The number of Chinese students in the United States has been steadily decreasing over the past year, but they remain a significant contributor to the American economy, according to recent data. Despite this, the gap between Chinese and Indian students is widening, with Indian enrollment numbers surpassing those of Chinese for the first time in about 15 years. The latest annual survey by the Institute of International Education (IIE) reveals that 265,919 Chinese students studied in the US in the 2024-25 academic year, a four percent decrease from the previous year. In contrast, the number of Indian students rose by nine percent to 363,019 during the same period. Despite the decline in Chinese student numbers, they still contributed approximately $14.6 billion to the US economy in 2024, while Indian students brought in $14.0 billion. However, the enrollment figures for both undergraduate and non-degree students from China have decreased by between two and 10 percent compared to the previous academic year. This trend comes amidst heightened anxiety among Chinese nationals following Donald Trump’s re-election, which saw the implementation of travel and immigration restrictions, including a presidential proclamation to limit the entry of graduate students and researchers from China.