The biggest receivers of remittances in the world included India, Mexico, and China in 2023, with each country receiving **************** 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.

In 2023, Mexico received nearly **** 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 ** billion dollars. In total, the value of remittances in Latin America and the Caribbean exceeded *** billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

The value of remittances to India outweighed the value sent to other countries about ** 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 *** 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.

The biggest U.S. remittance receivers in Latin America are Mexico and Guatemala, with both countries receiving over ** billion U.S. 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.

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.

Workers' remittances refer to the money sent back home by individuals who are employed in foreign countries, typically to support their families or communities in their home country. For Bangladesh, remittances are a crucial component of the national economy, playing a significant role in poverty alleviation, foreign exchange reserves, and overall economic development. Bangladesh is one of the top recipients of remittances in South Asia, with millions of its citizens working overseas, especially in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.

Importance of Workers Remittance in Bangladesh:

Economic Contribution: Workers' remittances are a major source of foreign exchange in Bangladesh, helping stabilize the national currency and supporting the balance of payments. They help Bangladesh offset trade deficits and reduce reliance on foreign loans. The remittance inflows also support the growth of sectors like real estate, retail, and small businesses.

Poverty Reduction: Remittances directly support households in rural and urban areas by providing financial assistance for education, healthcare, housing, and other essential needs. This inflow helps to reduce poverty and improve the standard of living for millions of families.

Social Impact: Many families rely on remittances to meet daily expenses and maintain a decent standard of living. Remittances also contribute to social mobility by enabling families to invest in education, which in turn has long-term positive effects on the workforce and future generations.

Economic Stability: Remittances provide a buffer against economic crises, such as natural disasters or economic downturns. During times of economic instability, remittances often serve as a critical lifeline, ensuring that the affected population has access to essential resources.

Trends in Workers Remittance: The trends in remittances fluctuate depending on factors such as:

Global Economic Conditions: Economic conditions in major remittance-sending countries affect the flow of funds. For instance, during periods of economic recession or crisis in host countries, remittance flows might decrease. Migration Patterns: Changes in migration patterns due to geopolitical factors, labor demands, or government policies also affect the volume of remittances. Exchange Rates and Banking Systems: The stability of exchange rates and the efficiency of banking systems and remittance services (e.g., Western Union, MoneyGram) influence the ease and cost of sending remittances. Impact on Bangladesh’s GDP: Remittances contribute significantly to Bangladesh's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). They not only help with household income but also boost domestic consumption, which drives economic growth. As a result, the country has seen improvements in its infrastructure, poverty rates, and social services due to the continuous inflow of remittances.

Challenges in Managing Remittances: Despite the positive impacts, there are several challenges associated with workers' remittances:

High Transaction Costs: Remittance senders often face high transaction fees, especially when using informal channels. The government and financial institutions are working to reduce these costs by promoting digital banking and remittance services. Dependence on Remittances: Over-reliance on remittances may create economic vulnerabilities, as families might become dependent on external sources of income rather than local economic development and job creation. Policy and Regulation: Governments need to establish policies that facilitate the easy transfer of remittances while ensuring that the system is transparent and secure. File Format: CSV

Description: The "Workers Remittance" dataset provides a detailed record of the monthly remittance inflows to Bangladesh from January 2017 to March 2024. It is crucial for understanding the economic role that remittances play in the country, particularly for millions of Bangladeshi families who rely on money sent by relatives working abroad. The dataset is structured with the following columns:

Year: The year of remittance data. Month: The month of remittance data. Unit (Tk. in Million): The total remittance amount received, expressed in millions of Bangladeshi Taka (Tk.). This data is particularly valuable for economists, policymakers, and financial analysts who are interested in studying the trends in remittance inflows, their impact on the national economy, and their contribution to the livelihoods of the Bangladeshi population. Workers' remittances are a significant source of foreign exchange and play a critical role in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.

Source: http://data.gov.bd/dataset/table-9-workers-remittance-jan-2017-mar-2024

**More Dataset:: ** https://www.kaggle.com/shuvokumarbasak4004/datasets

…………………………………..Note for Researchers Using the dataset………………………………………………………………...

India, China, and Pakistan accounted for a combined ** percent of the total inflow of remittance-receiving countries in Asia bar Southeast Asia in 2021. Remittances received by the eight ** countries and territories in this region were worth roughly *** billion U.S. dollars, with more than half of this money originating from the Middle East. 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. Southeast Asia's outflow largely stayed within Asia, especially within both Southeast Asia itself and South Asia - which includes India.

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

Universe

The Survey covered the adult population.

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 2042 Ethiopian 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 Ethiopian adults was collected. There are three stages to this type of sampling methodology. First, after stratifying the Ethiopian 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 Ethiopia. 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 Amharic and all interviews were conducted in person using the PAPI method. A total of 410 interviews with regular international remittance recipients were conducted in Ethiopia 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 97% was achieved in the national survey and the 3% 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.

In 2022, the value of personal remittances received in Africa was highest in Egypt and Nigeria. For these countries, the amount reached 32.3 billion and 20.9 billion U.S. dollars, respectively. Morocco and Ghana followed with 11.4 billion and 4.7 billion U.S. dollars, respectively.

Remittances sent to Africa went largely towards Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco in 2021, with each country receiving at least ** 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.

The top 20 remittance-sending countries in Europe in 2021 account for ** percent of the total outflow to receiving countries within Europe and other regions. Remittances from these 20 countries ranged from *** billion U.S. dollars to ** billion U.S. dollars, with Germany and the United Kingdom each accounting for roughly ** percent of Europe's outflow. 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 *** in ***** people worldwide are involved with remittances - substantially impacting payment behavior in, especially, Asia and Latin America. Europe's outgoing payment flow largely does not go to these regions but goes towards Central and Eastern Europe.

Remittance Platform Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the remittance platform market size reached USD 27.8 billion in 2024, reflecting robust global demand for digital and traditional remittance solutions. The market is poised to expand at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2025 to 2033, with projections indicating the market will attain a value of USD 72.5 billion by 2033. This impressive growth is primarily driven by increasing cross-border migration, the rapid adoption of digital financial services, and the ongoing integration of advanced technologies in remittance platforms worldwide.

The remittance platform market is experiencing significant growth due to the rising number of international migrants and expatriates who are sending money back to their home countries. This surge in cross-border migration, particularly from developing to developed countries, has created a consistent demand for efficient, secure, and cost-effective remittance services. Additionally, the proliferation of smartphones and internet connectivity has enabled users to access digital remittance platforms, facilitating faster and more convenient transactions. As a result, both established financial institutions and fintech startups are investing heavily in enhancing their remittance solutions to cater to a diverse and expanding customer base.

Another key growth factor is the increasing regulatory support and financial inclusion initiatives undertaken by governments and international organizations. Many countries are implementing policies to reduce remittance costs, enhance transparency, and promote the use of formal channels. These efforts are making remittance platforms more accessible, especially in rural and underserved regions. Moreover, advancements in payment technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and real-time transaction processing are further streamlining remittance operations, reducing transaction times, and minimizing risks associated with fraud and errors. These technological developments are encouraging more users to shift from informal to formal remittance channels, thereby boosting market growth.

Strategic partnerships and collaborations among banks, non-bank financial institutions, and technology providers are also propelling the growth of the remittance platform market. By leveraging each otherÂ’s strengths, these stakeholders are able to offer comprehensive, user-centric solutions that cater to the evolving needs of individuals and businesses. The integration of value-added services such as bill payments, mobile top-ups, and microloans within remittance platforms is enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. This trend is particularly prominent in emerging economies, where remittance inflows play a crucial role in supporting household incomes and driving local economic development.

The advent of Mobile Remittance has revolutionized the way individuals transfer money across borders. With the proliferation of smartphones and mobile internet, users can now send and receive money with just a few taps on their devices. This convenience has made mobile remittance a popular choice among tech-savvy consumers, particularly in regions with limited access to traditional banking infrastructure. Mobile remittance platforms offer real-time tracking, low transaction fees, and enhanced security features, making them an attractive alternative to conventional remittance methods. As more people embrace mobile technology, the demand for mobile remittance services is expected to grow, further driving the expansion of the remittance platform market.

From a regional perspective, Asia Pacific continues to dominate the remittance platform market, accounting for a significant share of global remittance inflows and outflows. The regionÂ’s large diaspora population, coupled with the rapid adoption of digital financial services in countries like India, China, and the Philippines, is fueling market growth. North America and Europe are also key markets, driven by technological innovation and the presence of major remittance service providers. Meanwhile, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa are witnessing accelerated growth due to increasing migration trends and the expansion of digital infrastructure, positioning these regions as important contributors to the overall market landscape.

Money transfers to other countries outside the United States were nearly ** 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 *** in ***** 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.

The value of remittances received in Pakistan was over *** 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.

Forecasting VAR vs B-VAR model with Personal Remittance Received (PRR).

Remittances in Sri Lanka increased to 712 USD Million in October from 695.70 USD Million in September of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Sri Lanka Remittances - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The value of remittances received in Nepal was roughly **** times higher than the remittance outflow, with most money from Nepal going towards India 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 *** in ***** people worldwide are involved with remittances - substantially impacting payment behavior in, especially, Asia and Latin America. For Nepal, the top five recipient countries for remittances in 2021 included India, China, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Nepal's main sources for remittances were the Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, India, Qatar, and the United States.

Forecasting VAR vs B-VAR model with Trade in Services (TIS).

Abstract

The main objective of this survey is to help improve the impact of migration and remittances on the economic and social situation in Kenya. At present, our knowledge base on migration and remittances in Kenya is quite limited. By providing rich and detailed information on the impact of migration and remittances at the household level, this survey will greatly increase our ability to maximize the socio-economic impact of migration and remittances in Kenya. To these ends, the survey will collect nationally-representative information in various African countries on three types of households: non-migrant households, internal migrant households and international migrant households. Comparisons between these three types of households will help policymakers identify the socio-economic impact of migration and remittances in Kenya.

Geographic coverage

Embu, Garissa, Kakamega, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kisii, Lugari, Machakos, Malindi, Migori, Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, Siaya, Thika, Vihiga, Rachuonyo

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual

Universe

17 out of 69 districts in Kenya were selected using procedures described in the methodology report

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The study used the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) National Sample Survey and Evaluation Programme (NASSEP IV) sampling frame which has 69 districts as stratum comprising both urban and rural areas. The sample design for the study was multi-stage with the first stage covering the primary sampling units (PSUs) which was a sample of clusters developed during the 1999 census. The second stage was selection of households within the clusters. A re-listing of all households in sampled clusters was carried out to up-date the 1999 and also to be able to classify households into the three strata of interest in this study: international migrant households, internal migrant households, and non-migrant households. At the household level, interviews were held with the household head/spouse or other responsible adult with the requisite information about the household. The study uses a purposive survey methodology that first selected districts with the largest concentration of international migrants, and then selected clusters also with the highest concentration of international migrants. This was done based on the information of previous household surveys and the knowledge of the administrative officers, statistical officers and cluster guides.

Sampling Frame At the time of the study, the available National Census was conducted in 1999. This census did not contain questions on remittances but had questions on migration. The migration question asked then was where family members were living in the last one year. This means that the census captured either those who had come back or those who had come visiting and were to return to where they migrated to. It did not distinguish clearly the migration component. Further, the census was conducted 10 years ago which meant it does not provide the current status on aspects of migration. The Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS) 2005/06 and the Financial Services Deepening survey (FSD) are two surveys that have recently been conducted with an element of migration and remittances. However, the information is not adequate for the current survey. For example, the KIHBS has a question that captures issues of remittance linking them to the transfers received from abroad. Although it has about 13,000 households, only about 125 households indicated they had received such transfers. This was a very small sample compared to what was envisaged by the current study. The Financial Services Deepening survey (FSD) (2006/07) also has a question on cash transfers from abroad but all this is related to issues of access to financial services and not to issues sought in the current study. Thus, it could not be used for the current study. The KIHBS and FSD surveys was based on the KNBS NASSEP IV and although one may have thought of revisiting the households that were covered for additional information, it is against the KNBS regulations to conduct such follow-ups and the households identities are not provided. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics household survey sampling frame, the National Sample Survey and Evaluation Programme (NASSEP IV), is based on the 1999 population and housing census. The objective of NASSEP IV frame was to construct a national master sampling frame of clusters of households in both rural and urban areas in Kenya using a sound sampling design. This sampling frame has a total of 1,800 clusters of which 1,260 are rural and 540 are urban as indicated in Appendix Table 1. Each cluster holds about 80 to 100 households. The framework is based on the old administrative units comprising of 69 districts in 8 Provinces. Currently, the districts have been subdivided and increased to 265 but this does not distort our sampling frame based on NASSEP IV as the new districts are curved out of the old districts.

The Sample This study utilized the NASSEP IV frame to select 102 clusters (5.6% of the total clusters) in 19 districts which yielded a total sample of 2,448 households assuming an average of 24 households in each cluster. The districts were selected first, then the clusters in each district and finally the households in each cluster. Households in each cluster were re-listed (updated) and grouped into three strata--international migrant, internal migrant and non-migrant households. In the selection of clusters in each district, at least one of the targeted five clusters was urban with exception of Nairobi and Mombasa which are purely urban. The study however ended up covering 92 clusters (5.1% of the total clusters in NASSEP IV) from 17 districts. Two targeted districts-Kajiado and Baringo- were not covered due to logistical problems. First of all, the team was expected to finalize the field by 15th December so that the analysis could begin and be on time. When the fieldwork was winding up on 22nd December, the two districts were yet to be covered. Two, the two districts have more transport challenges and the team was therefore expected to use KNBS transport facilities and more research assistants to capture the households which are more widely spread on the ground. This required adequate funding and by the time the fieldwork was winding up no funds had been received from World Bank. Third, even when the funds were received in January, the team considered that the study would be capturing households in a different consumption cycle, having just gone through the festive season. Given all these factors, this saw a total of 2,123 household covered out of 2, 208 (96% of the total targeted). Of these, some households were later dropped due to a lot of missing data especially due to non response, and at the end a total of 1,942 households were cleaned up for analysis. This including 953 are urban and 989 rural drawn from 51 rural and 40 urban clusters. Selection of Districts There was a particular interest in investigating households that had international migrants and which may have received transfers from abroad. A random sample of the population would not produce adequate number of households that had received transfers or had international migration, as we learnt from the KIHBS data set. As indicated earlier, out of 13,000 households surveyed under KIHBS only 125 households receiving remittances from abroad. With this experience and information, this study selected the top nineteen districts from KIHBS (2005/07) that showed households with migration characteristics. The key factor used was that the households indicated they received cash transfers from abroad. Districts with more than one household fulfilling this criterion of having received transfers from abroad were considered. In addition, Financial Services Deepening survey (FSD) survey results were used to confirm that the selected districts had reported having received money from abroad. In addition, since this is a relatively rare phenomenon in Kenya, the selection of districts is designed such that households with the relevant characteristics have a high probability of being selected. As such those districts with a presence of cash transfers mechanisms such as M-PESA, Western Union, or Money Gram services were considered. All these information was used to update the information from KIHBS.

Selection of Clusters In each district, 5 clusters were selected of which at least one cluster was an urban cluster as defined by KNBS, except for Nairobi and Mombasa which are purely urban. Some other district had more than one urban cluster selected based on their number of clusters and accessibility to rural clusters for example Garissa. The study covered 10 clusters in Nairobi and 6 in Mombasa with an attempt made to capture this across various income group levels.
In selection of the clusters, the supervisors sat down with the KNBS statistics officers, cluster guides, village elders, administrative officers (Chiefs and sub-chiefs) to map out clusters where the probability of getting an international migrant was high. Of this probabilities were very subjective as it was based on how well these people understood the composition of the households in the areas they represent. This helped to identify the five clusters targeted for study.

Selection of Households The selection process involved re-listing of the households in each cluster so as to update the list of occupied households and identify the three groups of households. Each group or stratum was treated as an independent sub-frame and random sampling was used to select households in each group. The listing exercise was

In 2023, Gambia registered the highest value of personal remittances received in Africa in relation to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Received remittances covered around ** percent of the country's GDP. South Sudan and Somalia followed, with approximately ** and ** percent, respectively.