Top 10 African Countries Sending the Most Students Abroad

Every year, tens of thousands of African students leave home to study overseas. The flow shapes talent pipelines, remittance inflows, and long-term brain circulation. Some countries dominate this movement, sending large cohorts to universities across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. These outbound trends reflect domestic educational pressures, economic aspirations, and a growing desire for globally competitive qualifications. Below is a clear, detailed look at the top 10 African countries with the highest number of students studying abroad, based on consistent mobility patterns and international enrolment data.

1. Nigeria

Nigeria is the continent’s leading source of international students. Chronic strikes, limited postgraduate capacity, and high global competitiveness among Nigerian applicants push tens of thousands abroad annually. The UK, U.S., Canada, Germany, and Cyprus continue to rank as top destinations. Nigeria’s outbound numbers remain the largest in Africa.

2. Morocco

Morocco sits firmly in second place due to deep academic ties with France and other Francophone nations. State-funded scholarships, cultural alignment, and simplified visa pathways make France, Belgium, and increasingly Germany attractive destinations. Morocco’s outbound volume consistently places it among the top three on global tables for African student mobility.

3. Egypt

Egypt’s huge population and expanding youth base ensure a steady flow of students overseas. Europe, the Gulf, Turkey, and North America are the key destinations. Many Egyptians pursue medicine, engineering, ICT, and advanced research degrees abroad, fields where local capacity remains overstretched. Outbound figures routinely place Egypt in the top tier.

4. Ghana

Ghana has one of the strongest per-capita outbound student flows in West Africa. Solid English proficiency, competitive secondary schooling, and global demand for Ghanaian talent sustain increasing mobility. Students mainly target the UK, U.S., and Canada, with notable growth in Germany and the Netherlands.

5. Kenya

Kenya remains East Africa’s largest exporter of international students. A growing middle class, high tertiary aspirations, and strong English-language preparation drive outbound mobility. The UK, U.S., Australia, Canada, and Germany dominate Kenyan enrolments abroad, especially for STEM and business programmes.

6. South Africa

Even as South Africa hosts large numbers of African students, it simultaneously sends many abroad, especially for specialised fields and postgraduate studies. Preferred destinations include the UK, Netherlands, U.S., Australia, and Ireland. Outbound students typically pursue niche programmes not widely available in local institutions.

7. Tunisia

Tunisia’s deep-rooted Francophone ties keep France and Belgium at the top of its outbound destinations. Tunisian students commonly pursue engineering, technology, medical, and business programmes abroad. Scholarships, bilateral partnerships, and cultural proximity make outbound study a central part of Tunisia’s education landscape.

8. Ethiopia

Ethiopia has recorded one of the fastest-growing outbound student populations over the past decade. Driven by high population pressure and limited domestic university capacity, Ethiopian students increasingly move to India, Turkey, China, and Europe. Scholarship programmes play a significant role in widening access.

9. Cameroon

Cameroon’s bilingual French–English structure shapes its student mobility trends. France, Belgium, and Canada remain leading destinations, attracting students seeking programmes not readily available locally. Cameroon consistently ranks among Central Africa’s biggest contributors to international student numbers.

10. Senegal

Senegal completes the top 10, driven by long-standing Francophone educational pathways into France and Belgium. Strong scholarship systems and recognition agreements encourage outbound mobility. Senegal also has one of West Africa’s highest per-capita rates of students studying abroad.

These ten countries account for most of Africa’s international student population. Their outbound mobility is shaped by a mix of demographic pressures, limited local university capacity in key fields, economic ambition, and deep historical ties with global education hubs. As demand for foreign qualifications continues to rise, these trends will keep influencing Africa’s talent landscape, and the broader global education market.