Personal remittances, received in Jamaica
Jamaica: Personal remittances, received was 16.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances, received in Jamaica, 1976–2024
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, personal remittances, received in Jamaica stood at 16.2%.
The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances, received in Jamaica peaked at 23.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1983.
That places Jamaica 21st out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances, received in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 3.0% | — |
| 1977 | 2.5% | -15.7% |
| 1978 | 2.6% | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 3.7% | +41.9% |
| 1980 | 3.6% | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 3.4% | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | -31.0% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | +33.8% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | +122.5% |
| 1986 | 4.0% | -41.6% |
| 1987 | 3.7% | -9.4% |
| 1988 | 4.0% | +9.7% |
| 1989 | 4.7% | +17.7% |
| 1990 | 5.0% | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 4.4% | -11.3% |
| 1992 | 6.1% | +38.1% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | -27.9% |
| 1994 | 9.6% | +117.8% |
| 1995 | 9.7% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 9.3% | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 8.5% | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 8.4% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 8.7% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 9.7% | +11.8% |
| 2001 | 11.4% | +16.8% |
| 2002 | 12.8% | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 14.6% | +14.5% |
| 2004 | 15.7% | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 15.7% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 16.1% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 16.6% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 15.7% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 15.6% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 14.6% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 14.6% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 15.2% | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 16.3% | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 15.8% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 15.6% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 15.1% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | +35.8% |
| 2021 | 23.2% | +13.6% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 16.8% | -14.2% |
| 2024 | 16.2% | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.0% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 4 |
| 1980s | 3.9% | 2.3% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 4.4% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.4% | 9.7% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 14.6% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3% | 16.2% | 23.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 19 Vanuatu 17.2% compare
- 20 Haiti 16.9% compare
- 22 Uzbekistan 14.3% compare
- 23 Yemen 12.0% compare
- 24 Cape Verde 11.7% compare
More economy & growth data for Jamaica
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.76 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 15.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 13.91 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 111,319 current LCU per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.0497 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 397.73 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU) 2.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU), per 5.81 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances, received in Jamaica?
- Personal remittances, received in Jamaica was 16.2% in 2024, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest personal remittances, received recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 23.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest personal remittances, received recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1983.
- How does Jamaica rank for personal remittances, received?
- Jamaica ranks 21st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is personal remittances, received rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Personal remittances, received (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Personal remittances comprise personal transfers and compensation of employees. Personal transfers consist of all current transfers in cash or in kind made or received by resident households to or from nonresident households. Personal transfers thus include all current transfers between resident and nonresident individuals. Compensation of employees refers to the income of border, seasonal, and other short-term workers who are employed in an economy where they are not resident and of residents employed by nonresident entities. Data are the sum of two items defined in the sixth edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments Manual: personal transfers and compensation of employees.