The bar chart compares how many Australian students were educated in five selected countries over the period from 2004 to 2006.
Overall, it is clear that the USA and New Zealand were consistently the most popular destinations for Australian students, while Germany and Japan had comparatively small figures. In addition, all countries except Japan witnessed growth in student numbers during the period.
Looking at the details, the number of Australian students who studied in the USA and New Zealand was approximately 2,500 making them the most popular study places in the initial year, with the figure for the USA slightly higher. By 2006, these numbers had risen steadily, reaching nearly 2,900 in the USA and around 2,700 in New Zealand. The UK was the third most favoured option, attracting 1,500 students in 2004, increasing to about 1,600 two years later.
By contrast, Germany and Japan were the least popular study destinations, attracting fewer overseas students. The figure for Germany grew from just over 100 in 2004 to nearly 200 in 2006. Likewise, Japan saw a modest increase from 200 to around 250.