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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Nigeria led Africa in remittance inflows for 13 of the past 24 years
  • Egypt had the highest total remittance inflows across all years in the dataset.
  • Nigeria was consistently among the top 3 recipients every year, topping the chart for 13 years.
  • Morocco and Ghana showed strong, stable inflows throughout the 2000–2023 period.
  • Kenya and Senegal experienced some of the fastest remittance growth from 2000 to recent years.
  • Rwanda had high percentage growth, though starting from a small base.
  • A noticeable dip occurred in 2020 for most countries, likely linked to COVID-19 — followed by recovery in 2021 and 2022.

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Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco have consistently led Africa's remittance receipts since 2000
Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco have consistently led Africa's diaspora remittance, contributing 67% of the continent's total inflows since 2000. In 2023, African nations received $94.78 billion, with Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco leading. Here are the top ten countries since 2000.

Africa’s remittance boom: From $9.7 billion to nearly $100 billion in 2021
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