- Business Insider Africa presents African countries with the lowest number of international students in the US
- The list is courtesy of Open Doors 2024 Data
- African students are opting for other countries due to more favorable immigration policies, lower tuition fees, and better work opportunities
Challenges like visa issues, high tuition, and cultural differences in the U.S are prompting international students to turn to Asia and other regions for international education.
10 African countries with the lowest number of international students in the US
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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.
African students are increasingly opting for other countries to pursue higher education.
Business Insider USA
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.
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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.
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Asian countries and European countries are becoming welcoming to international students
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These countries also tend to have more generous scholarship opportunities and support systems for international students, making them attractive alternatives to the U.S.
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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.
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| Rank | Country | Number of Students |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Djibouti | 9 |
| 2 | Guinea Bissau | 11 |
| 3 | Seychelles | 17 |
| 4 | CAR | 20 |
| 5 | Mauritania | 38 |
| 6 | Cape Verde | 51 |
| 7 | Comorros | 56 |
| 8 | Chad | 66 |
| 9 | Eritrea | 73 |
| 10 | Guinea | 78 |
