Migrant remittances to low‑ and middle‑income countries nearly double over ten years, IFAD reports

Migrants transferred $728.6 billion to families in low- and middle‑income countries in 2025, according to a new report released by the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The figure represents almost a two‑fold increase from the amount recorded a decade earlier, when remittances to these economies were roughly $364 billion. IFAD’s analysis attributes the rise to higher migration flows, expanded access to digital payment platforms, and a broader base of workers sending money from both traditional and emerging destination markets.

The report underscores the growing importance of remittances as a source of household income and a driver of development in vulnerable regions. By bolstering consumption, education, and health expenditures, the inflows support poverty‑reduction objectives and can stimulate investment in agricultural productivity. IFAD calls for policies that facilitate safe, affordable transfers and strengthen financial inclusion to sustain the upward trend and maximize the developmental impact of migrant‑sourced funds.