The bar chart illustrates the number of international applicants from four countries—China, Japan, the USA, and Russia—who applied to universities in a European country between 2004 and 2008.
Overall, the most significant trend is the dramatic increase in the number of applicants from the USA, which surpassed all other countries by 2008. In contrast, China experienced a notable decline, while Japan showed steady but modest growth. Russia consistently had the lowest number of applicants throughout the entire period.
In 2004, China had the highest number of applicants, with approximately 27,000 individuals, followed by the USA at around 13,000. Japan and Russia recorded significantly lower numbers, with roughly 7,000 and 3,000 applicants, respectively. Over the years, China saw a gradual decline in applications, dropping to about 15,000 by 2008. Meanwhile, the number of American applicants rose sharply each year, eventually reaching 27,000 and becoming the largest group by the end of the period.
Japan also experienced a slow but consistent increase, growing from 7,000 applicants in 2004 to approximately 10,000 in 2008. Russia, on the other hand, maintained relatively low and stable figures throughout the five-year span, with slight fluctuations but remaining within the 2,000 to 3,000 range.