Nigeria ranks 3rd globally for students pursuing higher education abroad

Nigeria has ranked as the third-largest country in the world for students pursuing higher education abroad, according to a new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

In its inaugural Higher Education Global Trends Report released on Tuesday, UNESCO said Nigeria accounted for five per cent of all internationally mobile students in 2023, placing it level with Germany.

The report uses the term “outbound student mobility” to describe the countries from which international students originate.

UNESCO found that almost half of all students studying outside their home countries came from just 10 nations, with China and India far ahead of the rest.

Top 10 Countries for Students Studying Abroad in 2023
China — 37%
India — 29%
Nigeria — 5%
Germany — 5%
Vietnam — 4%
Uzbekistan — 4%
United States — 4%
France — 4%
Pakistan — 4%
Nepal — 4%

Together, these 10 countries accounted for 45 per cent of all international students worldwide in 2023.

UNESCO noted that global student mobility has expanded rapidly over the last two decades.