A total of 16,522 Uzbek citizens traveled abroad for educational purposes in January–September 2026, down 33% from the same period in 2025, when the figure was approximately 24,600, according to the National Statistics Committee.
Russia was the most popular destination, attracting 3,847 Uzbek citizens during the first nine months of 2026. Kyrgyzstan ranked second with 2,809 visits, followed by South Korea with 2,118 and Türkiye with 1,818. China received 1,248 Uzbek citizens, while Kazakhstan accounted for 1,112.
The United Kingdom ranked seventh with 784 visits, followed by Germany with 374 and the United States with 231. Another 1,277 Uzbek citizens traveled to other countries for educational purposes.
The destination rankings shifted compared with January–September 2025, when Tajikistan was the leading destination, receiving 5,534 Uzbek citizens for study.
Earlier reports showed that, as of April 1, 2026, 20,876 Uzbek citizens were studying in South Korea, accounting for 6.8% of all international students in the country.