Driven by the sustained weakness of the yen and relatively lower costs compared to Western countries, the economic impact of international students studying in Japan has expanded significantly.
According to the FY2025 balance of payments statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, tuition and living expenses paid by foreign students within Japan (recorded under educational receipts) rose 25% year-on-year to 684.7 billion yen. This marks the highest level since FY2014, when comparable data first became available.
Spending Gap with Japanese Students Abroad Expands to 3.8 Times
The announcement also highlighted that spending by foreign students in Japan significantly exceeded the expenditures of Japanese students studying abroad. During the same period, spending by Japanese students abroad totaled just 180.5 billion yen, making foreign student spending in Japan roughly 3.8 times larger.
As a result, the educational trade surplus reached approximately 504.1 billion yen, expanding to about ten times its size compared to a decade ago.
Foreign Student Enrollment Nears 400,000: Led by China, Nepal, and Vietnam
According to data compiled by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), the number of international students in Japan as of May 1, 2025, reached approximately 400,000, a 21% increase from the same period last year. By nationality, students from China formed the largest group, followed by Nepal and Vietnam.
A key factor driving the influx of foreign students is the relatively manageable cost of education and living compared to Western countries such as the United States. In comparison to the annual cost of studying in the US—which ranges between 6.46 million yen and 9.53 million yen (including tuition and living expenses) as of 2026—Japan, amplified by the weak yen, is gaining attention as an economical alternative.
Average Monthly Income for Student Part-Time Jobs Rises to 170,000 Yen
Along with the increase in student numbers, changes have also been observed in the working environment and income structure supporting their daily lives. According to a JASSO survey, the average monthly income of international students working part-time jobs in FY2023 was 170,000 yen.
This represents an increase of approximately 22,000 yen compared to the FY2019 survey, suggesting that part-time work plays a role in helping students cover living expenses and boosting local expenditure.
These statistics provide an objective reference for foreign residents balancing study and daily life in Japan for the long term to understand the economic indicators and changing labor environment surrounding international education.
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Source: 日本経済新聞