Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 5.52 billion current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Sri Lanka, 1975–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances and foreign aid received in Sri Lanka is 5.52 billion current US$, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 22.7% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Sri Lanka peaked at 7.26 billion current US$ in 2016 and was at its lowest, 8.56 million current US$, in 1975.
That places Sri Lanka 30th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 8.56 million current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 12.96 million current US$ | +51.3% |
| 1977 | 18.48 million current US$ | +42.6% |
| 1978 | 39.03 million current US$ | +111.2% |
| 1979 | 60.07 million current US$ | +53.9% |
| 1980 | 151.70 million current US$ | +152.6% |
| 1981 | 229.56 million current US$ | +51.3% |
| 1982 | 289.31 million current US$ | +26.0% |
| 1983 | 294.48 million current US$ | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 300.94 million current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 291.65 million current US$ | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 325.97 million current US$ | +11.8% |
| 1987 | 350.06 million current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 357.67 million current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 358.01 million current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 400.78 million current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1991 | 442.09 million current US$ | +10.3% |
| 1992 | 547.80 million current US$ | +23.9% |
| 1993 | 632.38 million current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1994 | 715.19 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 1995 | 800.97 million current US$ | +12.0% |
| 1996 | 843.17 million current US$ | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 933.73 million current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1998 | 1.01 billion current US$ | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 1.06 billion current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 1.15 billion current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 1.17 billion current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1.30 billion current US$ | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 1.42 billion current US$ | +9.8% |
| 2004 | 1.57 billion current US$ | +10.6% |
| 2005 | 1.98 billion current US$ | +25.5% |
| 2006 | 2.17 billion current US$ | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 2.51 billion current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2008 | 2.92 billion current US$ | +16.6% |
| 2009 | 3.34 billion current US$ | +14.1% |
| 2010 | 4.12 billion current US$ | +23.6% |
| 2011 | 5.15 billion current US$ | +25.0% |
| 2012 | 6.00 billion current US$ | +16.4% |
| 2013 | 6.42 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 7.04 billion current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 7.00 billion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 7.26 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 7.19 billion current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 7.04 billion current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 6.75 billion current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 7.14 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 5.52 billion current US$ | -22.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 5.52 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 979.33 million current US$, 5.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 5.52 billion current US$ is below the median for South Asia, which is 6.87 billion current US$, 80% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +152.6% | 60.07 million current US$ | 151.70 million current US$ |
| 1978 | +111.2% | 18.48 million current US$ | 39.03 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.82 million current US$ | 8.56 million current US$ | 60.07 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 294.93 million current US$ | 151.70 million current US$ | 358.01 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 739.38 million current US$ | 400.78 million current US$ | 1.06 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.95 billion current US$ | 1.15 billion current US$ | 3.34 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.40 billion current US$ | 4.12 billion current US$ | 7.26 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.33 billion current US$ | 5.52 billion current US$ | 7.14 billion current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances and foreign aid received in Sri Lanka?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Sri Lanka was 5.52 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 7.26 billion current US$ in 2016.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.56 million current US$ in 1975.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Sri Lanka ranks 30th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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
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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$.