China's Overseas Study Abroad Population Falls for the First Time in 5 Years in 2025, Reaching 570,000

Xinhua News Agency reported today, citing the China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange of the Ministry of Education, that in 2025, the number of Chinese students studying abroad exceeded 570,000, and the number of returning students reached 535,600.

According to publicly available data from the Chinese Ministry of Education and the 'China Study Abroad Development Report,' China began sending students abroad with the reform and opening-up in 1978. The number of students studying abroad peaked at 703,500 in 2019. In 2020, due to the global pandemic, the number sharply decreased to 450,900; it rebounded to 661,200 in 2022; reached 684,400 in 2023; and recovered to approximately 700,000 in 2024. However, 2025 saw the first decline in five years.

Comprehensive reports from Chinese state media indicate that, in contrast, the number of Chinese students returning home continues to increase, leading to a 'returnee boom.' In 2025, the number of returning students was 535,600, an increase of 40,600 from 2024 and 120,000 from 2023.

The report points out that from 1978 to 2024, a cumulative total of 8.88 million Chinese students studied abroad, 7.43 million completed their studies, and 6.44 million chose to return to China for development after completing their studies. Since 2012, 5.63 million returnees have served in China, accounting for 87% of the total returnees since the reform and opening-up.

The report states that the 'returnee boom' is driven by multiple factors, with three aspects being particularly prominent: increasing international geopolitical uncertainties, coupled with domestic policy support and an improved entrepreneurial environment.

Furthermore, there have been significant changes in popular destinations for mainland Chinese students studying abroad. Due to strained US-China relations in recent years, according to the 'Open Doors' data collection program partly funded by the US Department of State, the total number of Chinese students studying in the US has fallen for five consecutive years. India has surpassed China for two consecutive years to become the largest source country for international students in the US.

According to the 'China Student Study Abroad Development Report' released by Chinese education institution New Oriental in March, Hong Kong has become the second-largest study abroad destination for mainland students, second only to the UK, surpassing the US for the first time. (Editor: Yang Shengru/Qiu Guoqiang) 1150410