India's remittance inflow grew by 828% in 24 years — maintaining the top spot for 21 of them

  • India led globally for 21 of 24 years, followed by China (2) and Mexico (1)
  • No African country ever topped global remittance inflow rankings
  • Nigeria ranked among the top 10 recipients for several of the years
  • India’s dominance reflects its large global diaspora and steady labour migration
  • China’s brief lead came in the early 2000s but it was overtaken quickly
  • Mexico in the top spot for one year was tied to strong remittance links with the US
  • The top countries rarely changed, showing a stable global remittance pattern
  • Most global leaders have large populations abroad in high-income economies
  • Global remittances remain a major economic lifeline for developing countries

In 2000, India’s diaspora sent home $13 billion in remittances. By 2022, that number had climbed to over $100 billion — an almost 8x jump in just over two decades. The scale is unmatched, making India the world’s top remittance destination in 21 of the past 24 years.

That dominance reflects the size, reach, and earning power of Indians abroad, from tech workers in the US to labourers in the Gulf. China led just twice, but went head-to-head with India for several years, especially in the early 2000s. Mexico topped the list once. Nigeria never topped the global list, but held steady in the top 10, thanks to its growing migrant base.

Across the board, remittances have become more of a financial backbone for many developing nations.
These are the top ten countries over the years.

Source:

World Bank - KNOMAD

Period:

2000-2023
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