Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 294.91 million current US$ in 2021. ▲ Rising
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Saudi Arabia, 2005–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances and foreign aid received in Saudi Arabia is 294.91 million current US$, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Saudi Arabia peaked at 334.92 million current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 93.87 million current US$, in 2005.
Saudi Arabia ranks 129th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 93.87 million current US$ | — |
| 2006 | 105.60 million current US$ | +12.5% |
| 2007 | 123.47 million current US$ | +16.9% |
| 2008 | 216.19 million current US$ | +75.1% |
| 2009 | 214.40 million current US$ | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 236.48 million current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 243.73 million current US$ | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 245.92 million current US$ | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 268.77 million current US$ | +9.3% |
| 2014 | 273.30 million current US$ | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 295.43 million current US$ | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 317.36 million current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 290.79 million current US$ | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 334.92 million current US$ | +15.2% |
| 2019 | 334.03 million current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 302.25 million current US$ | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 294.91 million current US$ | -2.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 294.91 million current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 688.87 million current US$, 43% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 294.91 million current US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.23 billion current US$, 24% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +75.1% | 123.47 million current US$ | 216.19 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 150.70 million current US$ | 93.87 million current US$ | 216.19 million current US$ | 5 |
| 2010s | 284.07 million current US$ | 236.48 million current US$ | 334.92 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 298.58 million current US$ | 294.91 million current US$ | 302.25 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances and foreign aid received in Saudi Arabia?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Saudi Arabia was 294.91 million 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 334.92 million current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 93.87 million current US$ in 2005.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 129th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 — 17 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$.