Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Nigeria
Nigeria: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 19.48 billion current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Nigeria, 1977–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2021, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Nigeria stood at 19.48 billion current US$.
The figure is up 13.2% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Nigeria peaked at 24.31 billion current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.42 million current US$, in 1988.
Nigeria ranks 9th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 20.16 million current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 3.15 million current US$ | -84.4% |
| 1979 | 8.28 million current US$ | +162.9% |
| 1980 | 21.95 million current US$ | +165.1% |
| 1981 | 16.19 million current US$ | -26.2% |
| 1982 | 17.82 million current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1983 | 13.80 million current US$ | -22.5% |
| 1984 | 11.74 million current US$ | -14.9% |
| 1985 | 10.07 million current US$ | -14.2% |
| 1986 | 3.99 million current US$ | -60.4% |
| 1987 | 2.74 million current US$ | -31.3% |
| 1988 | 2.42 million current US$ | -11.5% |
| 1989 | 10.18 million current US$ | +320.0% |
| 1990 | 10.01 million current US$ | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 65.54 million current US$ | +554.9% |
| 1992 | 56.45 million current US$ | -13.9% |
| 1993 | 793.15 million current US$ | +1305.1% |
| 1994 | 549.87 million current US$ | -30.7% |
| 1995 | 250.04 million current US$ | -54.5% |
| 1996 | 296.59 million current US$ | +18.6% |
| 1997 | 585.74 million current US$ | +97.5% |
| 1998 | 448.55 million current US$ | -23.4% |
| 1999 | 1.30 billion current US$ | +190.1% |
| 2000 | 1.39 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 1.17 billion current US$ | -16.2% |
| 2002 | 1.21 billion current US$ | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 1.06 billion current US$ | -12.1% |
| 2004 | 2.27 billion current US$ | +113.8% |
| 2005 | 14.64 billion current US$ | +544.2% |
| 2006 | 16.93 billion current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 18.01 billion current US$ | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 19.20 billion current US$ | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 18.37 billion current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 19.74 billion current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2011 | 20.62 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 20.54 billion current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 20.80 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 21.00 billion current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 20.63 billion current US$ | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 19.70 billion current US$ | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 22.04 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 2018 | 24.31 billion current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2019 | 23.81 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 17.21 billion current US$ | -27.7% |
| 2021 | 19.48 billion current US$ | +13.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 19.48 billion current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 650.39 million current US$, 30.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 19.48 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 318.64 million current US$, 61.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +1305.1% | 56.45 million current US$ | 793.15 million current US$ |
| 1991 | +554.9% | 10.01 million current US$ | 65.54 million current US$ |
| 2005 | +544.2% | 2.27 billion current US$ | 14.64 billion current US$ |
| 1989 | +320.0% | 2.42 million current US$ | 10.18 million current US$ |
| 1999 | +190.1% | 448.55 million current US$ | 1.30 billion current US$ |
| 1980 | +165.1% | 8.28 million current US$ | 21.95 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.53 million current US$ | 3.15 million current US$ | 20.16 million current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 11.09 million current US$ | 2.42 million current US$ | 21.95 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 435.70 million current US$ | 10.01 million current US$ | 1.30 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.43 billion current US$ | 1.06 billion current US$ | 19.20 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.32 billion current US$ | 19.70 billion current US$ | 24.31 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.35 billion current US$ | 17.21 billion current US$ | 19.48 billion current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances and foreign aid received in Nigeria?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Nigeria was 19.48 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 24.31 billion current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.42 million current US$ in 1988.
- How does Nigeria rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Nigeria ranks 9th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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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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$.