Uzbekistan is rapidly emerging as a regional education hub, with a sharp surge in the number of international students choosing the country for their studies.

More than 15,000 foreign citizens arrived in Uzbekistan in the first quarter of 2026 for educational purposes-more than double the figure from the same period last year, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Official data shows that 15,124 international students entered the country between January and March, marking a dramatic increase of 8,500 people, or 2.3 times higher year-on-year.

The largest share of students came from Turkmenistan, with over 7,100 arrivals. Other major contributors include India (2,800), Tajikistan (1,100), and China (641). Students also arrived from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Egypt, South Korea, the Philippines, and the United States.

The upward trend continues a broader boom in international education: nearly 40,000 foreign students chose Uzbekistan in 2025 alone.