Personal remittances and foreign aid received in China
China: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 17.12 billion current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in China, 1982–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2021, personal remittances and foreign aid received in China stood at 17.12 billion current US$.
The figure is up 16.3% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in China peaked at 33.10 billion current US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 188.86 million current US$, in 1989.
That places China 11th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in China, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 617.32 million current US$ | — |
| 1983 | 542.00 million current US$ | -12.2% |
| 1984 | 403.00 million current US$ | -25.6% |
| 1985 | 271.00 million current US$ | -32.8% |
| 1986 | 445.28 million current US$ | +64.3% |
| 1987 | 228.04 million current US$ | -48.8% |
| 1988 | 326.34 million current US$ | +43.1% |
| 1989 | 188.86 million current US$ | -42.1% |
| 1990 | 195.94 million current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 389.82 million current US$ | +98.9% |
| 1992 | 619.38 million current US$ | +58.9% |
| 1993 | 631.38 million current US$ | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 857.00 million current US$ | +35.7% |
| 1995 | 350.00 million current US$ | -59.2% |
| 1996 | 1.67 billion current US$ | +377.7% |
| 1997 | 4.59 billion current US$ | +174.5% |
| 1998 | 344.00 million current US$ | -92.5% |
| 1999 | 530.00 million current US$ | +54.1% |
| 2000 | 758.08 million current US$ | +43.0% |
| 2001 | 1.21 billion current US$ | +59.5% |
| 2002 | 2.35 billion current US$ | +94.6% |
| 2003 | 4.63 billion current US$ | +96.6% |
| 2004 | 6.64 billion current US$ | +43.6% |
| 2005 | 3.34 billion current US$ | -49.8% |
| 2006 | 4.32 billion current US$ | +29.4% |
| 2007 | 6.83 billion current US$ | +58.2% |
| 2008 | 9.14 billion current US$ | +33.7% |
| 2009 | 9.21 billion current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 13.64 billion current US$ | +48.1% |
| 2011 | 16.57 billion current US$ | +21.5% |
| 2012 | 17.07 billion current US$ | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 17.79 billion current US$ | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 29.91 billion current US$ | +68.1% |
| 2015 | 33.10 billion current US$ | +10.7% |
| 2016 | 26.88 billion current US$ | -18.8% |
| 2017 | 28.68 billion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 24.31 billion current US$ | -15.2% |
| 2019 | 14.26 billion current US$ | -41.3% |
| 2020 | 14.71 billion current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 17.12 billion current US$ | +16.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 17.12 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 979.33 million current US$, 17.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 17.12 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 453.09 million current US$, 37.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +377.7% | 350.00 million current US$ | 1.67 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 377.73 million current US$ | 188.86 million current US$ | 617.32 million current US$ | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.02 billion current US$ | 195.94 million current US$ | 4.59 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.84 billion current US$ | 758.08 million current US$ | 9.21 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.22 billion current US$ | 13.64 billion current US$ | 33.10 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.92 billion current US$ | 14.71 billion current US$ | 17.12 billion current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances and foreign aid received in China?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in China was 17.12 billion current US$ in 2021, according to World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 33.10 billion current US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 188.86 million current US$ in 1989.
- How does China rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- China ranks 11th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Personal remittances and foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Remittances are financial transfers from non-residents to residents of a country, such as a worker abroad sending money to family and friends. Foreign aid is measured as official development assistance. Both are measured in current US$.