Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Pakistan
Pakistan: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 31.31 billion current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Pakistan, 1976–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2021, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Pakistan stood at 31.31 billion current US$. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
The figure is up 20.0% on the previous year and up 155.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Pakistan peaked at 31.31 billion current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 411.74 million current US$, in 1976.
Pakistan ranks 6th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 411.74 million current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 872.09 million current US$ | +111.8% |
| 1978 | 1.31 billion current US$ | +50.1% |
| 1979 | 1.50 billion current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1980 | 2.05 billion current US$ | +36.4% |
| 1981 | 2.07 billion current US$ | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 2.59 billion current US$ | +25.2% |
| 1983 | 2.94 billion current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1984 | 2.58 billion current US$ | -12.2% |
| 1985 | 2.54 billion current US$ | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 2.45 billion current US$ | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 2.18 billion current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1988 | 1.87 billion current US$ | -14.2% |
| 1989 | 2.02 billion current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1990 | 2.01 billion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 1.55 billion current US$ | -22.8% |
| 1992 | 1.57 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 1.45 billion current US$ | -8.1% |
| 1994 | 1.75 billion current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1995 | 1.71 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 1.28 billion current US$ | -25.0% |
| 1997 | 1.71 billion current US$ | +33.0% |
| 1998 | 1.17 billion current US$ | -31.4% |
| 1999 | 996.00 million current US$ | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 1.07 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2001 | 1.46 billion current US$ | +35.9% |
| 2002 | 3.55 billion current US$ | +143.3% |
| 2003 | 3.96 billion current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 3.94 billion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 4.28 billion current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2006 | 5.12 billion current US$ | +19.6% |
| 2007 | 6.00 billion current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2008 | 7.04 billion current US$ | +17.4% |
| 2009 | 8.72 billion current US$ | +23.8% |
| 2010 | 9.69 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 12.26 billion current US$ | +26.6% |
| 2012 | 14.01 billion current US$ | +14.2% |
| 2013 | 14.63 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 17.24 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 19.31 billion current US$ | +12.0% |
| 2016 | 19.82 billion current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 19.86 billion current US$ | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 21.19 billion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 22.25 billion current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 26.09 billion current US$ | +17.2% |
| 2021 | 31.31 billion current US$ | +20.0% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 31.31 billion current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 650.39 million current US$, 48.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 31.31 billion current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.23 billion current US$, 25.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +143.3% | 1.46 billion current US$ | 3.55 billion current US$ |
| 1977 | +111.8% | 411.74 million current US$ | 872.09 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.02 billion current US$ | 411.74 million current US$ | 1.50 billion current US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 2.33 billion current US$ | 1.87 billion current US$ | 2.94 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.52 billion current US$ | 996.00 million current US$ | 2.01 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.52 billion current US$ | 1.07 billion current US$ | 8.72 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.03 billion current US$ | 9.69 billion current US$ | 22.25 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.70 billion current US$ | 26.09 billion current US$ | 31.31 billion current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances and foreign aid received in Pakistan?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Pakistan was 31.31 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 31.31 billion current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 411.74 million current US$ in 1976.
- How does Pakistan rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Pakistan ranks 6th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 155.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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 — 46 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$.