See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.
Use This Visualization
Charted: International Students at Harvard (2006–2024)
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Harvard is one of the world’s most prestigious universities, and attracts students from over 140 countries. It also has the largest endowment fund of any university globally.
Recently, Harvard made headlines as the Trump administration temporarily barred it from enrolling international students, citing concerns around growing antisemitism.
So how many international students attend Harvard?
This infographic visualizes the number of international students at Harvard from 2006 to 2024, alongside the school’s total student enrollment, based on official numbers from Harvard.
How Many International Students Does Harvard Have?
In the academic year 2006-07, international students made up almost 20% of Harvard’s student body. As of the 2024-25 academic year, that share has reached a record 27%, with 6,793 international students at Harvard.
Here’s a look at Harvard’s international student enrolment from 2006 to 2024:
| Academic Year | Share of International students in Enrolment | No. of International students | No. of Non-international students | Total Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 19.6% | 3,941 | 16,166 | 20,107 |
| 2007-08 | 19.8% | 3,961 | 16,044 | 20,005 |
| 2008-09 | 19.8% | 4,025 | 16,303 | 20,328 |
| 2009-10 | 19.9% | 4,201 | 16,910 | 21,111 |
| 2010-11 | 19.7% | 4,207 | 17,148 | 21,355 |
| 2011-12 | 20.6% | 4,347 | 16,755 | 21,102 |
| 2012-13 | 21.3% | 4,531 | 16,741 | 21,272 |
| 2013-14 | 21.8% | 4,633 | 16,619 | 21,252 |
| 2014-15 | 22.5% | 4,822 | 16,609 | 21,431 |
| 2015-16 | 22.7% | 4,961 | 16,894 | 21,855 |
| 2016-17 | 23.4% | 5,245 | 17,170 | 22,415 |
| 2017-18 | 23.9% | 5,483 | 17,458 | 22,941 |
| 2018-19 | 23.8% | 5,542 | 17,744 | 23,286 |
| 2019-20 | 24.1% | 5,718 | 18,008 | 23,726 |
| 2020-21 | 24.1% | 5,359 | 16,878 | 22,237 |
| 2021-22 | 25.8% | 5,473 | 15,740 | 21,213 |
| 2022-23 | 25.8% | 6,527 | 18,771 | 25,298 |
| 2023-24 | 26.8% | 6,713 | 18,336 | 25,049 |
| 2024-25 | 27.2% | 6,793 | 18,181 | 24,974 |
Harvard’s total enrolment grew by around 24% from 2006 to 2024, from 20,107 to 24,974 students. The number of international students grew at a faster rate.
The biggest jump in Harvard’s enrolment came in 2022-23, with total enrolment growing by over 4,000 students, and international students increasing by over 1,000. Including scholars and researchers, the international population at Harvard surpasses 10,000 in number.
Like most Ivy League schools, Harvard doesn’t differentiate between tuition for in-state and out-of-state students, with all students paying the same fees regardless of origin or residence.
Trump’s Ban on Harvard
On May 22, Trump barred Harvard from enrolling international students, a move that was temporarily blocked by a federal judge the following day.
The Trump administration alleges that Harvard has failed to curb antisemitism on campus, and the President wants the university to cap the share of students from abroad at around 15%.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has currently suspended all student visa appointments at embassies worldwide, amid plans to impose social media vetting on all international student visa applicants.
For context, the U.S. had over 1.1 million foreign students in the 2023-24 academic year, over 50% of whom came from India and China. According to NAFSA, these students contributed $43.8 billion to the American economy and supported more than 378,000 jobs.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
Where does the U.S. rank among the world’s most educated countries? Find out in this infographic on the Voronoi app.