The number of foreign students in Asia has updated record figures

Japan — more than 460,000 students from abroad

Japan today is one of the most dynamically growing markets for international education, and fresh statistics confirm this: the country is already attracting more foreign students than it had planned for the distant future. Just a few years ago, the authorities set a goal — to bring the number of students from abroad to 400 000 by 2033. But reality turned out to be much faster, and this figure was exceeded already by the end of 2024! According to data as of December 2025, approximately 465,000 foreign students chose to study in Japan, which is 15.6% more than the previous year. In other words, the growth is not just there — it is accelerating.

In 2021, there were just over 200 000 foreign students in the country — the consequences of the pandemic and closed borders severely impacted educational mobility. But after the country opened up, the situation changed in just a couple of years:

• 2022 — 300 000+ students,
• 2023 — approximately 341 000,
• 2025 — already nearly 465 000.

Such growth is associated not only with universities, but also with the popularity of language schools, which often become the first step toward further enrollment. Japan remains particularly attractive to students from Asia. Among foreign residents, the leaders are:

• China,
• Vietnam,
• South Korea,
• The Philippines,
• Nepal.

For Japan, where the birth rate is declining and there is a labor shortage, foreign students are becoming part of the solution to demographic and economic challenges.

South Korea — more than 310,000 foreign students

South Korea is confidently becoming one of the main centers of international education in Asia. According to data for February 2026, the country now has 314 000+ foreign students studying there, and just recently the goal was much more modest — to attract only 300,000 students by 2027, meaning Korea accomplished the task approximately 2 years ahead of schedule. The growth in the number of students enrolled in higher education programs in Korea — is particularly notable — their numbers increased by 22%+ in just one year. In addition to universities, language courses are also very popular: approximately 75,000 students study Korean at universities or at other educational centers.

The government is purposefully making the country more accessible for foreign students — among the key changes are:

• Expanded opportunities for part-time work while studying,
• Reduced financial requirements for enrollment,
• Added new pathways to obtaining a residence permit for talented specialists (especially in science and technology),
• Extended the job search period after graduation.

In simpler terms, it has become easier for students not only to enroll but also to remain in the country after studying. The main flow of students comes from Asian countries:

• Vietnam,
• China,
• Uzbekistan,
• Mongolia.

Today in South Korea, 181 universities are officially accredited to teach foreign students, of which 39 have received «excellent» status — they have more privileges and simplified student admission procedures.