France approaches half a million foreign students, strong growth amid US decline

According to Campus France, France's government agency responsible for international education, international students now make up about 15% of the total student population.

The number of foreign students in France continues to grow steadily. Following a sharp 8% increase in student mobility from 2021 to 2023, the growth slowed to 3% in 2022-2023 and then rose to 4.5% in 2023-2024, the report showed.

In line with previous years, Morocco, Algeria, China, Italy, and Senegal are the top countries of origin. Morocco remains the leader, accounting for 10% of foreign students in France, despite a slight decline in the number of Moroccan students (-3%). Algeria follows with 8%, and China ranks third with 6%.

In 2024-2025, three regions—Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and Asia-Oceania—sent more students to France than the previous year. Sub-Saharan Africa saw the sharpest growth, with a 7% increase compared to last year, driven by student arrivals from Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Student mobility to France has found its cruising speed, in an uncertain international context," said Campus France Director-General Donatienne Hissard.

"There have never been so many mobile students in the world, but their destination choices are diversifying: we have gone from a handful of competitors to a broader range, with a decline underway in the United States, the leading host country. The challenge for Europe and France is to position themselves as an alternative in this unprecedented landscape," she was quoted as saying on the Campus France's website.

The number of foreign students increased across all types of institutions, with consistent growth compared to the previous year. Universities continue to host the majority of international students (63%), with a 3% rise year-over-year.

France's higher education system is considered one of the most open and diverse in the world, with over 3,500 educational institutions, including prestigious names like PSL University, Paris Polytechnic Institute, Sorbonne University, and Paris-Saclay University.

In contrast, the number of international students enrolling in U.S. institutions from March 2024 to March 2025 declined by 11%, potentially costing the American economy up to US$4 billion, according to data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.