China is continuing to decline as a destination for U.S. study-abroad students, slipping from fifth place to sixth (behind Britain, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany; with Ireland, Australia, Costa Rica, and Japan completing the top ten).
This likely indicates that the craze for learning Mandarin has already peaked. Greater awareness of the unhealthy levels of pollution in China may also be a factor.
Note: The dip in the 2002–2003 school year was a result of worries about the outbreak of SARS.
Meanwhile, almost all other parts of East Asia saw increases in 2015–2016 over 2014–2015:
| Destination | Students in 2014-15 | Students in 2015-16 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 12,790 | 11,688 | -8.6 |
| Hong Kong | 1,508 | 1,612 | 6.9 |
| Japan | 6,053 | 7,145 | 18.0 |
| Macau | 3 | 4 | 33.3 |
| Mongolia | 71 | 71 | 0.0 |
| South Korea | 3,520 | 3,622 | 2.9 |
| Taiwan | 880 | 980 | 11.4 |
sources:
- Open Doors Fact Sheet: China, Open Doors
- Destinations of U.S. Study Abroad Students, 2014/15 & 2015/16, Open Doors
Additional reading:
- China down slightly as destination for U.S. study abroad students, Pinyin News, October 13, 2015
- China and U.S. study-abroad programs, Pinyin News, January 30, 2012
- China and U.S. study abroad programs, Pinyin News, February 7, 2011
- China and U.S. study abroad programs: update, Pinyin News, January 8, 2010
- China and U.S. study abroad programs, Pinyin News, November 23, 2008
- US students abroad, Pinyin News, Tuesday, November 15, 2005
