A recent analysis on the economic benefits of overseas education shows Nigeria as Canada’s fourth-largest source of study permits.
According to the analysis, study permits from Nigeria, India, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Colombia contributed $30.9 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2022, accounting for 1.2% of the total.
The report includes both long-term and short-term students from schools, colleges, and institutions. It emphasizes the importance of foreign education in Canada’s economy, which helps it grow in a rapidly changing world.
The number of overseas students in Canada has increased significantly, by 61%, from 523,971 in 2016 to 844,444 in 2022.
Even accounting for Canadian scholarships, international students spent over $37.3 billion on tuition, housing, and other expenses in 2022. This spending supported 246,310 jobs and raised $7.4 billion in taxes.
“The year 2022 saw the highest number of long-term students in Canada, following a dip in 2020 and 2021 due to travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the analysis.
The analysis demonstrates that the economic benefits of international students in Canada are increasing. Overall spending has more than quadrupled, from $15.5 billion in 2016 to $37.3 billion in 2022, representing a 15.7% yearly increase.
In 2022, Canada hosted 844,444 overseas students, 769,515 of them were long-term students. Ontario was the most popular destination, accounting for 432,272 international students—more than half of the total. British Columbia followed with 186,886 students, accounting for 22% of the international student population.
Prince Edward Island had just 4,491 international students in 2022, but it had the biggest percentage rise in study visa holders, expanding by more than 1,800% between 2000 and 2022. Nunavut and the Northwest Territories had the fewest students, with only five and 35, respectively.
International students from Nigeria, India, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Colombia contribute significantly to Canada’s economic and cultural exchanges. This influx not only benefits the economy, but also demonstrates how interconnected global education systems are.
However, the research identifies problems such as visa approval issues and policy changes that must be addressed in order to maintain and improve these benefits.
