International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR)

Countdown to the next 16^th June

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Past Observance events

#familyremittances global celebrations

1 %

of the world population

1 billion of the world population are involved either as remittance senders or receivers.

200 million migrant workers send to 800 million family members.

310

US$
billion

Officially estimated recorded remittance flows to LMICs in 2022.

3 %

Estimated increase in percentage in remittances since last year.

18 %+

Estimated percentage of international remittances to rural areas.

20 +

countries

Number of countries in the world which rely on remittances for more than 3 per cent of their GDP.

3 %

Estimated share of remittances spent for immediate needs by receiving families in 2021.

million
migrants

Region with the highest number of international migrants in 2020: Europe

million

Number of international migrants originating from low-income countries

Remittances and the Sustainable Development Goals

At the household level: by recognizing the positive socioeconomic impact of remittances on families’ wellbeing (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

At the community level: by supporting policies and specific actions to promote synergies between remittances and financial inclusion, encourage market competition and regulatory reforms, and mitigate any negative impact resulting from climate change (SDGs 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13).

At the international level: by ensuring that the revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development – as outlined in SDG 17 – and the GCM promote collaboration across all sectors involved in remittances.

May 12, 2021

Resilience COVID-19 crisis through a migration lens

Actions

What public authorities, remittance service providers and civil society organizations have been doing to strengthen recovery and build resilience for migrants and their families through enhanced digital and financial inclusion.

Let us know how you are taking
action at [email protected]

On the occasion of the International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR), the United Nations Network on Migration recognizes the crucial contribution that migrant workers and their families make, especially through their remittances, to the social and economic development of their communities and countries of origin.

Remittances in times of crisis: Recovery and resilience

Remittance families are typically both resourceful and resilient in the face of difficult circumstances and changing conditions. Defying predictions of a sharp fall, latest remittance figures reveal a drop of only 1.6 per cent in 2020, to US$ 540 billion from US$ 548 billion in 2019.
These resources prove transformational for both households and local communities, enabling many families to achieve their ‘own Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)‘.

41 organizations, including international organizations, inter-governmental bodies, industry and private sector groups, networks of diaspora organizations and international experts on remittances, have come together to give voice to remittance families and support them build resilience in times of crisis.

Read “Remittances in crisis: response, resilience, recovery – Blueprint for Action” (PDF)

Remittances in times of crisis: facing the challenges of COVID-19

Remittance families are typically both resourceful and resilient in the face of difficult circumstances and changing conditions. Defying predictions of a sharp fall, latest remittance figures reveal a drop of only 1.6 per cent in 2020, to US$ 540 billion from US$ 548 billion in 2019.

These resources prove transformational for both households and local communities, enabling many families to achieve their ‘own Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’.

38 organisations, including international organizations, inter-governmental bodies, industry and private sector groups, networks of diaspora organizations and international experts on remittances, have come together to give voice to remittance families and support them build resilience in times of crisis.

Read “Remittances in crisis: response, resilience, recovery – Blueprint for Action” (PDF)