Chinese student numbers in US fall as gap with Indian scholars widens: report

Chinese student numbers in the United States have continued to decline over the past year, but they remain the second-largest student group after Indians and the biggest contributors to the US economy, according to new data released on Monday.

A total of 265,919 Chinese studied in the US in the 2024-25 academic year, marking a four per cent decrease from the previous academic year, according to the latest annual survey of higher education institutions by the Institute of International Education (IIE), a report sponsored by the US State Department.

Meanwhile, the number of Indian students, which last year surpassed that of Chinese students for the first time in about 15 years, rose by nine per cent to 363,019 in the 2024-25 academic year.

Still, Chinese students contributed about US$14.6 billion to the US economy in 2024, while Indian students brought in US$14.0 billion. China also remains the largest source of undergraduate and non-degree students, though enrolments for undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree students have decreased by between two and 10 per cent compared to the previous academic year.

The widening gap between Indians and Chinese came amid heightened anxiety from Chinese nationals after Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency last year. Trump’s first term saw numerous restrictions on travel and immigration, including a presidential proclamation to limit the entry of graduate students and researchers from China.

  

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