According to recently released data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), there were 572, 415 international students in Canada as of December 31, 2018. Counted by IRCC as study permit holders, the number of international students in Canada last year represented a 16 percent increase from the previous year.

Earning the top spot was India with 172,625 study permit holders in Canada in 2018, a 40 percent increase from 2017. Following India, China now sits in the second spot sending 142,985 study permit holders.

In total, students from China and India accounted for more than double the amount of study permit holders than all the other top 10 countries combined.

Top 10 countries for study permit holders in Canada on December 31, 2018

• India – 172,625 study permit holders
• China – 142,985 study permit holders
• Korea – 24, 195 study permit holders
• France – 22, 745 study permit holders
• Vietnam – 20, 330 study permit holders
• United States – 14, 620 study permit holders
• Brazil – 13, 835 study permit holders
• Nigeria – 11, 290 study permit holders
• Iran – 10, 885 study permit holders
• Japan – 8,365 study permit holders