Indian students now outnumber Chinese students in the US
Students from India and China enrolled in US higher education, by academic year, 2000/01–2024/25.
Indian students in the US in 2024/25, a record and up 10% in a year.
Chinese students fell from a 372,532 peak (2019/20) to 265,919.
India's count since 2000/01, when it sent 54,664 students.
the numbers
| Year | India | China |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 54,664 | 59,939 |
| 2001 | 66,836 | 63,211 |
| 2005 | 76,503 | 62,582 |
| 2006 | 83,833 | 67,723 |
| 2009 | 104,897 | 127,628 |
| 2010 | 157,558 | |
| 2011 | 194,029 | |
| 2013 | 102,673 | |
| 2015 | 165,918 | 328,547 |
| 2016 | 186,267 | 350,755 |
| 2017 | 196,271 | 363,341 |
| 2018 | 202,014 | 369,548 |
| 2019 | 193,124 | 372,532 |
| 2020 | 167,582 | 317,299 |
| 2021 | 199,182 | 290,086 |
| 2022 | 268,923 | 289,526 |
| 2023 | 331,602 | 277,398 |
| 2024 | 363,019 | 265,919 |
source notes & method
2015/16–2024/25 from Open Doors India and China fact sheets (2023, 2025); China 2000/01–2011/12 from IIE's China Open Doors 2012 fact sheet. India 2000/01–2001/02 via NRIOL, 2005/06 via Inside Higher Ed, 2006/07 via US Embassy London, 2009/10 via IEFA, 2013/14 via CFR, all quoting Open Doors. Years without a verified figure are left out (India 2010–12, 2014; China 2012–14). India led 2001/02–2008/09; China led 2009/10–2022/23; India again from 2023/24.
Published 9 Oct 2026
one plate, every morning
The new world, explained in one chart, in your inbox at 7:00, your time. Free.
or follow via rss, the "rss" in progrss