When a country has the most international students in the world, it says one thing for sure: it is popular.
In 2026, the nine countries with the most international students are:
- US — 1,177,766 students; still the world’s top destination despite Trump-era policy changes slowing growth.
- UK — 685,565 students, down from 732,285 the year before, but still home to prestigious Russell Group universities.
- Australia — 565,601 enrolments as of January 2026, a 9% decline as the government moves to cap numbers.
- France — 443,500 students, making up about 15% of sudent numbers.
- Japan — 435,200 students, up 8.2% year-on-year, even as public concern over migration grows.
- Germany — 420,000+ students, fuelled by tuition-free public universities since 2014.
- China — 380,000 students from 191 countries, backed by one of the world’s largest higher education systems.
- South Korea — 314,397 students, hitting its “Study Korea 300K” target two years early.
- Canada — around 300,000 students, down 29% since 2023/24 after visa caps were introduced.
China and India remain the top sending countries, with over one million students abroad each. But India is now flipping the script — targeting 1.1 million inbound international students by 2047, as UK and Australian universities open branch campuses there.
Studying in a country with a large international community isn’t just about prestige — up to 96% of international students report loneliness, so a bigger peer network can make the difference between thriving and just surviving abroad.
