Personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Personal remittances, received was 3.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1977–2024
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 3.2%. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
The figure is up 24.8% on the previous year and up 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 3.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1981.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 0.5% | — |
| 1978 | 0.5% | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | +8.8% |
| 1980 | 0.6% | +11.2% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | -23.6% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | +21.9% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | +27.9% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | +14.6% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +11.3% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -17.3% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | +25.1% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | +15.5% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | -23.5% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | -18.6% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | +25.3% |
| 1998 | 0.7% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | +83.0% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | -13.4% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | -7.7% |
| 2004 | 1.2% | +14.1% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | +117.7% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | -8.9% |
| 2009 | 2.4% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 2.2% | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | +19.4% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | -11.5% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | +11.7% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +24.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +117.7% | 1.2% | 2.7% |
| 1999 | +83.0% | 0.7% | 1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 3 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.1% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.26 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 246.12 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1471 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 283.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1696 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 3.2% in 2024, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest personal remittances, received recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest personal remittances, received recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1981.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for personal remittances, received?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is personal remittances, received rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.