Which country receives the most remittances?

As % of GDP, Tajikistan receives the most at 47.9%. In absolute terms, India receives the most globally (~$125B), followed by Mexico, China, Philippines, and Egypt. Remittances exceed foreign aid and FDI combined for many developing countries.

Why are remittances important?

Remittances — money sent home by workers abroad — are a lifeline for many developing countries. They reduce poverty, fund education and healthcare, and provide a stable foreign currency income that is less volatile than aid or investment. Global remittances exceeded $650 billion in 2024.

Remittances by Country (2024)

185 countries ranked · % of GDP · Source: World Bank · Updated May 2026

Global Remittance Flows

Remittances — money sent home by workers abroad — exceeded $650 billion globally in 2024, more than double foreign aid flows. For many developing countries, remittances are the largest source of foreign exchange. The Philippines (10%+ of GDP from OFWs), Nepal, and several Central American countries depend heavily on diaspora earnings. India leads in absolute terms (~$125B annually), followed by Mexico and China.

Remittances reduce poverty, fund education, and provide insurance against economic shocks. Mobile money platforms like M-Pesa have reduced transfer costs in Africa. The Gulf states are the largest remittance-sending region due to millions of South Asian and African migrant workers.

Remittances as % of GDP by country. Source: World Bank.
#	Country	% of GDP
1	Tajikistan	47.9%
2	Tonga	42.6%
3	Lebanon	33.3%
4	Nicaragua	26.6%
5	Nepal	26.2%
6	Honduras	25.7%
7	Bermuda	25.4%
8	Samoa	24.0%
9	El Salvador	24.0%
10	Gambia, The	22.0%
11	Liberia	21.3%
12	Lesotho	20.9%
13	Comoros	19.6%
14	Guatemala	19.1%
15	Vanuatu	18.8%
16	Kyrgyz Republic	17.7%
17	Somalia, Fed. Rep.	17.7%
18	Kosovo	17.3%
19	Haiti	16.3%
20	Jamaica	16.2%
21	Uzbekistan	14.4%
22	Cabo Verde	12.3%
23	Marshall Islands	11.9%
24	Georgia	11.9%
25	Timor-Leste	11.8%
26	Senegal	11.4%
27	Bosnia and Herzegovina	10.6%
28	Moldova	10.5%
29	Montenegro	10.3%
30	Guinea-Bissau	9.8%
31	Sao Tome and Principe	9.7%
32	Pakistan	9.4%
33	French Polynesia	9.2%
34	Dominican Republic	9.0%
35	Philippines	8.7%
36	Togo	8.7%
37	Zimbabwe	8.4%
38	Nigeria	8.4%
39	Albania	8.4%
40	Jordan	8.3%
41	St. Vincent and the Grenadines	7.9%
42	Morocco	7.8%
43	Burundi	7.7%
44	Egypt, Arab Rep.	7.6%
45	New Caledonia	7.3%
46	Croatia	7.2%
47	Fiji	7.1%
48	Sri Lanka	6.8%
49	Serbia	6.4%
50	Tunisia	6.3%

FDI Inflows →Population →Poverty Rate →Philippines Economy →India Economy →Mexico Economy →GDP per Capita →World Economy →