Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Germany
Germany: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 20.26 billion current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Germany, 1971–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances and foreign aid received in Germany is 20.26 billion current US$, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.6% on the previous year and up 23.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Germany peaked at 20.26 billion current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 209.93 million current US$, in 1971.
That places Germany 8th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Germany, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 209.93 million current US$ | — |
| 1972 | 245.85 million current US$ | +17.1% |
| 1973 | 313.81 million current US$ | +27.6% |
| 1974 | 357.41 million current US$ | +13.9% |
| 1975 | 419.74 million current US$ | +17.4% |
| 1976 | 449.99 million current US$ | +7.2% |
| 1977 | 535.67 million current US$ | +19.0% |
| 1978 | 731.33 million current US$ | +36.5% |
| 1979 | 849.24 million current US$ | +16.1% |
| 1980 | 2.38 billion current US$ | +180.3% |
| 1981 | 2.12 billion current US$ | -11.0% |
| 1982 | 2.23 billion current US$ | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 2.12 billion current US$ | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 1.97 billion current US$ | -7.1% |
| 1985 | 2.02 billion current US$ | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 2.78 billion current US$ | +37.4% |
| 1987 | 3.58 billion current US$ | +28.9% |
| 1988 | 3.83 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1989 | 3.75 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 4.88 billion current US$ | +30.0% |
| 1991 | 4.82 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 4.92 billion current US$ | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 4.39 billion current US$ | -10.7% |
| 1994 | 4.41 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 4.51 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 4.33 billion current US$ | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 3.83 billion current US$ | -11.5% |
| 1998 | 3.91 billion current US$ | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 3.76 billion current US$ | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 3.60 billion current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 3.88 billion current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2002 | 4.65 billion current US$ | +19.8% |
| 2003 | 5.75 billion current US$ | +23.5% |
| 2004 | 6.52 billion current US$ | +13.3% |
| 2005 | 7.81 billion current US$ | +19.9% |
| 2006 | 8.64 billion current US$ | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 11.20 billion current US$ | +29.5% |
| 2008 | 13.21 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2009 | 13.75 billion current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 14.23 billion current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 16.41 billion current US$ | +15.3% |
| 2012 | 15.38 billion current US$ | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 16.17 billion current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 16.27 billion current US$ | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 14.89 billion current US$ | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 15.26 billion current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 17.22 billion current US$ | +12.8% |
| 2018 | 18.65 billion current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 18.34 billion current US$ | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 18.82 billion current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 20.26 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 20.26 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 688.87 million current US$, 29.4× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Germany's 20.26 billion current US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.43 billion current US$, 8.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +180.3% | 849.24 million current US$ | 2.38 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 457.00 million current US$ | 209.93 million current US$ | 849.24 million current US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.68 billion current US$ | 1.97 billion current US$ | 3.83 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.38 billion current US$ | 3.76 billion current US$ | 4.92 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.90 billion current US$ | 3.60 billion current US$ | 13.75 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.28 billion current US$ | 14.23 billion current US$ | 18.65 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.54 billion current US$ | 18.82 billion current US$ | 20.26 billion current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances and foreign aid received in Germany?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Germany was 20.26 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 20.26 billion current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 209.93 million current US$ in 1971.
- How does Germany rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Germany ranks 8th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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.
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CSV · JSON — 51 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$.