Fewer Indian students going to Canada, UK, US; Germany and Russia see rise

New Delhi: The number of Indian students going abroad has declined by around 15% in a year, with major drops in Canada, the UK, and the US, according to government data. Between 2023 and 2024, the total number of Indian students studying overseas fell by 1,33,925.

Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar shared the data in the Lok Sabha in response to a question by MP Mohammad Bashir.

Canada, the most preferred destination for Indian students, saw a sharp 41% decline, with numbers dropping from 2,33,532 in 2023 to 1,37,608 in 2024. The US recorded a 13% drop, from 2,34,473 in 2023 to 2,04,053 in 2024. The UK saw a 28% decline, with student numbers falling from 1,36,921 in 2023 to 98,890 in 2024.

Australia and China also recorded drops. Australia saw a 12% decline, with student numbers falling from 78,093 in 2023 to 68,572 in 2024. The number of Indian students going to China decreased by 32%, from 7,279 in 2023 to 4,978 in 2024.

Meanwhile, some countries saw an increase in Indian students. Germany recorded a 49% rise, from 23,296 in 2023 to 34,702 in 2024. Russia saw a 34% increase, with student numbers rising from 23,503 in 2023 to 31,444 in 2024.

Bangladesh also recorded a 45% increase, with Indian student numbers rising from 20,368 in 2023 to 29,232 in 2024. Singapore saw a 14% increase, from 12,763 in 2023 to 14,547 in 2024, while New Zealand recorded a 13% rise, with numbers growing from 6,471 in 2023 to 7,297 in 2024.

The reasons behind the decline in traditional destinations and the rise in alternative choices remain key points of discussion among students and experts.