Misc

Where Do International Students in the U.S. Come From?

Published

1 year ago

September 1, 2023

Ehsan Soltani

Featured Creator

Article/Editing:

Bruno Venditti

International Students in the U.S.

Where Do International Students in the U.S. Come From?

The proportion of international students in U.S. higher education institutions has increased steadily, from 1.5% of the country’s total students in the 1960s to 5.5% in the early 2020s.

Using 2022 data from the International Education Exchange (IIE), this visualization from Ehsan Soltani breaks down where these students come from.

The International Student Population

The United States has always attracted students seeking quality education at its many world-class universities and opportunities in the country’s job market.

After a drop in recent years due to COVID-19 restrictions, American institutions registered a 3.8% increase in international student participation in 2022.

There were 948,519 international students at U.S. colleges and universities last year.

Asian students represent 75% of the total, with Chinese (30%) and Indians (21%) adding up to over half the count. Oceania is the place of origin with the fewest international students enrolled in the U.S., making up only 0.6% of the total.

Place of Origin	1950	1970	1990	2020	2022
Oceania	198	2,077	4,010	7,473	5,994
Africa	901	7,607	24,570	48,679	49,308
Europe	5,569	18,524	46,040	78,321	72,604
Americas	10,406	38,406	66,680	106,196	104,982
India	1,359	11,329	26,240	193,124	199,182
China	-	19	33,390	372,532	290,086
Rest of Asia	7,707	52,963	185,810	269,164	226,351

According to Open Doors, for the first time in a decade, there were more graduate students (41%) than undergraduates (36%) studying in the United States in 2022.

Institutional Type	Number of Students (2022)
Doctorate-granting Universities	738,555
Master's Colleges and Universities	105,680
Baccalaureate Colleges	35,569
Associate's Colleges	49,099
Special Focus Institutions	19,616
Total	948,519

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities have started to offer online courses. Still, the vast majority of students attended classes in person last year.

A Billionaire Business

International students continue to be a priority for the U.S. higher education sector, contributing $32 billion to the country’s economy in 2022.

With the demographic decline in U.S. domestic higher education enrollment, many colleges and universities are strategically focusing on international students.

According to IIE, 89% of U.S. colleges and universities indicated that 2023/24 applications are up or have stayed the same as the previous year.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.

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Misc

What Americans Predict Will Happen in 2025

A majority expect immigration to rise, conflicts to continue.

Published

5 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Bruno Venditti

This graphic presents predictions for 2025 on various topics, based on a survey conducted by Ipsos between October 25 and November 8, 2024, in the United States.

What Americans Predict Will Happen in 2025

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

The year 2025 begins with a new president taking office, a ceasefire in Gaza, and wildfires causing extensive destruction in Los Angeles—all within the first month. So, what can we expect from the rest of the year?

This graphic presents predictions for 2025 on various topics, based on a survey conducted by Ipsos between October 25 and November 8, 2024, in the United States.

What Will 2025 Bring?

Below is the full table of data presented in the visualization:

Predictions for 2025	Likely	Unlikely
There will be more extreme weather in the U.S.	66%	21%
Inflation will be higher	59%	27%
My personal data will be leaked on the internet	58%	28%
Immigration Will Increase	56%	28%
Unemployment will be higher	52%	31%
Women will be paid the same as men	43%	45%
There will be a new global pandemic caused by a new virus	39%	38%
Four-day work will become normal	30%	56%
Population will fall	28%	57%
People will become more tolerant	26%	63%
The war in Ukraine will end in 2025	26%	52%
The conflicts in the Middle East will end in 2025	19%	65%

Highlights from the survey include:

Americans foresee an increase in extreme weather events in 2025. A majority (56%) also expect immigration to rise, despite Trump’s promises to deport illegal immigrants and impose taxes on products from Mexico and Canada if neighboring countries don’t improve border security.
Most respondents also anticipate their personal data being leaked on the internet and believe that unemployment will increase.
Only 2 in 10 Americans think the conflicts in the Middle East will end in 2025 (noting that the survey was conducted before the Gaza ceasefire agreement). Additionally, 3 in 10 Americans believe the war in Ukraine will conclude this year.
Finally, 63% of respondents feel it is unlikely that people will become more tolerant in 2025.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed this chart, check out this graphic that shows the countries most exposed to potential immigration policy changes under the Trump presidency.