Working international students and graduates paid more than EUR 13 million in tax during the academic year 2019-2020, an analysis by Statistics Estonia showed.
The statistics agency’s research, carried out on behalf of the Estonian Education and Youth Authority, showed international students paid EUR 10 million in income and social tax in Estonia and international graduates more than EUR 3 million.
In the academic year 2019-2020, there were 5,520 international degree students studying in Estonian universities, the highest number ever.
Data scientist at Statistics Estonia Kadri Rootalu said the analysis showed that international students did not work as often as local students.
“While 84% of local students worked alongside studying, only half of international students did. Income and social tax paid for working international students in the academic year 2019-2020 amounted to EUR 10 million, up by EUR 2 million YoY. International students who graduated in the academic year 2018-2019 contributed an additional EUR 3.6 million in taxes,” said Rootalu.
Eero Loonurm, head of the Study in Estonia program at the Education and Youth Authority, said the contribution of international students to the Estonian economy outweighed state investments in their studies.
“In addition to international students and graduates participating in the labor market and the resulting tax revenue, their studies in Estonia also mean tuition, living costs and visits to Estonia by their families,” added Loonurm.
He noted that the International Student Barometer study of the international research center i-graduate showed that the expenditures of international students on just housing and daily life totaled around EUR 33 million in the last academic year. (ERR/Business World Magazine)
