Nigeria has emerged as the world’s third-largest source of international students, according to a new report released by UNESCO.
The report revealed that Nigeria accounted for five per cent of global outbound student mobility in 2023, tying with Germany behind China and India.
China remained the largest source of international students with 37 per cent, followed by India with 29 per cent. Nigeria’s strong ranking highlights the increasing number of students seeking higher education opportunities abroad.
UNESCO noted that international student mobility has nearly tripled globally over the last two decades, rising from 2.5 million students in 2002 to 7.3 million in 2023.
The organisation attributed the trend to factors such as economic conditions, visa opportunities, education quality, and post-graduation work prospects in destination countries.
Despite the growth, UNESCO warned that studying abroad remains largely accessible to a privileged minority, with less than three per cent of global higher education students benefiting from international mobility.
