Top 5 International Destinations for African Students, France Leads, China Follows

African students are increasingly pursuing tertiary education in foreign countries, either within Africa or in other parts of the world. This pattern is observed by reviewing the data provided by the UNESCO Institute of Statistics.

In 2020, the number of African students studying abroad reached a record-breaking figure of over 624,271, a 41% increase from the 441,438 recorded in 2010, and a 122% rise from 2000 (281,522).

Alongside the notable increase in students studying outside the continent, there has been a noteworthy rise in African students pursuing higher education within the continent. African countries like Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa have become popular destinations, hosting a substantial number of African international students. For instance, South Africa alone accommodates over 30,000 African students studying there.

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Let us review the top 5 international destinations for African students according to data provided by the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS).

1. France

Data from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics shows that in 2020, France hosted about 126,311 African students. According to Campus France, in 2021-2022, France welcomed almost 92,000 students from Sub-Saharan Africa, representing 23% of the international students in the country.

France is particularly attractive to African students from French-speaking countries, most of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to UIS, Morocco led the charge with about 32,000 students, followed by Algeria with almost 23,000 students and Senegal with over 10,000 students.

2. China

In second place is China, with over 81,000 African students. In an article by Quartz, it is noted that the number of African students in China grew by 2600% between 2003 and 2015. Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania made up the list of the top five African countries with students in China.

Several factors contribute to the growing presence of African students in China, but one particularly significant aspect is the strengthening of diplomatic ties between African leaders and the Chinese government.

3. United States

According to reports, during the academic year 2021-2022, the number of students from sub-Saharan Africa studying at colleges and universities in the United States reached 42,518. However, the UIS put the figure of African students in the US at 48,275 in 2020.

Nigerians have always led the charge since, it is noted in the 2021-2022 academic year, there were 14,438 Nigerians studying in the US. In a distant second is Ghana, with about 4,916 students, followed by Kenya with 3,799 students. Egypt and Ethiopia complete the list of the top 5 African sending countries to the United States.

4. United Kingdom

There are over 43,000 African students in the UK with Nigerians constituting the highest proportion. Nigerians are the third highest number of international students in the UK behind China and India.

Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa also have a significant number of international students in the UK. The exorbitant cost of living and expensive tuition in the UK have prevented a significant surge in the enrollment of African students.

5. Germany

According to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, there were about 36,350 African students in Germany in 2020. The highest contributors were Cameroon with about 7,900 students, Tunisia with about 6,700 students, and Egypt with about 5,500 students.

Also Read: Nigeria Trailed Kenya in Startup Investment in 2020 – Report

Germany’s appeal as a study-abroad destination stems from a combination of factors such as its low or no-tuition universities, affordable living expenses, renowned academic institutions, and overall attractiveness to students.

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