In financial year 2020, the number of students enrolled in higher education was about ** million across India. This was expected to increase in the financial year 2035 to ** million. Furthermore, the gross enrolment ratio in higher education in India was **** percent in financial year 2021.

Indian Students Abroad

Country-wise Statistics

By Harish Kumar Garg [source]

About this dataset

This dataset is about the number of Indian students studying abroad in different countries and the detailed information about different nations where Indian students are present. The data has been complied from the Ministry Of External Affairs to answer a question from the Member of Parliament regarding how many students from India are studying in foreign countries and which country. This dataset includes two fields, Country Name and Number of Indians Studying Abroad as of Mar 2017, giving a unique opportunity to track student mobility across various nations around the world. With this valuable data about student mobility, we can gain insights into how educational opportunities for Indian students have increased over time as well as look at trends in international education throughout different regions. From comparison among countries with similar academic opportunities to tracking regional popularity among study destinations, this dataset provides important context for studying student migration patterns. We invite everyone to explore this data further and use it to draw meaningful conclusions!

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How to use the dataset

How to use this dataset?

The data has two columns – Country Name and Number of Indians studying there as of March 2017. It also includes a third column, Percentage, which gives an indication about the proportion of Indian students enrolled in each country relative to total number enrolled abroad globally.

To get started with your exploration, you can visualize the data against various parameters like geographical region or language speaking as it may provide more clarity about motives/reasons behind student’s choice. You can also group countries on basis of research opportunities available, cost consideration etc.,to understand deeper into all aspects that motivate Indians to explore further studies outside India.

Additionally you can use this dataset for benchmarking purpose with other regional / international peer groups or aggregate regional / global reports with aim towards making better decisions or policies aiming greater outreach & support while targeting foreign universities/colleges for educational promotion activities that highlights engaging elements aimed at attracting more potential students from India aspiring higher international education experience abroad!

Research Ideas

• Using this dataset, educational institutions in India can set up international exchange programs with universities in other countries to facilitate and support Indian students studying abroad.

• Higher Education Institutions can also understand the current trend of Indian students sourcing for opportunities to study abroad and use this data to build specialized short-term courses in collaboration with universities from different countries that cater to the needs of students who are interested in moving abroad permanently or even temporarily for higher studies.

• Policy makers could use this data to assess the current trends and develop policies that aim at incentivizing international exposure among young professionals by commissioning fellowships or scholarships with an aim of exposing them to different problem sets around the world thereby making their profile more attractive while they look for better job opportunities globally

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit the original authors. Data Source

License

Unknown License - Please check the dataset description for more information.

Columns

File: final_data.csv | Column name | Description | |:--------------------------|:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Country | Name of the country where Indian students are studying. (String) | | No of Indian Students | Number of Indian students studying in the country. (Integer) | | Percentage | Percentage of Indian students studying in the country compared to the total number of Indian students studying abroad. (Float) |

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit ...

Number of Students: Delhi: Colleges data was reported at 299,597.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 281,983.000 Person for 2020. Number of Students: Delhi: Colleges data is updated yearly, averaging 261,089.000 Person from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2021, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 299,597.000 Person in 2021 and a record low of 150,323.000 Person in 2010. Number of Students: Delhi: Colleges data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Education. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDD005: Number of Students: Colleges.

As per the results of a survey across India, around *** thousand students were residing in girls hostels in Maharashtra during academic year 2022. The number of residents for boys' hostels was considerably lesser that year compared to girls hostels.

The dataset contains Academic-year-wise historically compiled data on the total number of Indian students who enrolled for Undergraduate, Graduate, Non-Degree and Optional Practical Training (OPT) courses in the United States of America (USA).

Number of Students: Punjab: Colleges data was reported at 512,757.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 503,322.000 Person for 2020. Number of Students: Punjab: Colleges data is updated yearly, averaging 518,617.000 Person from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2021, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 619,394.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 167,871.000 Person in 2010. Number of Students: Punjab: Colleges data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Education. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDD005: Number of Students: Colleges.

Number of Students: Madhya Pradesh: Colleges: Government data was reported at 1,181,770.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,036,820.000 Person for 2020. Number of Students: Madhya Pradesh: Colleges: Government data is updated yearly, averaging 606,636.500 Person from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2021, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,181,770.000 Person in 2021 and a record low of 160,956.000 Person in 2010. Number of Students: Madhya Pradesh: Colleges: Government data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Education. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDD005: Number of Students: Colleges.

The dataset contains academic year-, state- and gender-wise compiled data on estimated number of student enrollments which have happened in ecertificate, diploma, integrated, pg diploma, undergraduate, post graduate, m.phil, ph.d courses from the year 2010-11 to 2020-21

As per the results of a survey across India, around *** thousand students were residing in girls hostels in Karnataka during academic year 2022. The number of residents for girls' hostels was considerably higher that year compared to boys hostels.

Number of Students: Uttar Pradesh: Tertiary Education data was reported at 5,084,880.000 Person in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,332,013.000 Person for 2013. Number of Students: Uttar Pradesh: Tertiary Education data is updated yearly, averaging 3,113,272.000 Person from Sep 2001 (Median) to 2014, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,084,880.000 Person in 2014 and a record low of 1,066,495.000 Person in 2001. Number of Students: Uttar Pradesh: Tertiary Education data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Education. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDD004: Number of Students: Tertiary Education.

Number of Students: West Bengal: Colleges data was reported at 1,795,258.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,679,228.000 Person for 2020. Number of Students: West Bengal: Colleges data is updated yearly, averaging 1,554,327.000 Person from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2021, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,795,258.000 Person in 2021 and a record low of 609,140.000 Person in 2010. Number of Students: West Bengal: Colleges data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Education. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDD005: Number of Students: Colleges.

The dataset contains academic year-, gender- and state-wise compiled data on total number of students enrolled (based on actual response from institutes) in post graduate. under graduate, Ph.D., M.Phil., Integrated PG diploma, certificate and diploma educational courses in India from the year 2010-11 to 202--21

Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes (number) in India was reported at 375055 Persons in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, all countries, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Total inbound internationally mobile students, female (number) in India was reported at 15029 Persons in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Total inbound internationally mobile students, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Number of Students: Karnataka: Colleges data was reported at 1,769,083.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,661,251.000 Person for 2020. Number of Students: Karnataka: Colleges data is updated yearly, averaging 1,429,524.000 Person from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2021, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,769,083.000 Person in 2021 and a record low of 1,178,153.000 Person in 2010. Number of Students: Karnataka: Colleges data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Education. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDD005: Number of Students: Colleges.

Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes (number) in India was reported at 47424 Persons in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Total inbound internationally mobile students, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

As per the results of a survey across India in academic year 2022, about ****** students enrolled in Indian academic institutions were from Nepal. A total number of over ** thousand foreign national students were enrolled in India during that year with the highest share of students coming from the neighbouring countries.

The data shows the year-wise number of institutions and schools for higher education and school education for different levels of education.

Note: 1. Data for Higher Education is till 2021-22 only. 2. No. of Colleges (2000-01 to 2009-10) includes stand alone Institutions like Polytechnics. 3. Total of all schools includes schools from Class I to Class XII for General Education Only (Pre-Primary and other Technical/Vocational Schools not included).
4. Stand Alone Institutions includes: Polytechnics, PGDM, Nursing, Teacher Training and Institutes under Ministries. 5. Data for universities and colleges only till 2020-21. 6. In a few states such as Odisha higher secondary is part of higher education which may not have been covered under U-DISE.

This dataset contains the total number of foreign students enrolled in higher education in India

Number of Students: Himachal Pradesh: Colleges: Government data was reported at 155,889.000 Person in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 134,987.000 Person for 2020. Number of Students: Himachal Pradesh: Colleges: Government data is updated yearly, averaging 126,888.000 Person from Sep 2010 (Median) to 2021, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 155,889.000 Person in 2021 and a record low of 94,979.000 Person in 2012. Number of Students: Himachal Pradesh: Colleges: Government data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Education. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Education Sector – Table IN.EDD005: Number of Students: Colleges.