Personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Personal remittances, received was 3.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1977–2024
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 3.2%. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it 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 peaked at 3.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1981.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 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, 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% |
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
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2311 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 407.9 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2438 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2382 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per capita 384.35 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Personal remittances, received in Sub-Saharan Africa was 3.2% in 2024, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest personal remittances, received recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest personal remittances, received recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1981.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for personal remittances, received?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is personal remittances, received rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 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 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.