10 African countries with the lowest number of international students in the US

Political and economic factors like the ever-changing political landscape in the U.S, including religious policies and the uncertainty around immigration laws, also creates a sense of instability for international students.

Semafor reports that nearly 60% the African student population that applied to study at universities in the United States last year were denied the requisite F-1 visa by the State Department.

The report noted that the denial rate for African students was the highest among all regions.

As an alternative, Asian countries and European countries are becoming welcoming to international students .

For instance, Belarus in 2024 welcomed international students from about 30 African countries.

In 2006, the percentage of African students in China stood at just 2%; that number has jumped to nearly 17% (81,562) as of 2018.

These countries also tend to have more generous scholarship opportunities and support systems for international students, making them attractive alternatives to the U.S.

In a previous report, Business Insider Africa highlighted the African countries with the highest number of students in the U.S. This report focuses on other African countries that show lower preference for the U.S. as a study destination.

According to data from Open Doors, the following African countries recorded the least number of students in US universities.