2030.
Despite this growth, the report described international education as still largely exclusive, stating that fewer than three per cent of higher education students worldwide participate in academic mobility programmes.
It also highlighted several key drivers of student mobility, including economic conditions, the quality of domestic universities, visa policies, government support schemes, and post-study employment opportunities.
UNESCO added that many governments are increasingly adopting policies to encourage outbound study, with about 35 per cent of countries now setting targets to increase the number of students pursuing education abroad.
