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.
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.
