Misc
The Impact of International Students on the U.S. Economy
The Economic Impact of America’s International Students
For decades, the U.S. has been the top destination for students looking to study abroad.
It’s easy to see why. Not only does the country provide access to world-class economic hubs like Silicon Valley, but the U.S. is also home to 14 of the top 20 universities in the world, many of which are famed for their research and alumni networks.
Yet, there is cause for concern.
International enrollments in the U.S. have slowed, while other countries are attracting a larger share of the global talent pool. To help us understand what’s at stake if enrollments continue to decline, today’s infographic shows the impact of international students on the U.S. economy.
Driving American Innovation and Growth
International students and scholars are a vital economic asset, and America’s ability to attract them puts the country in an enviable position.
First, there are the direct economic benefits which result from tuition fees and living expenses. Throughout the 2018/2019 school year, these benefits totaled $41 billion, a comparable value to many other American exports:
Export | Value (2018) |
---|---|
Automobiles | $158B |
Commercial Aircraft | $131B |
Pharmaceuticals | $51B |
Education Exports | $41B |
Telecommunications Equipment | $36B |
Soybeans | $17B |
Source: NAFSA, Evans, WorldCity
Even after graduation, however, international students and scholars continue to make significant contributions to the U.S. economy.
For example, attracting the world’s brightest minds helps to grow the knowledge economy in the United States, and 40% of American Nobel Prizes won in chemistry, medicine, and physics since 2000 have been awarded to immigrants. Furthermore, students who return home often do so with a network of connections and an appreciation for American culture, thus promoting U.S. international leadership.
Finally, these individuals can also go on to become successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in the U.S. economy. The list is long, but here are two noteworthy examples:
- Elon Musk, known for founding Paypal, Tesla, and SpaceX, was born in South Africa. He received two Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania before founding his first business.
- Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, was an international student from India. He received an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from the University of Chicago before helping Microsoft develop its cloud computing capabilities.
Cause for Concern
In recent years, however, the number of new international students enrolling at U.S. institutions has been on the decline:
School Year | New International Student Enrollments in the U.S. | Percent Change |
---|---|---|
2013/14 | 270,128 | -- |
2014/15 | 293,766 | 8.8% |
2015/16 | 300,743 | 2.4% |
2016/17 | 290,836 | -3.3% |
2017/18 | 271,738 | -6.6% |
2018/19 | 269,383 | -0.9% |
Source: Institute of International Education
With so many opportunities and success stories, why have international enrollments slowed? A survey of 509 higher education institutions in the U.S. revealed the top reasons for declining international enrollments:
Cited Reason for Decline in Enrollment | % of Institutions (Fall 2016) | % of Institutions (Fall 2017) | % of Institutions (Fall 2018) |
---|---|---|---|
Visa Application Process (delays/denials) | 34% | 68% | 83% |
Social and Political Environment | 15% | 57% | 60% |
Enroll in Another Country’s Institutions | 19% | 54% | 59% |
Cost of Tuition | 51% | 55% | 57% |
Feeling Unwelcome | - | 49% | 50% |
Securing a Job | - | 41% | 44% |
Physical Safety | 12% | 33% | 44% |
Source: NAFSA
Critically, the two most common reasons for declining enrollment—visa applications and the social and political environment—suggest that the quality of an American education is not the issue. Rather, it would appear that students are being discouraged from coming to the United States.
When we discourage or turn away international students, we lose much more than the students themselves… We lose their inventions and innovation, their collaborative input and their contributions to our communities.
– Dr. Martha E. Pollack, President, Cornell University
At the same time, other countries are taking proactive measures to attract global talent.
Australia
Australia allows its international students to work for up to 18 months after graduation. This limit can increase to 4 years for graduates of high-demand occupations. In 2018, the country saw a 15% increase in international enrollments.
Canada
Canada, a country distinguished for its multiculturalism, is quickly becoming an attractive destination for international students. The country offers expedited visa processing for qualified individuals, as well as a 3-year work visa for graduates. In 2017, international enrollments in Canada grew by an impressive 20%.
Potential Consequences
The world’s brightest minds are an important asset for continued innovation and growth, and today, there is a mass of countries welcoming them with open arms.
While the U.S. is still the preferred destination for international students and scholars, the country’s leadership in this space is at risk. In fact, since 2001, the share of international students in America has fallen from 28% to 21%.
Will the U.S be able to maintain global competitiveness if the number of new international students enrolling continues to fall? Can the country work to cultivate a more welcoming and barrier-free route to higher education?
These are potent questions that will need to be answered, especially with a sizable economic impact on the line.
Automotive
Mapped: Most Searched-For Electric Vehicles by Country
Industry stars, new entrants, and local models all populate this map of the most searched-for electric vehicles by country in 2022.

The Most Searched-For Electric Vehicles By Country
The EV revolution has been in full swing over the last few years, with new electric vehicles reaching milestones in range and affordability.
But as with traditional automobiles, countries around the world have different favorite models.
So which electric vehicle is each country’s inhabitants interested in? GRIDSERVE pulled together a database of the most searched-for electric vehicles by country in 2022.
Using Google Keyword Planner, they gathered the volume of online searches for 317 EVs across more than 200 countries and mapped the most popular results in each location.
The Most Googled Electric Vehicles By Country in 2022
Lexus’ first fully electric car, the Lexus RZ, was the most searched-for model in a whopping 47 countries, more than one-fifth of the entire dataset.
The car’s unusual steering—a yoke that isn’t physically connected to the tires—could certainly make it worth a quick Google to see what all the fuss is about.
The Tesla Model 3 came in strong at second place as the top search in 35 countries, with the Kia EV6 ranked third.
Here’s the full database of the most searched for EV in each country, along with the search volume.
Country / Territory | Most-Searched EV | Search Volume |
---|---|---|
🇦🇫 Afghanistan | Lexus RZ | 730 |
🇦🇱 Albania | MG5 EV | 7,590 |
🇩🇿 Algeria | Tesla Model 3 | 9,860 |
🇦🇸 American Samoa | Tesla Model 3 | 100 |
🇦🇩 Andorra | Tesla Model 3 | 930 |
🇦🇴 Angola | Porsche Taycan | 840 |
🇦🇮 Anguilla | Nissan Leaf | 130 |
🇦🇷 Argentina | IVECO eDaily | 63,800 |
🇦🇲 Armenia | Volkswagen ID.4 | 44,720 |
🇦🇺 Australia | Tesla Model 3 | 538,900 |
🇦🇹 Austria | Skoda Enyaq | 220,100 |
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Lexus RZ | 9,600 |
🇧🇸 Bahamas | Tesla Model 3 | 1,210 |
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Lexus RZ | 6,680 |
🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Tesla Model 3 | 10,610 |
🇧🇧 Barbados | Nissan Leaf | 1,040 |
🇧🇾 Belarus | Tesla Model S | 14,480 |
🇧🇪 Belgium | Chery QQ Ice Cream | 304,200 |
🇧🇿 Belize | Lexus RZ | 490 |
🇧🇲 Bermuda | BMW i3 | 620 |
🇧🇯 Benin | VinFast VF 9 | 9,600 |
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 1,140 |
🇧🇴 Bolivia | Beijing EU5 | 3,800 |
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Rimac Nevera | 13,280 |
🇧🇼 Botswana | BMW iX | 730 |
🇧🇷 Brazil | Porsche Taycan | 670,500 |
🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands | Lexus RZ | 140 |
🇧🇳 Brunei | Lexus RZ | 1,880 |
🇧🇬 Bulgaria | BMW i3 | 24,500 |
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | VinFast VF 9 | 5,310 |
🇧🇮 Burundi | VinFast VF 9 | 280 |
🇰🇭 Cambodia | VinFast VF 9 | 7,400 |
🇨🇲 Cameroon | Lexus RZ | 9,920 |
🇨🇦 Canada | Kia EV6 | 916,500 |
🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Mazda MX 30 | 260 |
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Tesla Model 3 | 470 |
🇨🇫 Central African Republic | Lexus RZ | 120 |
🇹🇩 Chad | VinFast VF 9 | 370 |
🇨🇱 Chile | VinFast VF e34 | 48,300 |
🇨🇳 China | Tesla Model 3 | 10,200 |
🇨🇴 Colombia | Tesla Model S | 56,600 |
🇰🇲 Comoros | Kia EV6 | 100 |
🇨🇰 Cook Islands | Nissan Leaf | 110 |
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | BMW iX | 13,090 |
🇭🇷 Croatia | Rimac Nevera | 60,700 |
🇨🇾 Cyprus | Nissan Leaf | 7,490 |
🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Porsche Taycan | 74,900 |
🇨🇩 DRC | Lexus RZ | 3,140 |
🇩🇰 Denmark | Polestar 2 | 316,500 |
🇩🇯 Djibouti | Tesla Model 3 | 230 |
🇩🇲 Dominica | Lexus RZ | 15,600 |
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | VinFast VF 9 | 15,600 |
🇨🇩 Congo | Lexus RZ | 3,140 |
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Tesla Model 3 | 120 |
🇪🇨 Ecuador | Chery QQ Ice Cream | 22,000 |
🇪🇬 Egypt | Volkswagen ID.4 | 29,690 |
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Tesla Model 3 | 4,110 |
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | Lexus RZ | 820 |
🇪🇷 Eritrea | Tesla Model 3 | 50 |
🇪🇪 Estonia | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 12,120 |
🇸🇿 Eswatini | BMW iX | 210 |
🇪🇹 Ethiopia | Volkswagen ID.4 | 10,940 |
🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | Kia EV6 | 890 |
🇫🇯 Fiji | Nissan Leaf | 900 |
🇫🇮 Finland | Polestar 2 | 210,900 |
🇫🇷 France | Tesla Model 3 | 1,909,000 |
🇬🇫 French Guiana | Arcfox Alpha-S | 1,030 |
🇵🇫 French Polynesia | Tesla Model 3 | 1,000 |
🇬🇦 Gabon | Lexus RZ | 1,100 |
🇬🇲 Gambia | Lexus RZ | 490 |
🇩🇪 Germany | Tesla Model 3 | 1,954,000 |
🇬🇪 Georgia | VinFast VF 9 | 21,500 |
🇬🇭 Ghana | Lexus RZ | 38,300 |
🇬🇮 Gibraltar | Kia EV6 | 190 |
🇬🇷 Greece | Tesla Model 3 | 90,600 |
🇬🇱 Greenland | Subaru Solterra | 630 |
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Arcfox Alpha-S | 5,660 |
🇬🇺 Guam | Lexus RZ | 1,200 |
🇬🇬 Guernsey | Volkswagen ID.Buzz | 630 |
🇬🇳 Guinea | VinFast VF 9 | 9,600 |
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | Polestar 2 | 130 |
🇬🇾 Guyana | Geometry EX3 | 2,180 |
🇭🇳 Honduras | Tesla Model 3 | 4,350 |
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Tesla Model Y | 122,200 |
🇭🇺 Hungary | BMW i3 | 142,700 |
🇮🇸 Iceland | Kia EV6 | 18,440 |
🇮🇳 India | Tata Nexon | 2,364,000 |
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Wuling Air Ev | 992,120 |
🇮🇶 Iraq | Lexus RZ | 4,530 |
🇮🇷 Iran | BMW iX | 10 |
🇮🇪 Ireland | Kia EV6 | 123,700 |
🇮🇲 Isle of Man | Vauxhall Vivaro | 820 |
🇮🇱 Israel | Aiways U5 | 58,600 |
🇮🇹 Italy | Tesla Model 3 | 911,000 |
🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire | Tesla Model 3 | 2,750 |
🇯🇲 Jamaica | Lexus RZ | 3,360 |
🇯🇵 Japan | Lexus RZ | 190,600 |
🇯🇴 Jordan | Dongfeng EM10 | 46,200 |
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | VinFast VF 9 | 49,000 |
🇰🇪 Kenya | Lexus RZ | 17,700 |
🇽🇰 Kosovo | Porsche Taycan | 4,140 |
🇰🇼 Kuwait | Lexus RZ | 10,170 |
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Lexus RZ | 9,270 |
🇱🇦 Laos | Tesla Model 3 | 2,110 |
🇱🇻 Latvia | Nissan Leaf | 10,960 |
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Volkswagen ID.4 | 14,380 |
🇱🇸 Lesotho | Tesla Model X | 220 |
🇱🇷 Liberia | Lexus RZ | 340 |
🇱🇾 Libya | Lexus RZ | 600 |
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 870 |
🇱🇹 Lithuania | Nissan Leaf | 24,000 |
🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Kia EV6 | 13,620 |
🇲🇴 Macao | Tesla Model Y | 1,500 |
🇲🇬 Madagascar | IVECO eDaily | 480 |
🇲🇼 Malawi | Beijing EU7 | 450 |
🇲🇱 Mali | VinFast VF 9 | 1,020 |
🇲🇾 Malaysia | BMW iX | 167,300 |
🇲🇻 Maldives | Tesla Model 3 | 910 |
🇲🇹 Malta | Honda E | 5,090 |
🇲🇭 Marshall Islands | Ford F-150 Lightning | 80 |
🇲🇷 Mauritania | Lexus RZ | 570 |
🇲🇺 Mauritius | Kia EV6 | 25,160 |
🇲🇽 Mexico | Tesla Model 3 | 375,500 |
🇲🇩 Moldova | BMW iX | 8,520 |
🇲🇨 Monaco | Tesla Model 3 | 470 |
🇲🇳 Mongolia | Lexus RZ | 6,530 |
🇲🇪 Montenegro | Rimac Nevera | 3,010 |
🇲🇦 Morocco | Tesla Model 3 | 15,780 |
🇲🇿 Mozambique | Lexus RZ | 900 |
🇲🇲 Myanmar | Lexus RZ | 3,860 |
🇳🇦 Namibia | Nissan Leaf | 1,100 |
🇳🇷 Nauru | Lexus RZ | 70 |
🇳🇵 Nepal | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 18,910 |
🇳🇱 Netherlands | Kia EV6 | 764,000 |
🇳🇨 New Caledonia | Kia EV6 | 980 |
🇳🇿 New Zealand | Nissan Leaf | 80,400 |
🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Tesla Model S | 2,010 |
🇳🇪 Niger | VinFast VF 9 | 1,960 |
🇳🇬 Nigeria | Lexus RZ | 328,500 |
🇲🇰 North Macedonia | Rimac Nevera | 4,850 |
🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 180 |
🇳🇴 Norway | Tesla Model Y | 388,600 |
🇴🇲 Oman | Lexus RZ | 7,950 |
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Audi e-tron GT | 28,100 |
🇵🇼 Palau | Tesla Model X | 120 |
🇵🇸 Palestine | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 1,390 |
🇵🇦 Panama | Lexus RZ | 5,510 |
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | Lexus RZ | 290 |
🇵🇾 Paraguay | Tesla Model 3 | 10,050 |
🇵🇪 Peru | Tesla Model S | 26,200 |
🇵🇭 Philippines | Tesla Model S | 64,000 |
🇵🇱 Poland | IVECO eDaily | 281,100 |
🇵🇹 Portugal | Kia EV6 | 199,400 |
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 17,160 |
🇷🇴 Romania | Arcfox Alpha-S | 174,600 |
🇷🇼 Rwanda | Beijing EU5 | 480 |
🇧🇱 Saint Barthelemy | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 50 |
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis | Lexus RZ | 170 |
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | Lexus RZ | 1,030 |
🇲🇫 Saint Martin | Tesla Model Y | 60 |
🇵🇲 Saint Pierre & Miquelon | Tesla Model 3 | 90 |
🇼🇸 Samoa | Tesla Model X | 120 |
🇸🇲 San Marino | Tesla Model 3 | 410 |
🇸🇹 Sao Tome & Principe | Kia EV6 | 100 |
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Lexus RZ | 35,900 |
🇷🇸 Serbia | Rimac Nevera | 27,000 |
🇸🇳 Senegal | Arcfox Alpha-S | 1,710 |
🇸🇨 Seychelles | Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 490 |
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | Lexus RZ | 920 |
🇸🇬 Singapore | BYD e6 | 57,000 |
🇸🇰 Slovakia | Kia EV6 | 60,400 |
🇸🇮 Slovenia | BMW i4 | 15,960 |
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | Tesla Model 3 | 90 |
🇸🇴 Somalia | Arcfox Alpha-S | 490 |
🇿🇦 South Africa | BMW iX | 106,800 |
🇰🇷 South Korea | BMW i4 | 99,200 |
🇪🇸 Spain | Tesla Model 3 | 816,122 |
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Geometry EX3 | 37,100 |
🇸🇩 North Sudan | Tesla Model X | 520 |
🇸🇸 South Sudan | Arcfox Alpha-S | 10 |
🇸🇷 Suriname | Lexus RZ | 2,340 |
🇸🇪 Sweden | Kia EV6 | 499,000 |
🇨🇭 Switzerland | Tesla Model 3 | 201,300 |
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Chery QQ Ice Cream | 208,200 |
🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Lexus RZ | 4,380 |
🇹🇿 Tanzania | Lexus RZ | 3,080 |
🇹🇭 Thailand | Ora Good Cat | 573,100 |
🇹🇬 Togo | Lexus RZ | 2,520 |
🇹🇴 Tonga | Tesla Model S | 80 |
🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | Nissan Leaf | 5,010 |
🇹🇳 Tunisia | Sono Motors Sion | 7,620 |
🇹🇷 Turkey | Porsche Taycan | 434,200 |
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Lexus RZ | 7,360 |
🇹🇻 Tuvalu | Tesla Model S | 20 |
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands | Lexus RZ | 630 |
🇺🇬 Uganda | Lexus RZ | 3,340 |
🇦🇪 UAE | Volkswagen ID.4 | 114,920 |
🇬🇧 UK | Tesla Model 3 | 1,258,500 |
🇺🇾 Uruguay | BYD e2 | 19,620 |
🇺🇸 U.S. | Tesla Model 3 | 6,855,000 |
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Tesla Model 3 | 26,300 |
🇻🇺 Vanuatu | Tesla Model 3 | 100 |
🇻🇪 Venezuela | Tesla Model S | 10,190 |
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Lexus RZ | 204,800 |
🇼🇫 Wallis & Futuna | Kia EV6 | 60 |
🇪🇭 Western Sahara | Tesla Model S | 180 |
🇾🇪 Yemen | Lexus RZ | 590 |
🇿🇲 Zambia | VinFast VF 9 | 2,360 |
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | Beijing EU7 | 2,700 |
Aside from popular global brands, GRIDSERVE’s database also highlights regional automakers. For example, Croatian manufacturer Rimac Automobili’s Nevera was the most highly searched-for electric vehicle in multiple Balkan countries. In India, the country’s own Tata Nexon dominated search volume.
And Vietnamese brand VinFast’s electric vehicles were the top EVs of interest in neighboring Cambodia and 12 other countries across the world (though not Vietnam itself, which searched more for the Lexus RZ).
In China, where Google isn’t the most-used search engine, results favored the Tesla Model 3. But Tesla was distinctly outsold by Chinese automaker BYD in 2022.
It’s also worth noting that most of the top searches were for a sedan or crossover SUV, but not all. In the British crown dependencies Guernsey and Isle of Man, the most searched EVs were an electric minivan (Guernsey) and van (Isle of Man).
The Most Googled Electric Vehicle In the U.S.
In the U.S., the Tesla Model 3 was the most searched-for electric vehicle in 2022. Breaking down results by states highlights its massive local footprint:
The Tesla tide across the map is unsurprising, given its aggressive market entry and role in popularizing EVs in the country. But as new entries continue to chip away at the market, warnings around Tesla’s projected decline in market share have begun to spring up.
Of the nine states that searched more for other electric vehicle makers, six of them were for foreign manufacturers Hyundai and Kia and three of them preferred U.S. carmakers Rivian and Cadillac.
The Most Searched-For Electric Vehicle By Search Volume
Tesla’s popularity in countries like the U.S., Germany, and France helps gave it the most searched-for electric vehicle by sheer volume, despite Lexus winning first place in more locations.
Here are the top 10 most searched for electric vehicles by total volume in 2022:
Electric Vehicle | Google Search Volume (2022) |
---|---|
Tesla Model 3 | 19,989,872 |
Kia EV6 | 15,815,185 |
Tesla Model Y | 13,908,451 |
Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 12,689,787 |
Tesla Model S | 11,459,099 |
Porsche Taycan | 10,511,286 |
Tesla Model X | 9,535,778 |
Polestar 2 | 8,212,142 |
Lexus RZ | 7,186,840 |
BMW i4 | 7,063,510 |
The Model 3’s sheer popularity put it in first place. The company’s Model Y and Model S were also in the top five, where they were joined by the Korean-made Kia EV6 and Hyundai IONIQ 5.
The Lexus RZ, by contrast, ranked as the 9th-most-popular electric vehicle by search volume. It had less than half of the Model 3’s search volume and was also behind the Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model X, and Polestar 2.
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