The biggest receivers of remittances in the world included India, Mexico, and China in 2023, with each country receiving several billions worth of dollars. This is according to a database that tries to model money sent internationally from one party to another. Remittances typically refer to money sent from migrant workers back home to family and friends, although there are other forms of this. Remittances can, for example, include pensioners who have a second home in a foreign country. Nevertheless, Asia Pacific is often referred to as the main receiver of remittances.

Remittances sent to Europe went largely towards France and Germany in 2021, with each country receiving at least 20 billion billions worth of dollars. This is according to a database that tries to model money sent internationally from one party to another. Remittances typically refer to money sent from migrant workers back home to family and friends, although there are other forms of this. Remittances can, for example, include pensioners who have a second home in foreign country. Nevertheless, Asia Pacific - not Europe - is often referred to as the main receiver of remittances.

The value of remittances to India outweighed the value sent to other countries about 10 times in 2021, according to a ranking that maps the flow of such money transfers. Remittances refer to cross-border payments to family or friends and are often associated with migrant workers sending money back home to friends or relatives back in their communities of origin. It is estimated that about one in seven people worldwide are involved with remittances - substantially impacting payment behavior in, especially, Asia and Latin America. For India, the top five recipient countries for remittances in 2021 included Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, and the United States. India's main sources for remittances were the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait.

A large majority of all remittances sent towards North America went towards Mexico as of 2021, likely due to the remittances sent from the United States. This is according to a database that tries to model money sent internationally from one party to another. Remittances typically refer to money sent from migrant workers back home to family and friends, although there are other forms of this. Remittances can, for example, include pensioners who have a second home in foreign country. The United States was Mexico's largest source of remittances in 2021, with more than 52 billion U.S. dollars originating from that country.

Remittances sent to Latin America went largely towards Guatemala and the Dominican Republic in 2021, with each country receiving at least 10 billion billions worth of dollars. This is according to a database that tries to model money sent internationally from one party to another. Remittances typically refer to money sent from migrant workers back home to family and friends, although there are other forms of this. Remittances can, for example, include pensioners who have a second home in foreign country. Nevertheless, Asia Pacific - not Latin America - is often referred to as the main receiver of remittances.

Abstract

The Future of African Remittances (FAR) team conducted research on remittance flows to measure and understand the remittance process in sub-Saharan Africa. This ambitious and important research is initially focused on three countries in East Africa - Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

In order to glean insights into the remittance process in the three designated countries, the World Bank designed a two-phase survey process. Phase 1 involved conducting a national survey in each of the three countries. The purpose of the first phase of research was to collect a large representative sample of the adult population in each country. The national surveys provide important baseline data about international remittance flows including: an estimate of the percent of the total adult population that regularly receives remittances, the average amount of each remittance received, most common methods of receipt and top sending countries. Additionally, through the analysis of the national survey results, World Bank was able to identify areas of each country that have high concentrations of international remittance recipients. This important piece of information guided Phase 2 of the research - surveys of remittance receivers in each country. Whereas the national surveys aimed to collect general data about the remittance process, the surveys of remittance recipients allowed for the collection of more detailed data about the remittance process itself, how remittances are used, the relationship between sender and receiver, and interest in various financial products.

The results of this research will not only provide estimates of total annual amounts of remittances for each country, but also will tell us the percentage of the population in each country that is involved in the international remittance process. Furthermore, it will offer insights as to the degree to which Ethiopians, Kenyans and Ugandans depend on international remittances and how the money is used, saved and/or invested. Results will also measure interest in financial products that, if utilized, can significantly impact the financial well-being of the population and the overall economic stability of each country.

Geographic coverage

National Coverage

Analysis unit

Households Individuals

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

General:

The total samples were compiled utilizing multi-stage stratified random sampling through respondent selection. Multi-stage random sampling ensured that a random sample of adults was collected in each country. First, after stratifying the population of each country by region and population density, sampling points (SPs) were determined. SPs were then randomly selected within each stratum. At each SP, respondents were randomly selected to participate in the survey.

Phase 1:

The first phase consisted of national surveys of the adult population of each country. The three survey samples were designed to be representative of the adult populations of these three countries. World Bank coordinated and oversaw all aspects of the sampling and interviewing process. A team of local field experts was hired in each country to conduct the actual interviews. All interviewers were professionally trained and supervised by research personnel. In this phase of the research, a total of 2022 Kenyan adults were interviewed.

Phase 2:

Once the national surveys were completed, the results were analyzed to determine the areas of concentration of the remittance recipient population, after which the second phase of the project was conducted. This phase of the project included a targeted survey of the remittance recipient population of each of the three East African countries. Sampling Points were established based on the analysis of the national survey data and the identification of areas within each country that showed the highest concentrations of remittances received from relatives abroad in proportion to the sample size of all areas surveyed. Once again, local field experts were hired in each country to conduct the interviews, training and supervision of field operations. Languages of interviews were the same as those employed in Phase 1 and, again, all interviews were conducted in person using the PAPI method. A total of 400 interviews with regular international remittance recipients were completed in each country during August and September of 2010. The margin of error for all three surveys is approximately ±5 percentage points and the 95 percent level of confidence.

Detail:

The total sample was compiled utilizing multi-stage stratified random sampling through respondent selection. This sampling method enabled B&A to ensure that a representative random sample of Kenyan adults was collected. There are three stages to this type of sampling methodology. First, after stratifying the Kenyan population by region and population density, sampling points (SPs) were determined. SPs were then randomly selected within each stratum. In the second stage, using the random route method, dwellings were selected within each SP. The random route method involves selecting an address in each SP at random as a starting point. Each interviewer was given instructions to identify additional dwellings by taking alternate left and right turns and stopping at every Nth dwelling. The third and final stage involved selecting actual participants - for each selected dwelling, individual respondents were chosen using a Kish grid. In a Kish grid, prior to beginning the interview, the interviewer first asks for the ages and genders of every household member (only persons aged 18 or older were eligible for selection). The individual to be interviewed was then chosen based on a random number in the grid.

Once the national survey was completed, B&A analyzed the results to determine the areas of concentration of the remittance recipient population, after which the second phase of the project was conducted. This phase included a targeted survey of the remittance recipient population in Kenya. Sampling Points were established based on B&A's analysis of the national survey data and the identification of areas of the country that showed concentrations of international remittance receivers in proportion to the sample size of all areas surveyed. Once again, local field experts were hired to conduct the interviews and B&A conducted all training and supervision of field operations. Interviews were conducted in English or Swahili depending on respondent preference and all interviews were conducted in person using the PAPI method. A total of 401 interviews with regular international remittance recipients were conducted in Kenya during August and September of 2010. The margin of error for the surveys is approximately ±5 percentage points and the 95 percent level of confidence.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Phase 1:

This survey consisted of 12 questions that were aimed at helping to identify some of the basic characteristics of the remittance recipient population in each country. Some of the variables included in this survey were - location, age, gender, amount of money received, method of receipt, origin of remittance, etc.

Phase 2:

The survey instrument for Phase 2 consisted of approximately 35 questions and included a number of variables aimed at obtaining greater detail about the remittance receiving process including costs, amounts received, information about the sender and the relationship between sender and receiver. Additionally, the survey measured interest in various financial products.

Response rate

Every effort was made to achieve the maximum possible coverage, taking cost, timing and other factors into account. A coverage rate of 85% was achieved in the national survey and the 15% of the country that was not covered consisted of areas that were either very remote (and difficult to travel to) or that had extremely small populations.

Sampling error estimates

The margin of error is approximately ±5 percentage points and the 95 percent level of confidence.

This dashboard is part of SDGs Today. Please see sdgstoday.orgInternational migration has significant implications for countries’ economic growth, and remittances are an important factor on the economy. Typically sent by migrant workers to family and friends in their home countries, remittances are transfers of money that are often a large source of income for recipients. Remittances are comparable to international aid and represent one of the largest financial flows to developing countries, impacting both economic development and poverty alleviation. Compiled by the World Bank, this dataset measures officially-recorded remittance inflows (remittances received) per country in 2020. In 2020, the global remittance inflow was $666,223,000,000. Data is based off of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Balance of Payment Statistics, which are updated annually. Remittance amounts are calculated as the sum of personal transfers, compensation of employees, and migrants’ transfers from IMF data. For some countries, remittance figures may come from central banks or other official sources.

Over one third of remittances sent to the Middle East and Central Asia went towards Uzbekistan and Israel in 2021. This is according to a database that tries to model money sent internationally from one party to another. Remittances typically refer to money sent from migrant workers back home to family and friends, although there are other forms of this. Remittances can, for example, include pensioners who have a second home in foreign country. Nevertheless, Asia Pacific - not the Middle East - is often referred to as the main receiver of remittances.

Nearly half of all remittances sent towards Southeast Asia went towards the Philippines as of 2021, probably because of overseas Filipino workers (OFW). This is according to a database that tries to model money sent internationally from one party to another. Remittances typically refer to money sent from migrant workers back home to family and friends, although there are other forms of this. Remittances can, for example, include pensioners who have a second home in foreign country. The Philippines received most of its remittances from four countries in particular: The United States, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.

Remittances sent to Africa went largely towards Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco in 2021, with each country receiving at least 10 billion billions worth of dollars. This is according to a database that tries to model money sent internationally from one party to another. Remittances typically refer to money sent from migrant workers back home to family and friends, although there are other forms of this. Remittances can, for example, include pensioners who have a second home in a foreign country. Nevertheless, Asia Pacific - not Africa - is often referred to as the main receiver of remittances.

In 2023, Mexico received nearly 66.2 billion U.S. dollars worth of remittances, making it the Latin American country with the highest value of international deposits received that year. Guatemala ranked second, with remittances amounting to nearly 20 billion dollars. In total, the value of remittances in Latin America and the Caribbean exceeded 152 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

The most expensive countries in the world to send remittances to largely consisted of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa as of the third quarter of 2023. This is according to an average taken from different situation in which consumers send money worth 200 U.S. dollars from one country to the next - including cash, MTOs (money transfer organizations) or cards. The source adds that incoming remittances were estimated at 6.39 percent on average for the G20 countries during this timeframe.

France was one of the few European countries in 2021 that received more remittances compared to the value of remittances that left the country. Remittances refer to cross-border payments to family or friends and are often associated with migrant workers sending money back home to friends or relatives back in their communities of origin. It is estimated that about one in seven people worldwide are involved with remittances - substantially impacting payment behavior in, especially, Asia and Latin America. For France, the top five recipient countries for remittances in 2021 included Belgium, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, and Algeria. France's five main sources for remittances were Spain, Belgium, the United States, Switzerland, and the UK.

Geographic coverage

Nationally representative sample

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sampling Frame

The 2002 population and housing census provided a frame for sample selection. The frame contains a list of all administrative units up to the lowest level called, 'Local Council 1', or LC1. This is usually, but not always consistent with a village in terms of area. The Enumeration Area (EA) may comprise of one village/LC1, or more than one village/LC1. The demarcation of EAs is based on total population within a given area and in many instances, may vary by locality. In addition the sampling frame also indicates the EA to which a particular LC belongs. The 2002 Uganda Sampling Frame has a total of 33,283 EAs.

Study population

The study population comprised of the entire population of Uganda. Based on the distribution of households in table 1 above, the sample was determined based on information from Uganda National Household survey 2005/06 conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The proportion of internal migrants reported in the past 5 years has been used to estimate the required sample. Given the limited nature of the number of international migrants, the proportion of internal migrants is considered adequate to provide sufficient estimates of the indicators of interest.

Sample allocation by region

The above sample was proportionately allocated across the four statistical regions on the basis of the population in each of the regions. There was oversampling for urban population approximately by 5 times. To ease implementation, the regional sample was further disaggregated down to Enumeration Area level.

Selection of Enumeration Areas

The task was to undertake a nationally-representative survey of 2,000 households (urban and rural combined) in 2009 that would provide information on migration, remittances and their effects on development. The frame was be divided into two strata namely rural and urban. A two-stage stratified sample design was adopted. The first stage representing the primary sampling unit comprised of the selection of EAs from each of the strata while at the second and ultimate stage households were selected. EAs were selected from the list of Enumeration Areas developed after the 2002 Population and Housing Census and updated to include new districts.

The selection of EAs was proportionally done based on the number of households in the respective stratum according to the 2006 Uganda household survey. All the EAs in each domain were sorted by county, sub-county and parish. A random number was generated and an appropriate random start and sampling interval was systematically selected from the ordered list with probability proportionate to number of households. This was done separately for urban and rural areas, hence stratified sampling. The proportion of EAs sampled in urban areas is about 5 times that in rural.

Selection of households

At the second stage, a complete listing of households in each EA was done to classify the households into three groups: non migrants, internal migrants and international migrants. The number of households per EA varied from around 20 to about 1000. Most of the time, all households were listed even in the large EAs since it was difficult to establish lines of demarcation to segment the EA.

A total of 10 households were selected randomly from each of the 200 EAs. The goal was to select 4 households with an international migrant (emigrant), 3 with one or more internal migrants, and 3 with no migrant. This sampling was done from the three strata or listings of households according to migration status. Separate sampling was done from each stratum using systematic sampling. In case of a refusal or other reason for non-response, another household was selected from the same stratum to reach the desired quota. In case the number of households listed in any of the three strata was smaller than the numbers desired (4, 3, 3), then all those listed in that stratum were automatically sampled and the short fall selected from the next stratum.

For example, if there were, say, 150 households in an EA, with 3 with international migrants, 27 with internal migrants, and 120 with no migrants, the numbers selected would be, respectively, 3, 3 and 3. But to make up 10, priority would be given to the migrant stratum to add one more, randomly selected, from that stratum. As another example, suppose there were 0 international migrant households; then 7 would be selected from the internal migrant stratum and still only 3 from the list of non-migrant households.

The choice of 10 households per EA was based on experience from the various economic surveys conducted by UBOS, where 10 households provide adequate representation at EA level for most of the economic and social indicators.

The listing operation

The survey targeted household with in-migrants or former members who have migrated away, whether to another part of the country (urban or rural) or to another country. Since the census frame does not uniquely identify who is a migrant or non migrant, and owing to the lack of an up to date list of all households in Uganda from which to draw the sample, the survey team adopted a listing exercise as stop gap measure.

The exercise involved conducting a fresh listing of all households in each of the selected EAs. During the exercise, households with migrants were identified and the migrants clearly categorized as internal-within Uganda- or international where household members had moved to another country all together. The total number of listed household numbers was 24,618. Thereafter, a sample of 10 households was selected using systematic sampling procedure.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The questionnaire consisted of seven sections namely: A Cover Sheet requiring household identification particulars including district name and code, county name and code, parish name and code, EA name, stratum, household number, names of the household head and first spouse, number of household members and a description of the location of the household.

In addition, the page captured details of the interview including the interviewer name, date, duration and the outcome of the interview. It also provided for the team leaders remarks and signature.

Section 1: Household roster

This section captured the socio-demographic characteristics of all household members.

Section 2: Households housing conditions

In this section, information was sought on the type of dwelling, occupancy status, the physical characteristics of the dwelling, and access to basic utilities including water, electricity and sanitation.

Section 3 Household Assets and Expenditure

The section collected information on the assets and expenditures of the household. This information was used to determine the welfare status of the household.

Section 4: Household Use of Financial Services:

In this section, information relating to use of financial services by household members was collected.

Section 5: Internal and International Migration And Remittances From Former Household Members

This section captured information on migration, both internal and international as well as remittances received by the household from former household member migrants.

Section 6: Internal and International Migration and Remittances From Former Household Members

Like section 5 above, section 6 sought information on migration, both internal and international as well as remittances received by the household from non household member migrants.

Section 7: Return Migrants

Here information on Return migrants was captured. A return migrant was defined as an adult member (over 18 years old) currently living in the household, who had lived in another country or another place in Uganda for at least 3 months in the 5 years preceding the survey. The information sought in this section related to the last migration episode for each return migrant.

Cleaning operations

Data Editing: Data editing was initially done by six editors from among the enumerators.

Response rate

Three categories of non response were encountered in the survey. These include: · Household not Visisted: In this category, the survey teams were unable to visit the households due to one reason or another. This happened in Karamoja, where 2 EAs could not be visited due to insecurity; Kalangala, an island EA where residents were reported to have vacated the EA on the advice of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) in a bid to conserve the environment, four years prior to the visit by the survey team and in Kampala, where an EA could not be located. This led to a loss of 40 responses. · Incomplete Information: Here households were located but enumerators were not able to conduct or complete the interviews due to various reasons. Such reasons include respondents' hostility, interruption by an unforeseen event such as death of the respondent's close relative. The total number of responses lost in this category is 79. Overall, there were 1872 valid responses received representing a response rate of 94%. Of these, 49% reported having migrants.

The value of remittances received in Pakistan was over 500 times the size of the country's remittance outflow, with most money from Pakistan going to Afghanistan in 2021. This is according to a ranking that attempts to map out the flow of such money transfers. Remittances refer to cross-border payments to family or friends and are often associated with migrant workers sending money back home to friends or relatives back in their communities of origin. It is estimated that about one in seven people worldwide are involved with remittances - substantially impacting payment behavior in, especially, Asia and Latin America. For Pakistan, the top five recipient countries for remittances in 2021 included - largely - Afghanistan, and to a much lesser extent China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Pakistan's main sources for remittances were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Kuwait.

Estimates are that the value of international money transfers in the United States in 2022 was nearly 10 times higher than in the United Kingdom. This is according to a model that tried to estimate the market size of international payments, such as remittances, across various countries worldwide. The source does not add much information. For instance, it does not clarify whether this includes all cross-border payments or whether it focuses on specific aspects of this industry - such as remittances by itself, or either the B2B or B2C segments. When compared to the 2021 KNOMAD figures - the "official" figures on remittances - regarding remittance outflow for the United States, the difference with the transaction value reported here was roughly 50 billion U.S. dollars. The difference for outgoing remittances from the United Kingdom as reported by KNOMAD was also sizable. Both differences may be due to different market models and methodologies, although neither source goes into detail about this.

Money transfers to other countries outside the United States were nearly 30 times higher in 2021 than money received. Remittances refer to cross-border payments to family or friends and are often associated with migrant workers sending money back home to friends or relatives back in their communities of origin. It is estimated that about one in seven people worldwide are involved with remittances - substantially impacting payment behavior in, especially, Asia and Latin America. For the United States, the top five recipient countries for remittances in 2021 included Mexico, India, Guatemala, the Philippines, and China. The five main sources for remittances in the U.S. were Mexico, Canada, the UK, Puerto Rico, and Germany.

Goal 10Reduce inequality within and among countriesTarget 10.1: By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national averageIndicator 10.1.1: Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total populationSI_HEI_TOTL: Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita (%)Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other statusIndicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilitiesSI_POV_50MI: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income (%)Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regardIndicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights lawVC_VOV_GDSD: Proportion of population reporting having felt discriminated against, by grounds of discrimination, sex and disability (%)Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equalityIndicator 10.4.1: Labour share of GDPSL_EMP_GTOTL: Labour share of GDP (%)Indicator 10.4.2: Redistributive impact of fiscal policySI_DST_FISP: Redistributive impact of fiscal policy, Gini index (%)Target 10.5: Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulationsIndicator 10.5.1: Financial Soundness IndicatorsFI_FSI_FSANL: Non-performing loans to total gross loans (%)FI_FSI_FSERA: Return on assets (%)FI_FSI_FSKA: Regulatory capital to assets (%)FI_FSI_FSKNL: Non-performing loans net of provisions to capital (%)FI_FSI_FSKRTC: Regulatory Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (%)FI_FSI_FSLS: Liquid assets to short term liabilities (%)FI_FSI_FSSNO: Net open position in foreign exchange to capital (%)Target 10.6: Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions in order to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutionsIndicator 10.6.1: Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizationsSG_INT_MBRDEV: Proportion of members of developing countries in international organizations, by organization (%)SG_INT_VRTDEV: Proportion of voting rights of developing countries in international organizations, by organization (%)Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policiesIndicator 10.7.1: Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of monthly income earned in country of destinationIndicator 10.7.2: Number of countries with migration policies that facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of peopleSG_CPA_MIGRP: Proportion of countries with migration policies to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, by policy domain (%)SG_CPA_MIGRS: Countries with migration policies to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, by policy domain (1 = Requires further progress; 2 = Partially meets; 3 = Meets; 4 = Fully meets)Indicator 10.7.3: Number of people who died or disappeared in the process of migration towards an international destinationiSM_DTH_MIGR: Total deaths and disappearances recorded during migration (number)Indicator 10.7.4: Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of originSM_POP_REFG_OR: Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin (per 100,000 population)Target 10.a: Implement the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in accordance with World Trade Organization agreementsIndicator 10.a.1: Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports from least developed countries and developing countries with zero-tariffTM_TRF_ZERO: Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports with zero-tariff (%)Target 10.b: Encourage official development assistance and financial flows, including foreign direct investment, to States where the need is greatest, in particular least developed countries, African countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their national plans and programmesIndicator 10.b.1: Total resource flows for development, by recipient and donor countries and type of flow (e.g. official development assistance, foreign direct investment and other flows)DC_TRF_TOTDL: Total assistance for development, by donor countries (millions of current United States dollars)DC_TRF_TOTL: Total assistance for development, by recipient countries (millions of current United States dollars)DC_TRF_TFDV: Total resource flows for development, by recipient and donor countries (millions of current United States dollars)Target 10.c: By 2030, reduce to less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5 per centIndicator 10.c.1: Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remittedSI_RMT_COST: Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted (%)SI_RMT_COST_BC: Corridor remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted (%)SI_RMT_COST_SC: SmaRT corridor remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted (%)

India was Sri Lanka's main destination for remittances in 2021, according to a country ranking on the flow of such money transfers. Remittances refer to cross-border payments to family or friends and are often associated with migrant workers sending money back home to friends or relatives back in their communities of origin. It is estimated that about one in seven people worldwide are involved with remittances - substantially impacting payment behavior in, especially, Asia and Latin America. For Sri Lanka, the top five recipient countries for remittances in 2021 included India, Italy, China, Qatar, and Japan. Sri Lanka's five main sources for remittances were Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, Australia, and Canada.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based in the United States were the leading source of remittances received by the Philippines in 2023. Remittances from the U.S. amounted to around 13.71 billion U.S. dollars. Singapore follows, with remittances amounting to around 2.36 billion U.S. dollars. Economic contribution of remittances  Remittances, in case or kind, have been a fundamental source of income in the Philippines. In fact, in 2020, the county ranked second to India when it comes to the total personal remittances received in the Asia Pacific region. Overall, personal remittances contributed about nine percent to the country's GDP. Demographics of OFWs  Of the 2.33 million Filipino labor migrants employed worldwide in 2023, women accounted for the higher share of OFWs compared to men. In terms of age, most women OFWs were between the age of 30 and 34, while the majority of male OFWs were 45 years old and above.