Nigeria Ranks Third Globally for Students Studying Abroad, UNESCO Reports

A new UNESCO report shows that Nigeria accounted for 5% of all international students worldwide in 2023. Only China (37%) and India (29%) sent more students abroad, while Germany shared third place with Nigeria. The total number of international students rose from 2.5 million in 2002 to 7.3 million in 2023, and could reach nine million by 2030. Despite pandemic setbacks, numbers continue to climb. UNESCO notes that studying abroad remains a privilege for under 3% of global higher education students. Economic factors, university quality, visa rules, and job prospects shape where graduates head next. Over one-third of countries have set targets to boost outbound student numbers.

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