Nigeria has maintained the top spot for US international students from Africa since the 2007/08 academic year

Since the 2007/08 academic year, Nigeria has consistently held the top spot for the number of African international students in the US. Before this, Kenya and Egypt also led in certain periods.

This trend highlights the evolving landscape of African students pursuing education in the US over the decades.

Source:
Open Doors
Period:
2023/24
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out

Click to copy HTML embed code

Tags
Related Insights
Ghana sees a 45% increase in the number of its students in the US — Africa's highest growth rate
Nigeria remains the leading African country of origin for students in the US, with over 20,000 enrolled this year. Ghana, however, recorded the continent's fastest growth rate at 45%. This increase of over 2,900 students brought Ghana’s total to nearly 9,400, making it the second-largest source of African students in the US. Nigeria also saw a 13.5% rise, adding more than 2,380 students year-over-year. Overall, the number of students from African countries in the US grew by nearly 12% in the 2023/24 academic year.
The population of Nigerian-born immigrants in the US increases at an average of 4.8% per year
The population of Nigerian-born immigrants in the US has more than doubled in nearly two decades, growing at an average rate of 4.8% per year. By 2023, the number reached 476k, up from just under 200k in 2006 — a 141% growth. Nigeria has been leading Africa in immigrant numbers in the US, ranking 22nd globally. Rising immigrant numbers could strengthen remittance flows back to Nigeria.
Nearly one-quarter of US foreign-born population was born in Mexico
In 2023, the US immigrant (foreign-born) population reached an estimated 47.83 million, a 3.6% increase from 46.18 million in 2022, with Mexico leading as the top country of birth for immigrants, contributing nearly 23% of the total. India, China, and the Philippines follow, with significant communities from El Salvador, Cuba, and Guatemala.
The UK has received over one million cumulative asylum applications worldwide since 2001
The cumulative number of asylum applications to the UK has exceeded one million, with Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Albania being major contributors. African countries such as Eritrea, Somalia, Zimbabwe, the DR Congo, and Nigeria have also been in the top ten. These are the top ten nationalities in the past 23 years.
The UK has approved 6.4 million study visas to foreign nationals between 2005 and 2023
Since 2005, nationals from China, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Pakistan, and Nigeria have ranked among the top three recipients of UK study visas. China led the list from 2010 to 2020. In 19 years, over 1.46 million Chinese nationals (22.9% of the total) received study visas. India followed with 926.9k and Nigeria — which first entered the top three in 2020 — with 436.9k.
Nearly 11 in 50 health and care work visas issued by the UK in 2023 went to Nigerians
In 2023, the UK issued nearly 350k skilled health and care visas, representing 57% of the total work visas (616k) issued, with Indian and Nigerian nationals receiving a combined 50% of the visas issued. Nigeria received 82.8k, approximately 13% of the total work visas issued.
POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form
A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved