Remittances are among the most tangible links between migration and development. According to World Bank projections, international migrants are expected to remit more than $582 billion in earnings in 2015, of which $432 billion will flow to low- or middle-income countries. In 27 countries, remittances were equal to more than 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014; in ten countries they were equal to more than 20 percent of GDP.
Select one of the maps below to visualize global remittance flows in 2014, numerically or as a share of GDP. Learn about remittance trends since 1970 and the relationships between remittance-sending and -receiving countries. For detailed remittances profiles of the top 10 remittance-receiving countries, along with related migration and development indicators and a world overview, click here.
Note: These data only capture remittances sent through formal channels such as banks and money transfer operators. Currently, no uniform and authoritative historical data on informal flows exist. Given the widespread use of informal remittance channels, the data should be regarded as underestimates of total flows.
A full Remittances Glossary is available along with Further Readings on Migration and Development topics.
This data tool is a project of MPI's Migrants, Migration, and Development program with generous support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the technical assistance of Dilip Ratha and Sanket Mohapatra from the Development Prospects Group, The World Bank, and research assistance of Roberto Munster.