The short answer: the Educational Testing Service, or ETS, publishes the official annual counts of people who take the GRE. The exact number of GRE test takers changes from year to year. To find the current, authoritative figure for any given year, consult ETS’s GRE program reports and statistics pages. This article explains what those counts represent, why they fluctuate, where to find the numbers, and how applicants should interpret them.
Quick overview: what ETS reports and why it matters
ETS is the source. ETS publishes annual GRE statistics in its program reports, research papers, and downloadable data files. Those reports are the only authoritative public source for how many people take the GRE each year.
Why the count matters. Knowing how many people take the GRE helps prospective applicants understand the size of the applicant pool overall, gauge national and regional trends in graduate admissions demand, and interpret percentile tables and score distributions. Admissions committees, universities, and education researchers also use the data for planning and analysis.
What “how many people take the GRE every year” really means
When you ask how many people take the GRE each year, there are a few distinct quantities that can be reported. It is important to know which one you want.
- Number of unique test takers. This counts individual people who took the GRE during the year. If a person took the test multiple times that year, they are typically counted once in unique-taker totals, depending on how ETS defines the metric in a given report.
- Number of test administrations. This counts total test sessions administered, which may be higher than unique test takers because many examinees retake the exam.
- Breakdowns by test type. ETS reports separate counts for the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Tests. The two are distinct products and have different audience sizes.
- Geographic or citizenship breakdowns. ETS often provides tables showing test takers by country or world region, useful for international applicants.
Why the annual counts change from year to year
Several factors influence annual GRE volumes. Major ones include:
- Graduate admissions demand. Stronger interest in graduate education leads to more test takers.
- Policy changes. When programs make the GRE optional or drop it from admissions requirements, demand can fall. Conversely, changes that raise GRE importance can increase demand.
- Test availability and delivery methods. Changes to test delivery, such as expanded computer-delivered testing centers or home testing options, affect how many people can take the exam.
- Global events. Travel restrictions, public-health crises, and other disruptions have previously reduced test-taking volume in affected years.
- Competition from other credentials. Growth in alternative pathways, professional master’s programs, and test-optional policies can shift numbers over time.
Where to find the official annual numbers
To obtain the exact number of GRE test takers for a specific year, use these ETS resources:
- GRE Program Data and Research pages. ETS hosts annual reports and data tables for the GRE. Look for sections titled “GRE Program Data” or “Annual Reports.” A good starting URL is: https://www.ets.org/gre.
- GRE Annual Report or GRE Research Reports. These documents often include yearly totals, historical trends, and demographic breakdowns.
- ETS Score and Test Taker Data PDFs. ETS periodically publishes downloadable spreadsheets or PDFs with counts by year, country, and test type.
- Contact ETS. If you cannot find a specific figure, ETS customer service or media relations can often point you to the exact table or report.
When you consult these sources, read the notes and definitions carefully. Reports usually define whether totals count unique individuals, test administrations, or both.
How to interpret the numbers as an applicant
Raw counts of test takers are informative, but they require context.
- Overall competition. A larger national or global count does not directly change your personal odds of admission. Admissions decisions depend on program capacity, applicant pools for specific programs, and your profile and scores.
- Percentiles and score meaning. ETS publishes score percentiles derived from test-taker distributions. Those percentiles are the most useful numbers for comparing scores across years.
- Program-level effects. If you are applying to a narrow field or small program, national GRE volumes are less relevant than the number of applicants to those specific programs.
- International applicants. Country-level GRE counts can help international students estimate how many applicants are competing for spots from their region.
Common misunderstandings and clarifications
- “One worldwide number” vs. multiple figures. There is not always a single “number of people who took the GRE” that answers every question. Decide whether you need the General Test total, Subject Test totals, unique test takers, or test administrations before interpreting data.
- Retakes and counts. In some tables, one person who took the GRE twice in a year may be counted twice if the metric is “test administrations.” Check the metric definition.
- GRE vs. other exams. Don’t conflate GRE volumes with those of other standardized tests like the GMAT or LSAT. Each exam serves different audiences and has its own reporting conventions.
Step-by-step: find the latest annual GRE test-taker count
- Open the ETS GRE website at https://www.ets.org/gre.
- Locate the “Research” or “GRE Program Data” section. Look for links labeled “Annual Report,” “Research Reports,” or “Test Taker Data.”
- Download the most recent report or data table. PDFs and spreadsheets commonly include a table titled “Test takers by year,” or similar.
- Read the table notes to confirm whether the counts are unique test takers or test administrations, and whether General and Subject Tests are combined or separate.
- If you need historical comparisons, download past reports. ETS often provides multiple-year trend tables.
How program directors and applicants use the data
Universities and graduate programs use GRE volume data for workforce planning, forecasting application counts, and understanding changing applicant demographics. Applicants use the data mainly to:
- Understand the broader applicant pool size and trends.
- Interpret score percentiles, which are derived from test-taker score distributions.
- Assess regional competition by comparing country-level test-taker counts.
Frequently asked questions
Does ETS publish separate counts for the GRE General Test and Subject Tests?
Yes. ETS provides separate figures for the GRE General Test and each GRE Subject Test when subject tests are offered. Subject Test availability has changed over time for certain subjects, so always check the report notes.
Are the annual counts worldwide or only U.S. test takers?
ETS reports both worldwide totals and breakdowns by country or region. The top-level “global” count includes test takers from all countries unless a table specifies a region or citizenship group.
Can I compare GRE volumes to graduate application numbers?
You can compare trends, but be cautious. GRE test-taker counts measure testing activity, not completed applications. Some test takers may not apply in the same year they test, and some applicants do not submit GRE scores if their programs are test-optional.
How often does ETS update the numbers?
ETS posts annual summaries and may issue interim research reports. For the most reliable yearly totals, consult the latest annual report or the GRE Program Data pages on the ETS site.
Practical tips for applicants who care about testing volume
- Focus on percentiles, not raw volume. Your score’s percentile tells you how you compare to other test takers and is more actionable for admissions planning than the number of test takers.
- Check program requirements. If a target program recently made the GRE optional, national volume declines may matter less for admissions to that program.
- Use country-level data for international planning. If you are an international applicant, look at your country’s reported test-taker numbers to understand regional trends and competition.
- Include timing and retake behavior. Many applicants take the GRE more than once. If you plan to retake, consider test availability and when admissions committees typically review applications.
Final thoughts
If you need the exact number of people who took the GRE in a particular year, ETS’s GRE program reports are the authoritative source. Decide whether you need unique test takers, test administrations, or subject-specific counts. Use percentiles and program-level information to make decisions about preparation and application strategy. For up-to-date, official figures, consult the ETS GRE pages and the most recent GRE annual report or data tables.
