New Delhi, March 20, 2010: A new report by the Institute of International Education says China has eclipsed India as the biggest source of international students studying in the United States. This is also the first time in nine years that China surpassed India as the leading place of origin for international students in the US.

Currently, nearly 128,000 Chinese students are enrolled in various colleges in the US, constituting more than 18% of the total international student population. India, on the other hand, has registered just a two per cent growth in 2010, which means 105,000 Indians are studying in US varsities representing 15% of the international student population.

Together, the top three sending countries - China, India and South Korea - comprise nearly half (44 per cent) of the total international enrolments in US higher education.

International students contribute 20 billion dollars to the US economy and "enrich US campuses and communities with their knowledge, talents and diverse perspectives," the State Department said in a statement accompanying the release of the annual "Open Doors 2010" survey.

Every year, the Open Doors report provides a snapshot of foreign study – both students coming to the US and US students heading abroad. Among the interesting nuggets for Indian students this year:

The report also found that a growing number of US students are studying in more countries and less traditional locations, although there was a modest decrease of 0.8 percent during the academic year 2008-2009, with 260,327 students studying abroad, compared to 262,416 the previous year, a decline attributable mostly to the recession.