Africa boasts of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population, with a median age of approximately 19 years. Globally, more than 1 in 4 people will be African in 2050, from 1 in 11 in 1960.
This makes the challenge of delivering quality education and creating opportunities for millions of young Africans a critical priority.
According to the Open Doors Report on International Education, Sub-Saharan African students are among the most highly mobile students seeking higher education opportunities abroad and the U.S. remains the top choice for students seeking higher education abroad.
The Open Doors Report is published by the Institute of International Education in collaboration with the US Department of State. It serves as a benchmark for global educational exchange.
The most recent report reveals that as of 2024, U.S. colleges and universities host a record-breaking 1,126,690 international students marking an all-time high for international enrollment. This year alone, new enrollment stood at 298,705.
According to the data, the table below shows the top 10 African countries with the largest international student population in the US;
| Rank | Country | Students |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Nigeria |
20,029 |
|
2 |
Ghana |
9,394 |
|
3 |
Kenya |
4.507 |
|
4 |
Ethiopia |
3.078 |
|
5 |
South Africa |
2,814 |
|
6 |
DR Congo |
1,738 |
|
7 |
Rwanda |
1,311 |
|
8 |
Uganda |
1,303 |
|
9 |
Cote D’Ivoire |
1,138 |
|
10 |
Tanzania |
1,027 |
With 20,029 students, Nigeria ranks 7th globally and holds the top position in Africa as the leading country of origin for students pursuing education in the United States.
Nigeria has recorded an impressive 117% leap from just 7,921 students in the 2013-14 academic year, to over 20,000 this academic session.
Following in second position is Ghana and Kenya in third position with 9,029 and 4,507 students respectively.
While commenting on the development, the US consulate in Nigeria noted that for international education in the US, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the fastest-growing region with a 13% increase in student mobility this year, following an 18% rise in 2022/2023.
“Sub-Saharan Africa’s student mobility grew by 13 per cent in 2023/24, maintaining its position as the fastest-growing region for the second year, following an 18 per cent increase in 2022/23.” the statement added.
