How many students go abroad from Nepal?
About 110,000 students a year. Nepal's Ministry of Education issued 1,10,217 No Objection Certificates in FY 2079/80 (2022/23) and about 1,12,256 in FY 2080/81 (2023/24) — the certificate every student needs before tuition can be sent abroad, and the closest thing to an official count.
FY 2079/80 (2022/23): 1,10,217 NOCs issued
| Destination | NOCs issued | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 33,991 | 30.8% |
| Japan | 21,658 | 19.7% |
| Canada | 21,544 | 19.5% |
| United Kingdom | 10,527 | 9.6% |
| United States | 3,970 | 3.6% |
Source: The Kathmandu Post, 5 Sep 2023 (Ministry of Education data)
FY 2080/81 (2023/24): 1,12,256 NOCs issued
| Destination | NOCs issued | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 34,731 | 30.9% |
| Canada | 15,982 | 14.2% |
| Australia | 14,372 | 12.8% |
| United Kingdom | 13,339 | 11.9% |
| United States | 11,261 | 10.0% |
| South Korea | 6,889 | 6.1% |
Source: NoticeBoard Nepal, 24 Jul 2024 (Ministry of Education data) · Some outlets reported 112,593 for the same year — the ministry's own running total shifted between reports. Both figures are within 0.3% of each other.
The one-year shift the totals hide
The headline total barely moved between the two years — up 1.9% — but the destinations reshuffled dramatically. Australia fell 58%, from 33,991 NOCs to 14,372, in the year its government tightened student-visa settings. Japan rose 60% to become the top destination, and the United States nearly tripled. Students did not stop leaving when a door narrowed; they changed doors. That is worth remembering whenever one country's policy news is read as a verdict on studying abroad itself.
The money followed: Nepal's central bank recorded Rs 100.42 billion spent on education abroad in FY 2022/23 — roughly 70% of all foreign-travel spending that year (Nepal Rastra Bank figures via The Kathmandu Post).
What these numbers measure
- An NOC (No Objection Certificate) is issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and is required before banks may remit tuition abroad. It counts students who got permission to go — not confirmed departures. Visa refusals mean actual departures run below these figures.
- Fiscal years are Nepali (Shrawan to Ashadh, roughly mid-July to mid-July).
- Figures are Ministry of Education data as published in the dated reports linked under each table. Where published totals disagree, both are shown. We update this page when the ministry's next annual figures are reported.
Quick answers
How many students go abroad from Nepal each year?
Around 110,000 a year at the current pace: the Ministry of Education issued 110,217 No Objection Certificates in FY 2079/80 (2022/23) and roughly 112,256 in FY 2080/81 (2023/24). An NOC is required before tuition can be remitted abroad, so it is the closest official count of students leaving to study.
Which country do most Nepali students go to?
It changed recently. Australia led in FY 2079/80 with 33,991 NOCs; a year later Japan led with 34,731 while Australia fell to 14,372 — a 58% drop in one year, coinciding with Australia's 2024 tightening of student-visa settings.
How much money do Nepali students spend abroad?
Nepal's central bank recorded Rs 100.42 billion spent on education abroad in FY 2022/23 — roughly 70% of all foreign-travel spending that year.
What does an NOC actually measure?
An NOC is permission to remit money abroad for study, issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. It counts intentions, not departures: a student who obtains an NOC but is refused a visa still appears in the count, so actual departures run somewhat below these figures.
Citing this page? Link to it and name the underlying source — these are Ministry of Education figures, compiled and dated here. If you spot a newer ministry release we have not incorporated, the source ledger shows when each figure was last checked.