More Than 562,000 Nepali Students Left to Study Abroad Since 2020; 45,634 Chose U.S.
Nepali students celebrate their graduation in Sydney. Australia currently hosts approximately 60,000 active Nepali students pursuing higher education and post-study career opportunities.
KATHMANDU, Nepal — More than 562,000 Nepali students left the country for overseas study between 2020 and early August 2026, underscoring a sustained rise in outward student migration and growing concerns over the loss of young talent from Nepal.
A total of 562,904 Nepali students departed for foreign study during this period, according to data provided to NepYorks by Nepal’s Department of Immigration. The department stated that the figures are based on no-objection certificates issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, as well as official immigration departure records.
The number was limited to 5,221 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it rose sharply in subsequent years: 26,714 in 2021; 101,246 in 2022; 108,542 in 2023; 119,410 in 2024; and a record 133,237 in 2025. By mid-2026, another 68,534 Nepali students had left to study abroad.
The exodus has driven annual overseas education spending into billions of Nepali rupees and intensified concerns about brain drain. The figures measure departures and related approvals, not necessarily the total number of Nepali students currently enrolled overseas.
Japan was the leading destination, receiving 163,486 Nepali students during the review period. Australia followed with 105,797 students, ahead of the United Kingdom, the United States, and India.
Japan Leads Destinations
Japan received 1,003 Nepali students in 2020 and 576 in 2021 before the number surged to 30,047 in 2022. Departures then totaled 24,067 in 2023; 35,952 in 2024; and a record 40,850 in 2025. By mid-2026, an additional 30,991 Nepali students had received Japanese study visas.
Australia received 36 students in 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions were in force, followed by 3,215 in 2021; 31,045 in 2022; 23,274 in 2023; 15,660 in 2024; 23,220 in 2025; and 8,747 by mid-2026. Roughly 60,000 Nepali students are currently studying in Australia, although visa refusal rates have recently been high, according to data provided for this report.
The United Kingdom received 374 Nepali students in 2020; 2,356 in 2021; 4,346 in 2022; 8,521 in 2023; 11,559 in 2024; 20,775 in 2025; and 6,880 by mid-2026, bringing the total to 54,811. Nepal is now the UK’s fifth-largest source market for international students, according to sector data.
U.S. Interest Remains Strong
The United States received 45,634 Nepali students from 2020 through early August 2026. The annual figure rose from 316 in 2020 to 5,033 in 2021; 7,542 in 2022; 8,241 in 2023; and a peak of 14,205 in 2024.
The number fell to 8,123 in 2025 amid immigration policy changes and stricter visa screening, according to Department of Immigration data. In the opening months of 2026, 2,174 Nepali students received U.S. study visas.
The Institute of International Education’s Open Doors report counted 24,890 Nepali students enrolled in U.S. higher education in the 2024–25 academic year, up 48.7% from 16,742 a year earlier. Data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) showed 32,852 Nepali students in active status as of July 2026.
India, a geographically accessible destination, received 38,938 Nepali students during the period: 141 in 2020; 4,059 in 2021; 6,883 in 2022; 8,558 in 2023; 7,718 in 2024; 8,258 in 2025; and 3,121 by mid-2026.
Canada Declines; Korea Rises
Canada received 30,077 Nepali students from 2020 through early August 2026. The number increased from 181 in 2020 and 1,397 in 2021 to 6,155 in 2022 and 14,233 in 2023, but subsequently dropped to 6,208 in 2024; 1,290 in 2025; and 413 by mid-2026.
The decline followed Canada’s implementation of student caps and stricter policies for international students, the department’s data indicated.
Bangladesh, a popular destination for Nepali medical students due to lower tuition costs, received 29,512 students. Annual departures were 1,794 in 2020; 3,747 in 2021; 5,037 in 2022; 5,339 in 2023; 6,358 in 2024; 4,283 in 2025; and 2,954 by mid-2026. Numbers fell in 2025 amid political instability within Bangladesh, according to the data.
South Korea received 24,772 Nepali students during the period, reflecting growing interest in opportunities to combine study and work. The annual total rose from 259 in 2020 and 298 in 2021 to 931 in 2022; 2,930 in 2023; 5,778 in 2024; and 8,768 in 2025. An additional 5,808 students had left for South Korea by mid-2026.
The United Arab Emirates received 12,254 Nepali students from 2020 through early August 2026, receiving 272 students in 2020; 1,740 in 2021; 1,931 in 2022; 2,900 in 2023; 2,271 in 2024; 2,310 in 2025; and 630 by mid-2026.