COVID19 Impact: Declining Enrollment of Pakistani Students in US, China

[Riaz Haq]

Pakistan, the world's sixth most populous nation, ranked 18th in the number of students studying in the United States. Pakistani students enrolled in the US fell by 5.8% to 7,475 in 2020-21, significantly less than the 15% drop in international student enrollment. However, number of Pakistanis studying in the US in 2020-21 was even less than students from much smaller nations like Nepal which ranked 12th. Overall, COVID19 travel restrictions brought down the total number of foreign students enrolled in American educational institutions dropped to less than one million in 2020-21, the lowest figure since 2015-16.  

Pakistani Students in the US. Source: OpenDoors

China maintained its top position among the leading places of origin for international students, with 35% of all international students in the 2020-21 school year hailing from the country, according to the data released by the United States government.  The second most common place of origin was India (18%), followed by South Korea (4%) and Canada (3%). Some of these countries also experienced the largest year-over-year declines in the number of students who enrolled at US institutions. The largest such percentage decreases occurred in South Korea (-21%), China (-15%) and India (-13%).

Foreign Students Studying in US. Source: OpenDoors

The number of students in China, the top destination for Pakistani students, was also heavily impacted by COVID travel bans. Some 28,000 Pakistani students are affected by China’s tough border closures and are studying from home. Studying in China has only been possible for South Korean students who were granted an exemption in July 2020, according to reports.  

Pakistani Students in the US. Source: OpenDoors

During his recent visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Imran Khan brought up the issues faced by Pakistani students in resuming education in China. A joint statement issued by Chinese and Pakistani sides mentioned it thus: "Pakistan side highlighted that China has become a popular education destination. While ensuring safety against COVID-19, China will arrange for Pakistani students to return to China and resume classes in a prudent manner". 

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[Riaz Haq]

US records 16% increase in admission of Pakistani students

In the past two years, an overall 33% increase has been noted

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1129600-us-records-16-increase-in...
A United States Department of State report recorded a 16% increase in the admission of Pakistani students to universities across the country.

The annual Open Doors Report for 2022-23 report, prepared in collaboration with the Institute of International Education (IIE), highlighted a substantial increase in the number of students from Pakistan studying in higher education institutions in the US.

"During 2022-2023, there were 10,164 Pakistani students, compared to 8,772 in the previous year, indicating an impressive 16% increase," the report read.

It also underscores the continued prominence of the US as the top destination for international study in the 2022-2023 academic year. Notably, the data reveals a significant milestone, with the US hosting over one million (1,057,188) international students during this period, marking a remarkable 12% increase from the previous academic year and representing the fastest growth rate in over four decades.

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International students in the U.S., by country of origin 2022/23 | Statista


10,164 students from Pakistan studying in America, ranking the country the 16th largest source of international students in the US

https://www.statista.com/statistics/233880/international-students-i...

[Riaz Haq]

PAKISTAN AMONG TOP SENDERS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO US WITH LARGEST INCREASES IN 2023/24

IIE Open Doors / All Places of Origin. 10,988 students from Pakistan in US 2023-24, up 8.1% from 2022-23

https://opendoorsdata.org/data/international-students/all-places-of...

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India becomes top source of International students in the U.S.

https://www.newindiaabroad.com/english/news/india-becomes-top-sourc...

India has overtaken China as the leading origin for international students in the U.S. for the first time in nearly 15 years, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report. During the 2023-24 academic year, 331,602 Indian students enrolled in U.S. institutions, a 23 percent increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, Chinese enrollment fell by 4 percent to 277,398.

The report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), funded by the U.S. State Department, reveals that students from India and China together account for more than half of all international students in the United States. The surge in India's numbers was fueled by a strong interest in graduate programs and STEM fields, with 56 percent of international students focusing on the latter.

Overall, international student enrollment in the U.S. hit a record 1.1 million, up 7 percent from last year, representing 6 percent of the total U.S. higher education population and contributing more than $50 billion to the economy. Graduate students reached 502,291 (+8 percent), and Optional Practical Training (OPT) participants surged 22 percent to 242,782. Undergraduate enrollment remained steady at 342,875.

California, New York, and Texas hosted the most international students, while Midwestern states like Missouri saw significant growth. Additionally, U.S. study-abroad participation rose 49 percent to 280,716 in 2022-23, with Italy, the UK, Spain, and France as top destinations.