BY NATHAN GUMA
ANALYSIS of data has shown an increase in remittances among low-middle income countries (LIMCs) despite a crackdown on migration by countries which have been major sources of employment for immigrants.
Several countries in Europe and the Americas have been tightening immigration controls, strengthening border enforcement and restricting irregular migration, while deporting undocumented migrants.
However, data from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), contained in its latest report, “Sending Money Home”, shows that remittance flows have continued to grow.
Central America and South America received the highest volumes of remittances, led by Mexico with US$64.4 billion and Colombia with US$13.1 billion.
In Africa, Northern Africa recorded the highest volumes, led by Egypt, while Southern Africa recorded the lowest volumes and levels of reliance.
Speaking at a briefing at UN headquarters in New York, Pedro De Vasconcelos, IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances manager, said remittances had doubled since last year.
“Well, the figures right now do not show actually a reduction in remittances. Figures that support the study collected from the World Bank, IMF, and national central banks and institutions do not reflect a massive reduction in flows,” he said.
“The reality behind that is that this is family driven. So the needs of the families is the first one that it is addressed. The objective for millions of families is to secure their health plans back home. So if that involves sending more, tapping into their savings, they will do so.”
Country-per-country data on remittances
According to the data, Africa’s remittance inflows for instance rose 86% over the past decade to about US$124 billion in 2025.
During the same period, the continent’s population grew by 24%, while the number of emigrants increased by 32% to nearly 46 million.
More than half of African emigrants remain within the continent, while Europe is the main destination outside Africa, followed by Asia and North America.
The data also shows that smaller economies remain more dependent on remittances, with the flows accounting for 22% of GDP in The Gambia and 21% in Liberia, Comoros and Lesotho.
About 34% of Africa’s remittance inflows, equivalent to US$42 billion, reached rural areas, supporting household consumption, healthcare, education and helping communities cope with economic and climate shocks.
However, Africa remains the most expensive region for sending remittances, with the average cost of sending US$200 standing at 7.2% in 2025, well above the Sustainable Development Goal target of less than 3%.
Eastern and Southern Europe also recorded growth in remittance inflows, which rose by 58% to US$30.2 billion in 2025.
Ukraine remained the region’s largest recipient, with inflows rising from US$9 billion in 2016 to US$12 billion in 2025, while Serbia’s receipts more than doubled from US$3 billion to US$7 billion.
Bosnia and Herzegovina increased from US$2 billion to US$3 billion, while Albania’s inflows rose from about US$1 billion to US$3 billion.
Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Belarus collectively received about US$27 billion, nearly 90% of the regional total.
The average cost of sending US$200 fell from 6.7% in 2016 to 4.6% in 2025, although it remained above the Sustainable Development Goal target.
