Italy hosted 45,067 US students earning academic credit in 2023/24. Spain drew 36,826 and the United Kingdom 36,450.
This guide breaks down study abroad statistics for US students by destination using Open Doors 2025 counts: the top 25 countries, growth rates, regional splits, program length, student profile and the 2026/27 institutional outlook.
Study Abroad Statistics for US Students by Destination
Where Do US Students Study Abroad Most? The Top 25 Destinations
Italy ranked first in 2023/24 with 45,067 US students, 15.1% of the total, according to Open Doors 2025.
IIE reports that the top four, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and France, took nearly half (45%) of all students. Destinations outside the top 25 hosted 64,864 students, or 21.8%.
| Rank | Destination | US students, 2023/24 | Share of total | Change vs 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 45,067 | 15.1% | +7.7% |
| 2 | Spain | 36,826 | 12.4% | +12.8% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 36,450 | 12.2% | +4.1% |
| 4 | France | 16,740 | 5.6% | -2.1% |
| 5 | Japan | 11,217 | 3.8% | +15.9% |
| 6 | Ireland | 10,218 | 3.4% | +4.5% |
| 7 | Germany | 9,682 | 3.2% | +3.8% |
| 8 | Greece | 6,782 | 2.3% | +12.9% |
| 9 | Australia | 6,509 | 2.2% | +6.1% |
| 10 | South Korea | 6,184 | 2.1% | +4.7% |
| 11 | Costa Rica | 6,070 | 2.0% | -7.4% |
| 12 | Denmark | 5,421 | 1.8% | +6.8% |
| 13 | Mexico | 4,430 | 1.5% | +2.1% |
| 14 | Netherlands | 3,777 | 1.3% | -3.5% |
| 15 | Czech Republic | 3,702 | 1.2% | +2.5% |
| 16 | South Africa | 3,454 | 1.2% | -3.2% |
| 17 | New Zealand | 3,038 | 1.0% | +27.2% |
| 18 | Austria | 2,750 | 0.9% | -8.1% |
| 19 | Argentina | 2,702 | 0.9% | +8.0% |
| 20 | Switzerland | 2,274 | 0.8% | -5.0% |
| 21 | Ecuador | 2,205 | 0.7% | -18.1% |
| 22 | Belize | 1,987 | 0.7% | +10.5% |
| 23 | Portugal | 1,963 | 0.7% | +22.3% |
| 24 | Singapore | 1,948 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 25 | Thailand | 1,920 | 0.6% | +1.3% |
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, US students studying abroad for academic credit, 2023/24
These counts cover credit-bearing study only. Separately, 332 institutions reported 33,078 students in non-credit work, internships, volunteering and research abroad in 2023/24.
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, 2023/24
Spain Passes the UK: Leading US Study Abroad Destinations, 2022/23 vs 2023/24
Spain rose from 32,648 to 36,826 US students, moving into second place. The United Kingdom went from 35,018 to 36,450.
France was the only top-five destination to shrink, down 2.1% to 16,740.
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, 2022/23 and 2023/24
Japan became the fifth-largest destination for the first time, IIE says, with 11,217 students. Americans heading there can check the JLPT levels and pass rates for US learners or compare class hours by language.
Germany held seventh with 9,682 students, up 3.8%. Its wider system is covered in these figures on Germany’s universities and schools.
US Study Abroad Destinations Ranked by Growth Rate
| Destination | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 2,389 | 3,038 | +27.2% |
| Portugal | 1,605 | 1,963 | +22.3% |
| Japan | 9,675 | 11,217 | +15.9% |
| Greece | 6,006 | 6,782 | +12.9% |
| Spain | 32,648 | 36,826 | +12.8% |
| Belize | 1,799 | 1,987 | +10.5% |
| Switzerland | 2,394 | 2,274 | -5.0% |
| Singapore | 2,052 | 1,948 | -5.1% |
| Costa Rica | 6,558 | 6,070 | -7.4% |
| Austria | 2,992 | 2,750 | -8.1% |
| Ecuador | 2,692 | 2,205 | -18.1% |
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, top 25 destinations, 2022/23 to 2023/24
New Zealand posted the largest percentage gain among the top 25. Ecuador posted the steepest drop.
Seven top-25 destinations hit all-time highs in 2023/24: Denmark, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Korea and Spain, per IIE. Language demand behind these destinations shows up in global foreign-language learner counts.
Latin America split. Ecuador and Costa Rica fell, while Argentina (+8.0%), Belize (+10.5%) and Mexico (+2.1%) grew.
How Much of US Study Abroad Goes to Europe?
Europe hosted 191,209 US students in 2023/24, or 64.1% of the total. The share of the next region, Latin America and the Caribbean, was 10.5%.
| Host region | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Share, 2023/24 | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 180,778 | 191,209 | 64.1% | +5.8% |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 30,126 | 31,453 | 10.5% | +4.4% |
| Asia | 26,350 | 30,361 | 10.2% | +15.2% |
| Oceania | 8,944 | 9,910 | 3.3% | +10.8% |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 9,163 | 9,080 | 3.0% | -0.9% |
| Middle East & North Africa | 6,921 | 4,872 | 1.6% | -29.6% |
| North America | 1,517 | 1,849 | 0.6% | +21.9% |
| Antarctica | 28 | 47 | 0.0% | +67.9% |
| Multiple | 16,889 | 19,399 | 6.5% | +14.9% |
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, host regions, 2022/23 and 2023/24
Asia grew 15.2% to 30,361 students. The Middle East and North Africa fell 29.6% to 4,872.
Multi-country programs drew 19,399 students, a group that sits outside every single-country ranking. For context on host systems, see these education statistics across Europe.
39.4% Chose Summer: Program Length Across All Destinations
| Duration (Open Doors label) | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Share, 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-term: summer term | 114,138 | 117,373 | 39.4% |
| Mid-length: one/two quarters or semester | 94,613 | 105,899 | 35.5% |
| Short-term: 8 weeks or less during the academic year | 65,330 | 67,877 | 22.8% |
| Long-term: academic or calendar year | 6,635 | 7,031 | 2.4% |
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, duration of study abroad, 2022/23 and 2023/24
Summer term programs led with 117,373 students. Semester-length study reached 105,899.
Only 7,031 students stayed a full academic or calendar year, fewer than the 9,682 who went to Germany.
Who Studies Abroad: Participation Rate, Fields and Race/Ethnicity
What share of US undergraduates study abroad?
10.0%
Open Doors counts 267,488 US undergraduates who studied abroad during their degree program, 10.0% of the 2,680,718 students receiving associate and bachelor’s degrees in 2023/24.
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, with NCES degree totals, 2023/24
Fields of study
| Field | 2023/24 | Share | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business & management | 64,627 | 21.7% | +9.7% |
| Social sciences | 53,080 | 17.8% | +6.6% |
| Physical & life sciences | 23,840 | 8.0% | +3.5% |
| Fine & applied arts | 21,755 | 7.3% | +5.3% |
| Health professions | 17,396 | 5.8% | +2.0% |
| Engineering | 16,983 | 5.7% | +12.3% |
| Other fields of study | 100,499 | 33.7% | +4.5% |
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, fields of study, 2023/24
Race and ethnicity
White students made up 65.2% of participants in 2023/24, down from 66.4%. Hispanic or Latino(a) students held at 12.2%.
| Race/ethnicity | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 66.4% | 65.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino(a) | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| Asian or Pacific Islander | 9.6% | 10.4% |
| Black or African-American | 5.9% | 6.1% |
| Multiracial | 5.5% | 5.7% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0.3% | 0.4% |
Source: IIE Open Doors 2025 Fast Facts, share of US study abroad students, 2022/23 and 2023/24
What Do Colleges Expect for US Study Abroad in 2026/27?
IIE’s Spring 2026 Snapshot surveyed 585 US colleges and universities. Of those, 43% expect study abroad participation to increase and 44% expect it to stay the same, which IIE reports as 87% stable or growing.
| Survey measure | Share of responding institutions |
|---|---|
| Expect study abroad participation to increase | 43% |
| Expect participation to stay the same | 44% |
| Refer returning students to career services | About three-quarters |
| Offer career-focused re-entry programming | 58% |
| Facilitate global internships | 44% |
Source: IIE Spring 2026 Snapshot on International Educational Exchange, 2026/27 outlook (career items as reported by Forbes, July 2026)
IIE notes study abroad has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Hiring data for recent graduates sits in these Gen Z entry-level job figures.
Inbound flows point the other way: 59% of the same institutions reported fewer international applications. The full picture sits in these international student in the US statistics.
Source: IIE Spring 2026 Snapshot, 2026/27 admissions cycle
FAQs
What is the most popular study abroad destination for US students?
Italy. It hosted 45,067 US students for academic credit in 2023/24, 15.1% of the total, per Open Doors 2025. Spain (36,826) and the United Kingdom (36,450) followed.
How many US students study abroad each year?
298,180 US students studied abroad for academic credit in 2023/24, up 6.2% from 280,716 in 2022/23. That is the latest Open Doors count, released November 2025.
What percentage of American college students study abroad?
About 10.0%. Open Doors counts 267,488 US undergraduates who studied abroad during their degree, against 2,680,718 associate and bachelor’s degree recipients in 2023/24.
Which Asian country do the most US students study in?
Japan, with 11,217 US students in 2023/24, up 15.9%. It ranked fifth overall, the first time Japan reached that spot, according to IIE.
Which study abroad destinations does Reddit recommend for US students?
Reddit threads reflect personal experiences, not counts. Open Doors data shows where students go: Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, France and Japan were the top five in 2023/24.
Sources
https://opendoorsdata.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/OD25_Fast-Facts.pdf
https://opendoorsdata.org/annual-release/u-s-study-abroad/
https://www.iie.org/news/open-doors-2025-press-release/
https://www.iie.org/publications/spring-2026-snapshot-on-international-educational-exchange/
