The bar chart compares the number of overseas students applying to universities in a European country between 2004 and 2008. Overall, there was a significant decline in the number of Chinese applicants, contrasting with increases in applicants from Japan, the USA, and Russia. Notably, Japan experienced the most substantial rise, overtaking China in dominance by the final year.
In 2004, China had the highest number of applicants, at around 27,000, which was twice the number from Japan, the second highest. However, by 2006, Chinese applications had sharply decreased to 17,000, a figure that remained unchanged until 2007, before dropping further to 15,000 in 2008.
This decline in Chinese applicants starkly contrasts with the trends seen in the other countries. Japan saw the most notable increase, with applicant numbers rising from approximately 13,000 in 2004 to over 25,000 by 2008. Meanwhile, the number of applicants from the USA rose gradually, starting at just over 5,000 in 2004, stabilizing at this level in 2005, and then reaching 10,000 by 2008. Russia consistently had the lowest number of applicants, though the figure grew from 2,500 in 2004 to 3,000 in 2008.