The number of international students in Canada has increased every year except 2020. In 2023, the number of students on study visas in Canada exceeded one million.

Proportion of Canadian and international student enrolments, by International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), institution type, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2021, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and BHASE (business, humanities, health, arts, social science and education) groupings, gender and age group.

In the 2022/2023 academic year, there were over 468,000 international students enrolled in postsecondary institutions in Canada. In the same year, there were 4,257 international students enrolled in post-secondary education programs in Canada.

The number of postsecondary international student enrolments, by country of citizenship, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2021, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and BHASE (business, humanities, health, arts, social science and education) groupings, International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), institution type and gender.

In 2023, there were more than one million international students in Canada. Of these, approximately 427,000 students were from India, followed by China with 102,150 students.

Temporary residents who are in Canada on a study permit in the observed calendar year. Datasets include study permit holders by year in which permit(s) became effective or with a valid permit in a calendar year or on December 31st. Please note that in these datasets, the figures have been suppressed or rounded to prevent the identification of individuals when the datasets are compiled and compared with other publicly available statistics. Values between 0 and 5 are shown as “--“ and all other values are rounded to the nearest multiple of 5. This may result to the sum of the figures not equating to the totals indicated.

In 2022, the total number of international students enrolled in postsecondary institutions in Canada increased by 64,524 persons (+15.99 percent) compared to 2021. Therefore, the total number in Canada reached a peak in 2022 with 468,087 persons.

Distribution of international student enrolments, by level of tertiary education, institution type, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2021, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and BHASE (business, humanities, health, arts, social science and education) groupings, gender and age group.

Since 2015, more study visas have been granted to men each year. In 2024, there were 243,000 female international students in Canada at year's end.

Forecast: International Students in Tertiary Education in Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, as a Share of All Students Enrolled in This Field in Canada 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Estimated average scores and percent distribution of 15-year-old students, science, by proficiency level, Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Canada, provinces and participating countries, Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC). This table is included in Section C: Elementary-secondary education: Student achievement of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, education finance and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

In 2022, Canada had the greatest amount of international students compared to their entire higher education population with nearly 40 percent of students being international. Australia followed with a share of 31 percent of the students being international, while the United Kingdom ranked third.

Temporary residents who are in Canada on a study permit in the observed calendar year. Datasets include study permit holders by year in which permit(s) became effective or with a valid permit in a calendar year or on December 31st. Please note that in these datasets, the figures have been suppressed or rounded to prevent the identification of individuals when the datasets are compiled and compared with other publicly available statistics. Values between 0 and 5 are shown as “--“ and all other values are rounded to the nearest multiple of 5. This may result to the sum of the figures not equating to the totals indicated. Please note that the datasets will not be updated.

The number of enrolments by status of student in Canada, institution type, country of citizenship and gender.

In the 2020/21 academic year, around 271,431 students from Asia were enrolled in postsecondary institutions in Canada. In that same year, three students from Antarctica and the adjacent islands were enrolled in Canadian postsecondary institutions.

Japan No. of International Students: Canada data was reported at 396.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 361.000 Person for 2016. Japan No. of International Students: Canada data is updated yearly, averaging 307.000 Person from Apr 2001 (Median) to 2017, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 396.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 219.000 Person in 2001. Japan No. of International Students: Canada data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Japan Student Services Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G009: Survey on Internation Students: Number of International Students in Japan.

Proportion of students aged 15 to 29 who were also working, by age and type of institution attended, Canada. This table is included in Section E: Transitions and outcomes: Transitions to the labour market of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

Australia Number of Enrolments: Year to Date: Higher Education: International Students: Canada: National data was reported at 0.000 Person in Nov 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 Person for Oct 2024. Australia Number of Enrolments: Year to Date: Higher Education: International Students: Canada: National data is updated monthly, averaging 0.000 Person from Jan 2002 (Median) to Nov 2024, with 275 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 Person in Nov 2024 and a record low of 0.000 Person in Nov 2024. Australia Number of Enrolments: Year to Date: Higher Education: International Students: Canada: National data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Education. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G120: Education Statistics: Number of Enrolments.

The United States was the top host destination for international students worldwide. In 2022, around 1,057,200 students were enrolled in higher education in the U.S.. Furthermore, more than 718,000 and 660,000 international students enrolled in the United Kingdom and Canada, respectively.

The average annual tuition fees for international students in graduate degree programs in Canada increased by 1,119 current dollars (+5.06 percent) in 2024. Therefore, the average tuition fees in Canada reached a peak in 2024 with 23,233 current dollars.