The bar chart illustrates the number of international students applying to universities in European countries between 2004 and 2008.
Overall, the number of applicants from the USA gradually increased from 2004 to 2008. In contrast, the number of applicants from China gently decreased during this four-year period. Meanwhile, the application numbers from Japan and Russia fluctuated slightly.
The number of American applicants grew from approximately 12,500 in 2004 to over 25,000 by 2008, with a significant increase of 10,000 applicants occurring between 2007 and 2008. As a result, the number of applicants from the United States surpassed that of China, eclipsing the applicant numbers from the other three countries. Conversely, the number of Chinese applicants declined from a high of just over 25,000 in 2004 to around 15,000 in 2008. Notably, 2006 marked the lowest point for Chinese applicants, as the figures fell to just over 15,000, matching the number of USA applicants.
The number of Japanese applicants rose gently over the four years, increasing by approximately 4,000. However, Japan maintained its position as third in the ranking of applicants. Lastly, Russia had the fewest applicants to universities in European countries, with the trend remaining relatively stable over the four years. The number of Russian applicants stayed below 5,000, showing no significant changes.