India becomes first country to get over $100 billion in remittances
India becomes first country to get over $100 billion in remittances
India has become the first country to receive over $100 billion in remittances in 2022, according to the United Nations migration agency.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) revealed in its World Migration Report 2024 that India’s remittances surged to $111 billion last year, surpassing all other nations.
“India was well above the rest, receiving more than USD 111 billion, the first country to reach and even surpass the USD 100 billion mark. Mexico was the second-largest remittance recipient in 2022, a position it also held in 2021 after overtaking China, which historically had been the second-biggest recipient after India,” said the report.Â
The report highlighted that India, Mexico, China, the Philippines, and France were the top five recipients of remittances in 2022.Â
India’s dominance in remittances has been steadily growing over the years. The report’s data showed that India led in remittance receipts in 2010 ($53.48 billion), 2015 ($68.91 billion), and 2020 ($83.15 billion), with $111.22 billion in 2022.
Southern Asia, benefiting from a substantial migrant worker population, continues to attract some of the highest remittance inflows globally.
Apart from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh also rank among the top ten recipients of international remittances, underscoring the significance of labour migration from this subregion.
The report shed light on the challenges faced by migrant workers from Southern Asia, including financial exploitation, high migration costs leading to excessive debt, xenophobia, and workplace abuses.
The Gulf States remain pivotal destinations for migrant workers, particularly from India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Kenya, employed in sectors like construction, hospitality, security, domestic work, and retail.
India also stands out as the origin of the largest number of international migrants globally, with sizeable diasporas residing in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.
Despite being a huge source of emigrants, India also attracted immigrants, ranking 13th globally as a destination country for international migrants.
The report highlighted that Mexico has become the second-largest recipient of international remittances, overtaking China, which held this position historically.
China’s declining remittance inflows were attributed to demographic shifts and its zero-COVID policy, which restricted overseas work opportunities.
Furthermore, the report pointed out that Asia serves as a major source of internationally mobile students, with China leading in outbound student mobility. The United States, the UK, Australia, Germany, and Canada remain preferred destinations for international students.
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